SWIMMING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15533, 6 February 1911, Page 9

SWIMMING.

I NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. [TOURNAMENT IN WELLINGTON. ! NEW RECORDS ESTABLISHED. [Pen PitESs Association.] WELLINGTON, February 4. j The New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association’s championship meeting opened in Wellington ; to-day in fine though rather chilly weather. There was a large attendance of the public, and competitors were favoured by a fair tide and smooth water. The 100yds championship produced an excellent race, the New Zealand record of (Msec, established by M. E. Champion at Auckland, being broken three times. C. Brice (Wellington) and M. C. Stranger (Wellington) each won a heat> in 63 2-ssee. and in the final Brice was even more successful, reducing the time to 63sec. Tho race between Brico and M. E. Champion was ono of tho ; finest seen in Wellington, and created intense excitement. Tho one milo championship demonstrated Champion’s remarkable superiority. He led all the way, and though at times ho appeared hardly to take the race seriously, he won with the greatest ease. His time was 25min 18sec, beating his own New Zealand record of 25min 37sec. Had he been extended he probably would have done better than 2oniin. The times ho registered for various portions of the distance were as follows: —looyds, 69sec; 220 yds, 2min 47 3-ssec; 440yds, smin 68scc (beating the New Zealand record by 4sec); 880yds, 12min 33sec; 1320yds, ISmiii 50sec. The following are details of the events: 100YDS CHAMPIONSHIP. First heat —C. Brice (Wellington), 1; M. E. Champion (Waitomata, Auckland), 2; C. Atkinson (Ops.vva, Canterbury), "3. E. J. Dawson (Dunedin) . and J. Grant (Haweru) also started. Champion got away first, leaving with tho crack of tho pistol, but> Brico was tho firsti to como to the surface, a flew inclios ahend of Atkinson. The latter immediately went to tho front, and, using tho crmwl stroke, had nearly a yard advantagis at tho turn (fifty yards). Champion did not appear to exert himself greatly, and was last over the first lap. Atkinson’s course became erratic, and Brico, who was swimming splendidly, rapidly caught and passed him. "VVhen seventy-five yards had been covered Champion put in a strong" claim, and swimming apparently well within himself ho liaa established a lead of two feet from Brico when ninety yards hnd been covered. Ho then slowed down, permitting .Brice to win by a touch. Atkinson was third, a yard away, and Grant and Dawson fourth ana fifth respectively, a couple of feet further back. Time—G3 2-ssec.

