Swimming.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 23, 28 January 1911, Page 20

Swimming.

* . (By "Header.") CARNIVAL DATES. New Zealand Championships, at Wellington, 4th, Bth, and 11th February. V.M.C.A., 25th February. Swifts (Ladies), 4th March. Victoria College, 11th March. Wellington, 25th March. As the time draws nearer interest in the New Zealand championship meeting increases. The gathering commences next Saturday afternoon at Te Aro baths, which are likely to be far too Email to accommodate all who will wi&h to gain admission. There is not very much room for spectators at Te Aro, but what little there is will be made the most of. The meeting promises to be one of the most successful yet held in New Zealand. At the time of writing there was every prospect that several records will be "cut down," especially the "100," which "Header" expects to see won. in not more than 62sec. He will not be at all surprised if it is even under that. It is very hard to say just who the winner will be, but "Squirrel" Brice seeme to have a good chance of success. He should certainly beat his club mate, Healy, and if fit he should not find his other opponents very difficult to shake off, with the exception, perhaps, of Stranger. As for the "220," this should be about the best race of the lot, and it should be won in about 2min> 40sec. Freyberg is looked upon to have a good chance in the event, but both Healy and Champion, should give Mm a big run for his money. The Canterbury man, Atkinson, did not put up very good times in the tests at Cnristchurch, as the results, published last week, show. But he may be a "dark horse," and he will need watching. Unless anything unforeseen happens, the "440" should be battled out between Healy and Champion. There are, however, such things as "surprises" in th« swimming world, and, "who know*?" Healy should carry all the money, so to speak, in the half-mile, and in the remaining races, too, if he is quite well. Then, again, there may be an "unknowh" to distinguish himself, and the question once more present? itself, "Who knows?" The Executive Committee of the Centre has been putting in some good work of late, and those "in the know" express surprise at what has already been done. The centre intends to entertain the visitors at the coming meeting in many ways, as is quite right. The smoke concert on the last day should provide a most satisfactory conclusion of a busy week. The forty or fifty Wellington swimmars who made _ the trip, to Mastertou this year were given no cause to regret their action. They were most hospitably treated all the time they were in tho "dry" district, and tne Wairarapa Club spared no expense whatever. As before stated in The Poet, the carnival was in every way successful, and, above all, it was well managed. In this connection Wellington could learn a deal from th© country club, which seems to have a fixed method for everything. Take, for instance, the starting of a race: Three cards (previously marked) are drawn up, giving, for each heat, the of competitors, their handicaps, and when to go. One of the cards is given to the marksman, another to the starfier, and the third to the judge. Immediately the race is finished the cards are returned to the secretary, duly initialled. The marksman's card is, of course, not marked ; but the starter's card shows all the soratchings, and, finally, the judge's card shows the placed men, and also gives the times. As soon as all these cards are returned the secretary is able to draw up a card for the final. There is, therefore, no trouble for anybody; everything works so smoothly under thie system. And there are other similar business-like methods employed. The club is indeed lucky to have such an enthusiastic secretary- as Mr. J. Georgeaon. Such men are not easy to find. The racing was not of a sensational order, and m many case 3 the number of competitors in a heat was faj too small. In future, when there are many scratchLngs, the club would be well advised if it swam two or more heats together, then the farce of one man swimming a heat by himself would not bo repeated. For the third time the 220 yds championship of the district was secured by theThorndon crack, Reg. Healy, without any difficulty. He had only C. Stranger up against him, and this swimmer was " done " after~the first 110 yds were completed. Stranger is a good man over tho "hundred,"' but after that — well, on Monday it appeared to take him all his time to finish the distance. The reason why no Wairarapa man started in this race is hard to discover, for on other occasions there have always been at least four or five eager after second money. But the stranger (to them) must have scared them a little. Very likely someone is now kicking himself. Taken on the whole, it cannot be said that the quality of swimming in Maeterton has improved much, but if enough encouragement is given it undoubtedly will. There is plenty ot good " raw material" up there, and visits such as the one under re\iew are the only way of turning out the " manufactured article." While on the subject, a word must be said of Miss Annie O'Leary, who, in the opinion of many, will beat any other girl in Wellington. She has a splendid stroke and a powerful kick. It is understood that Miss O'Leary intends to train in Wellington, and to compete at the carnival of the Swifts Club (Ladies' Branch). Her performances will certainly be watched with interest, especially by those who saw her race at Masterton. The diving at the , carnival was exceedingly poor, and the results in some cases weie no doubt surprising. All the prize money in this department was secured by Wellingtonians, so it is easy to imagine that the standard reached by Masterton men was very low. The least said of the alleged "trick" diving th« better. It was neither amusing nor clever. Mr. Hector Lee managed the Wellington team, and at a dinner provided he returned thanks for the splendid treatment received. He expressed a hope that the visit would be made every year. Three hearty cheers were then given for the Wairarapa Club. The first carnival of the Worser Bay Club, held last Monday, was a successful affair, though the racing did not possess a great deal of interest. Many blame the handicapping for this, and the adjustments in some instunces do seem very much out. Take H. C. W. Bliek's win in the Ladies' Bracelet, for instance. This swimmer can cut the "100" out at any time in 83, perhaps less than this; yet he is given 24secs ! This, on the face of it, appears altogether ridiculous, for it meant that Freyberg had to do 59sec to win, which, under the conditions existing, was too big a task. And there are other instances, even more glaring than this, which could be cited, if space permitted. Did the handicapper think that "H.C.W." was out of form, and handicap him on that assumption ? If he did, surely he was acting on a- wrong principle. If a man does not train is it not his own fault ? And why should the man who is in constant training be made to suffer ? It is not by any means fair, and gives the constant man no encouragement whatever *

