SWIMMING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 71, 23 March 1912, Page 20

SWIMMING.

(By " Brea«t-stro)ie.") The Swifts Club held its annual Carnival last Saturday, in the presence of a, very smalt .gathering of the public. The weather was all that couid be desired, yet" scarcely two hundred spectators were present, evidence of tho fact of the lack of interest in the sport this season. However, the carnival was right tip to standard iv all points, and those who did attend were rewarded with sonic excellent contests. The star - event of the day was the club's mile chump ionship, but, unfortunately, this developed into a more swim-over for Murrell,'owing to > tho withdrawal of Newman, who «vas indisposed, and the" defection of Crowther. Newman swam gamely for 400 yards, but was then forced to 1 retire, after establishing a comfortable lead. Murrell kept going at a steady pace, throwing the various "quariers" behind him in the following good times t —440 yds, 6min 28sec; 880 yds, 13min 26sec; 1320 yds, 20min 51seu; 1760 yds, 28miu 14seo. At 1300 yds, W. G. Morpeth dived in to uct as a pacer, but his services wete of little value to Murrell, who never slackened nor varied his speed. The' other championship races (two distances of the schoolboys' championship) were won by A. M'Carlie, of To Aro School, with P. B. Mowat, of Wellington College, second. Tho winner's times were undoubtedly good for v fourteen-year-old boy. With the exception of Mowat, none of the other forty competitors were able to extend him. The 100 yds Bracelet heats produced somo good ' racing, Blundell, M'Grath, and Mullins being tho respective wintiers. In the final each of these was prominent at different stages, but at the business end M'Grath asserted his claim, and won by a touch from Mullins, with Blundell a close third. " Paul Stratford showed good form in winning the 220 yds race, although C. Brico was hard on hie heels over tho final twenty. Of the- remaining events, the most entertaining was the midgets' race, which was won by Hunter Steveneon. ' The boys' breast-stroke liandicap and tho obstacle race greatly assisted to make a euccese of the lighter side of the carnival, while the teams' xelay race, won by Worser Bay A.S.C., lent novelty to a carnival which was very well managed. The officials worked well, and it is indeed unfortunate that they should have sustained a. financial loss, especially a.fter the bad luck the club experienced at its ladies' cavmval. Considering the state of the weather, it is eurprieing the amount of interest taken in the final for the water polo between Wellington and Swifts. .Ihe former wero without Bridge, aud the latter were minus Jenkinson, their places being taken by -Little and Newman. Mr. Blick, who wa« making his first appearance us a referee, had charge, and gave every satisfaction. He only made two mistakes. From the junr.p Wellington attacked, per Karma ai.d Stratford, but nothing resulted. Then followed a spell of give and take play, neither side having much advantage. Finally Stratford sent in a rather poor shot, which Woodcock failed to etop, the ball just getting a few inches past him. Wilmotb then had a turn, but Little smothered him. Stratford passed to Morpeth, who swam for the goal, with Wilton right on top of him. Twice he tried to shoot,' but Wilton put him under. The ball drifted against the goal-rope, And Morpeth, handling the ball very smartly, beat Wilton and Woodcock, aud scored an unmistakeable goal. The referee, however, thinking the ball had gone over the rope, gaveno goal. By the time the second spell wa« commenced Swift* were feelinc tho effects of the cold, and they coulfl not withstand the attacks of their opponents, who put on another three goals in four minutes. One was from a penalty throw, and the other two were from good passes from the wing-forward. In summing up, one was surprised at the weakness of the Swifts attack. Not once during the game did they seem really dangerous. Their defence was much better, although' all three backs fouled badly Thy Wellington backs, were satisfied to keep their opposing forwards out of harm, but could, perhaps, have given a little more assistance to their forwards. Little must be congratulated on his first game in the seniors. Stratford's shooting was splendid, but it mii6t not be overlooked that his own men fed him persistently. By this win Wellington becomes the champion team for the season, and right through swimmers join in congratulating them upon attaining that position. The same club lias won the junior championship also. On Friday, 29th inst., this club and the Lyall Bay Surf Club hold a joint emoke concert, at which all prizes and cups and polo banneru won during' the year will bo distributed. Congratulations to Roy Nelson on winning the old boys' championship, which carries with it the Atkins Cup. Nelson swam exceedingly well in each of the three distance'a--SOydft, 100 yds, and 220yd8. After the three events had been decided it was found that Nelson and G. Patterson had tied for the championship, with eight points 'each. The deciding course was over a distance of a hundred yards, Nelson winning after a close go. Patterson, the runnerup, like Nelson, has done much for the club this year, and congratulations ars aljo tendered him. 1 do not think a remark upon " crooked " bwimming will be ' out of place here. I have noticed at various times that some of our swimmers are very bad steereis, and I cannot call to mind a single instance where a competitor has been disqualified for taking another man's water. This matter ehould receive the earnest attention of judges next Mason, as, to my mind, there i& nothing more distasteful than seeing any man's chance blocked through no fault of his own. The application for records received by the N.Z.A.S.A. Council from the Canterbury Centre for Champion's records at the recent championship meetings, have been granted as follows :— Mile, 39« ec ; half-mile, 12min 17 l-ssec ; 440yde, smin 45sec : 220 yds, 3min 37 3-s«;c. In addition, lam very pleased indeed to notice that Mies Annie O'Leary, our lady champion, has also been granted a New Zealand record certificate for her performance in the ladies' 100 yds. Jn this connection a peculiar circumstance has arisen, ' in that the standard time for the event is 84sec, or two seconds Use than the present record. Having seen Miss O'Leary swim, 1 am quite confident that if pushed she will easily break 80sec. Her Canterbury performance does not count for much, a& she \va« never extended. She won easily by about ten yards.