SWIMMING. CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING ENDED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 36, 13 February 1911, Page 4

SWIMMING. CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING ENDED

FINE PERFORMANCE, BY M. E. CHAMPION. PREVIOUS RECORDS BROKEN. The swimming championships were concluded at the Te Aro baths on Saturday, before a large crowd of spectators. Amongst those present v/as the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), who was heartily welcomed by the president of the Association, Mr. George Harris. The racing, both, in the championship and handicap events, was excellent. Champion, of Auckland, was, of course, the hero of the meeting. In the i.i-0 Yards he never gave his opponents a chance. Fie traversed the full distance in 2min 39sec, one second better than his own previous New Zealand record. His club-mate, C. Welson, who was second, bettered the standard by 2 2-5 sec, his time for the distance being 2min 41 3-ssec. Again in the 880 yds Championship, Champion had his opponents at his mercy, and carved out the distance in 12min 18 3-ssec, 22 2-ssec better than his own previous New Zealand record of 12min 41sec. It was a magnificent performance, and one which was warmly recognised by the public. The surprise of the race was F. Seymour, of Napier, who swam remarkably well throughout, and actually covered the half-mile in 12min 28 2-ssec, 12 3-ssec better than Champion's previous record. Seymour is only a lad, and it was hard luck that he should have to race alongside such a smasher as the Aucklander. Another Aucklander in C. Welson, who got third place, swam the distance in 12mm 40 1-fasec, 4-ssec better than the existing record, and 19 4-ssec . better than the standard. In the Polo Championship, Canterbury just snatched victory on the call of time from Wellington. -An invitation scratch race put on to enable C. Brice to compete under record conditions, provided a good contest. Brice's time was 63 l-ssec, onefifth of a second slc-wor than his performance of the previous Saturday. The diving exhibitions were greatly admired, particularly the clever work of Darling, of Napier, who was ably assisted by Hanna. All the arrangements for the meeting were capably carried out by the various officers. Results after The Post went to press on Saturday are appended: — 50yds Open Handicap. — Final: W. Cookson (Christchurch), 3sec, 1; J. Stirling, 7sec, 2. Laing was placed second, but was subsequently disqualified for "swimming over." Time, 28 l-ssec. Diving Competition (points to count for flight, entry, and recovery). -^-G. P. Hanna 1, W\ Hicks 2. Also competed — F. Coira, R. Connor, A. Jordan, H. Little, G. H. Neal, J. D. Stewart, R. Nelson, E\ Reynolds, L. Salek, R. Ronayne, K. Wiggins, G. Gemmell, B. C. Freyberg. 100 yds Invitation Scratch Race. — C. Brice (Thorndon, Wellington), 1; G. Seymour (Napier, Hawkes Bay), 2; F. Roberts (Thorndon, Wellington), 3. Also started — M. C. Stranger (Wellington), and R. Healy (Thorndon, Wellington). The result ot this race was never in doubt, for right from the start Ba-ioe got in front and remained there, gaining with every stroke. He went up the first 50yds in 28 l-ssec, 'and at the point mentioned had a comfortable lea/1 off Roberts, with Seymour third. Roberts was slow to turn, and Seymour swam into second place shortly after. The positions remained unaltered, the result being an easy win for Brice by about 4yds. The Napier representative just beat Robert? by a touch. Stranger finished two seconds after Roberta, and Healy was last. Brice's time (63 l-ssec) was _ 4-ssec faster than < Chanjpion's previous record. Seymour's time was 65sec, Roberts's 65 2-ssec, Stranger's 65 4-ssec. All these were within the standard. 100 yds Open Handicap (first and second in each heat to start in final). — First heat: A. D. Laing, 13see, 1; T. H. King, 15sec, 2. Also started— W. H. Ellis (25sec), F. Delaney (23sec), K. D. Russell (21sec), P. Grey (19sec), W. M'Gregor (18sec), J. Gosling (17sec), T. H. M'Lean (15sec), V. Wise (Msec). Time, 73 l-ssec. Second heat: J. B. Wareham, llsec, 1; L. Silver, llsec, 2; R. Evensen, 13sec, 3. Also started — J. Robinson (13sec), J. Hannay (13sec), A. Crowther (losec). V. L, Allen (losec), K. Forth (13sec), J. Stephens 13sec), H. Silver (llsec), L. Salek (llsec). Time, 73 2-ssec. Third heat: C. R. Carr, 9see, 1 ; H. Mullins, 9S6C, 2 ; W. Wilson, Bsec, 3. Also started — E. Picot (lOsec), H. Jenkmson (9sec), J. Stratford (9sec), S. A. Murrell (7sec), G. R. PateTson (7sec). Time, 70 2-ssec. Fourth heat: F. Bridges, 4sec, 1; L. C. Kerr Taylor, 6sec, 2; A. O'Hare, 3sec, 3. Also started— H. Walden (7sec), E. E. • Jenkinson (6sec), C. S. Brice (scr). Time, 66 2-ssec. Final: A. D." Laing 1, C. R. Carr 2, H. Mullins 3. Time, 70 3-ssec. 880 yds Championship of New Zealand. First prize, Association's gold medal; second prize, trophy value £1 Is. Holder, R. Healy, Wellington. New Zealand record, 12min 41see. Standard time, 13min. M. E. Champion (Waitemata, Auckland) 1 F. Seymour (Napier, Hawkea Bay) ... 2 C. Welson (Waitemata, Auckland) ... 3 Also started — A. M'Millan (Dunedin, Otago), S. A. Murrell (Wellington). From a fair start, Welson went into the lead, and he made the pace over the first fifty yards. He touched just ahead of his club-mate, who, however, caught up coming to the "100," reached in t>9 3-ssec. At 150 yards Champion had a lead of two yards, and at 200 yards (<_min 32 2-ssec) the position was, Champion, Welson, Seymour (close up), M'Millan, and Murrell. At 300 yards (3min 57sec) Champion led by three yards, and Seymour was a yard behind Welson, who was swimming second. At 400 yards, clocked at smm 26 3-ssec, Murrell retired when a long way behind. Coming up to the 500 yards Seymour showed signs of tiring, but on reaching the mark he spurted, caught Welson, and goti to within a yard of Champion. Six hundred yards (Bmin 23 l-ssec) saw Champion leading by two yards from Seymour, who was about the same distance in front of Welson. At 800 yards (llmin 16sec) Champion had three yards to the good, and Seymour, who was swimming exceptionally well, led by eight yards from Welson. All spurted now, but at the finish the position remained unaltered. Champion's time was 12min 18 3-ssec, easily beating the previous record, namely, 12min 41sec ;* in fact all who finished broke the record, the respective times being 12rain 28 2-ssec and I 12min 40 l-ssec. I Natatorial High Jump. —J. D. Stewart 1. Water Polo. — Canterbury and Wellington A teams- met in the final game of the tournament, and the ultimate result was a win for the southern team by two goals to one. The game was, at times, very exciting, bub the local men lacked brilliancy. Canterbury made the most of everything, playing a very creditable game. They fully deserved their win. Atkinson secured both goals for the winners, and Freyberg scored for Wellington. The referee was Mr. G. Sadd.