j The new system introduced by Reg. Healy for playing water-polo has been unsatisfactorily reported upon by the j New Zealand council, which bod", >v & letter to tho centre, states that the game must be played under the old, and obviously out-of-date rules. Therefore there is nothing left but to obey. The council should at once take in hand the revision of the rules, and bring them on a par with those in Australia. The " Healy method" is always used in the Australian game, and C. A. M'Donald, in a letter to the writer, states that the more he sees of it the better he likes it. It is undoubtedly a great improvement, and everybody who has seen it in use aDpears to be satisfied with it The junior members of the Wellington Club have every reason to be pleasea at the manner in which the committee has treated them. Six races have been placed on the programme — three of 50yds and one each of 75yds, 100 yds, and 50 yards breast. _ The prizes are 12s 6d and 7s 6d, points to count for the Lloyd cup, which will be held for one year by the winner, who also receives a gold medal. All these races are free. The first race, which took place (in part) oti Tuesday last, was a sealed handicap. The boys swam alone, their times being taken. It is expected that this will result in some splendid finishes later on. The series of races will be held every Tuesday evening until finished. The entries are large, and great interest is being shown by the boys. It is high time that the Thorndon and Swifts showed some real interest in their juniors. If the Wellington Club is to be the only one to cater for the boys, in two or three seasons there will be only one club here. Anyone who took the trip to Masterton could not but be struck at the numbers of the Wellington juniors who attended. And their pleasure in the holiday was a treat to witness. These boys recognise that it was practically their connection with the Wellington Club that enabled them to make the trip, and they do not forget it. N.Z. AMATEUR ASSOCIATION. fBY TELEGRAPH-^-PBESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, 27th January. At a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association to-night, on the motion of the representative of the Auckland Centre, it was decided to reinstate W. Fitzgibbons, who was disqualified in 1907. The council also decided to officially recognise M. E. Champion's performance in swimming the 100 yds championship of Auckland on 23rd December in 64sec as a record. A RECORD LOWERED. AUCKLAND, 27th January. The New Zealand swimming record for the half-mile was lowered by M. E. Champion to-night to 12min Bsec. The farmer record of 12min 41sec was put up by "Reg" Healy. Throughout ChampioD swam strongly, showing that he was in fine fettle.