Second heat—B. C. Frybcrg (Wellington), 1; A. O’llare (Waitemata, Auckland), 2; F. Roberts (Wellington), 3. F. Seymour (Napier) and G. L. Bull (Richmond) also started. Roberts was quickest av/ny and showed up from tho dive a feu- inches in front of Freyberg. O'Hare cracked on tho pace, and, closely followed by Freyberg, showed tho way ovor the first fifty yards. At soventy-fivo yards Froyberq assumed tho lead and Roberts commenced to go up rapidly. Though Freyberg held O'Hare off with apparent esse, Roberts was unable to catch him. Freyberg won by a yard from O’Hare, who beat Roberts by a foot. Seymour was fourth and Bull fifth. Time —G 5 l-sscc. , Third boat—M. C. Stranger (Wellington), 1; C. Welson (Waitemata, Auckland), 2; E. Seymour (Napier), 3. L. Dingle (Richmond, Canterbury) and J. D. Stewart (Waitemata; Auckland) also started. From a splendid start Stranger took tho lead, accompanied by Welson, and these two raced over tho first' fifty yards together. ■ Welson was the first to turn, followed immediately by Stranger, with the remainder well together a foot away. Over the second lap Strangor and Welson had things all their own way, Stranger winning by about two feet. E. Seymour was a yard behind Welson. Time —63 2-ssec. Final. C. Brico, Wellington . . .1 M. E. Champion, Auckland . . 2 B; C. Freyberg, Wellington . 3 M. C. Stranger (Wellington), A. O’Hare (Auckland) and C. Welson (Auckland) alao started. As in his heat, Champion got the better of tho dive, but Brice immediately took tho lead and, over the first fifty yards, gradually drew away. He turned first, nearly a yard ahead of Champion, the time for the lap being 28sec. Stranger was tho next to reach the hoard, followed by Freyborg, O’Hare and Welson, in that order. Brice maintained his lead, and though Champion challenged repeatedly, Brico responded gamely, never losing an inch of his lead. About two feet away from Champion Freyberg and Stranger were fighting out a fine battle. As they neared the finishing board the spectators became wildly excited. Over tho last ten yards Champion mado a final effort, but Brice sprinted finely, and, amid a scone of unprecedented oxcitement, won by nearly a yard from Champion. Freyborg was half a yard behind Champion, and Stranger a foot behind Freyberg. O’Hare was fifth and Wclson sixth. Time—G3sec. Tho following is the rocord of winners of the race;— 1690, at Hamilton—H. J. Bailey (Auckland); lmin 20sec. 1890, at Christchurch—W. Sneddon (Christchurch) ; lmin 17 4-ssoc. 1891, at Auckland—H. J. Bailey (Auckland); lmin llsec. 1892, at Christchurch—H. J. Bailey (Auckland); lmin 15 2-6eec. 1893, at Hamilton—H. S. Hodges (Auckland); lmin 20see. 1681, at Auckland—T. Meadbam (N.S.W.); lmin 9 4-sbco. 1895, at Christchurch—L. Loo (N.S.W.); lmin 13 3-ssec. 1897, at Ashburton—T. Wauchop (Christchurch); lmin 18 1-sbcc. 1898, at Christchurch—A. B. Truacott (Christchurch) ; lmin ISsec. 1899, at Wellington—T. Edwards (Christchurch). lmin 9 4-6 sec. 1901, at Christchurch—il. E. Champion (Wanganui); lmin Gsec. 1903, at Greymouth—J. M. Hamilton (Greymouth) ; lmin 12 2-ssee. 1904, at Lyttelton—H. E. Creaghe (Dunedin); lmin 7 3-osec. 1905, at Wanganui—J. M. Hamilton (Greymouth) ; lmin 7see. 1900, at Nelson—B. C. Freyberg (Wellington) ; lmin 14eec. 1908. at Napier—M. E. Champion (Auckland) : lmin 13»ec. 1909. at Timaru—R. Ronayne (Wellington); lmin 6 4-oscc. 1910, at Auckland —B C. Freyberg (Wellington); lmin Gsec. 1911, at Wellington—C. Brice (Wellington); lmin 3sec. ONE MILE CHAMPIONSHIP. M. E. Champion (Auckland) . 1 R. Hoaly (Wellington) . . .2 0. Welson (Auckland) ~ . .3 C. H. H. Rich (Opawa, Canterbury), A. M’Millan (Dunedin) and P. A. A. Schwartz (Addington, Canterbury) also started. Champion took tho lead at the start, and at tho BSO yards mark had established a lead of thirty yards from Healy, who was swimming with Welson, while Rich, who was about thirty yards away, WU3 leading M’Millan and Schwartz by seven yards. Champion swam strongly and easily, and though at times ho appeared merely to be amusing himself, ho continued to gain at a rapid rate, and won by over seventy yards from Healy. Rich was fourth and M’Millan fifth. Time —2smin ISsec. Tho following are tho winners of the race;— 1901, at Christchurch—M. E. Champion (Wanganui); 31min 31 l-sscc. 1905, at Wanganui—J. M. Hamilton (Greymouth) ; 30min 87egc. 1906, at Nelson—B. C. Freyberg (Wellington); 2Smin SGsec. 1908, at Napier—lf. E. Champion (Auckland) ; 27min 14 l-sscc. 1900, at Timaru—R- Healy (Wellington); 26min 45 3-ssec. 1910, at Auckland—M. E. Champion (Auckland); 25min 37scc. 1911, at Wellington—M. E. Champion (Auckland) ; 25min ISsec. WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP. First Round. Wellington B beat Canterbury B by five goals to one. Wellington A boat Hawke’s Bay by four goals to one. 50YDS JUNIOR HANDICAP— D. Rood (Wellington), 9sec, 1; 11. Wnldie (Napier), scr, 2; IT. Jorred -(Christchurch), 3see, 3. Time—3s 4-ssoc. 50YDS OPEN HANDICAP—D. Evans (Napier), 7sec, 1; J. Knudsou (Richmond,

Canterbury), fiaec. 2; F. Bridges (Xapicr), 2sec, 3. Time—32scc. DIVING COMPETITION—R. Honayno (Wellington), 63 points, 1; It. Connor (Wellington), 62 points, 2. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, February 4. Miss Durach won the New South Wales ladies’ 100yds breast stroke swimming championship in lmin 3sec.