SWIMMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10045, 4 February 1896, Page 3

SWIMMING.

THE AUSTRALASIAN GATHERING. INTERVIEW WITH MR. ST. CLAIR. Upon the return of our swimmers from attending the recent Biennial Honours Competition at Sydney a Herald representative called upon Mr. St. Clair, the hon. sec. of the Association, to elicit information as to the features of the gathering, the second of its kiud held in South Pacific waters as representative of Australasia. In reply to questions, Mr. St. Clair said that the carnival period extended over a week, and that the championship events were distributed amongst) the leading associated clubs, which will be referred to later on in order. The party from Auckland consisted of Messrs. Albert Goldwater, director of the Auckland S.C., H. J. Bailey, A. Hoey, J. Scott, Professor Carrollo, and Mr. St. Clair, the remaining Now Zealanders being Mr. A. Harrison, captain of the Ashburton Club, and Mr. Stratton, of the Christchurch A.S.C. Arriving at Sydney at 5 a.m. on Monday, the 13th ult., the party sighted on the pier Mr. Tooher, one of the visiting competitors to Auckland in January, 1891, and at 7 o'clock Mr. Pyke, tho president of tho New South Wales Association, appeared to officially welcome thorn to the Sydney shore. These gentlemen facilitated Customs matters, and had the visitors driven up to the Grand Central, whereamplearrangements had been made for their stay. During the day other swimming celebrities called, notably Mr. Kickard Burko, the secretary of the Association there; Mr. Hendry, their treasurer; the Brothers Maloney,' Dr. Kelly, W. F. Corbett (" Natator," of the Referee), and many others well known to New Zealanders. The ball was opened on the Wednesday following the advent of tho contingent, by an Association gala at the Natatorium, when, amongst other events, the 220 yards and plunge championships were competed for. Tho building was absolutely crammed with people, and a novelty was introduced in the matter of an automatic judging machine, but something " went wronir with the works," and the time-honoured method had eventually to bo resorted to. The 220 yards event was decided in heats. New South Wales, Victoria, and New Zealand being represented by ten starters, reduced in the final heat to J. H. Hellings, W. J. Gormly, and L. Leo, all Welshmen, who finished in that order. Hellings only beating Gormly on touch in 2m. 525., Gormly having sustained a slight disadvantage in being disturbed by tho action of another competitor at the start. There were five competitors for the Plunge, which was secured by W. H. Peate, who registered 66 feet 10$ inches in minute. The following day the party—reinforced by tho Christchurch contingent, consisting of J. M, Watson, captain of the Cliristehurch Swimming Club; C. H. Fox, secretary ; and E. M. England, treasurer train for Windsor, on the Hawkesbury, to witness tho mile events, accompanied by some 200 swimmers and several M.P.'s, including the Hon. Vivian Melville, ex-chairman of committees, who will be remembered in Auckland in aonuectinn with temperance addresses. Reaching Windsor they were received by tho Rev. Dr. lieenan, a church dignitary, who is president of the local swimming club, and under whose auspices the day's competitions were being held. At the Council Chambers, tho Mayors and Aldermen of Richmond and Windsor accorded tho New Zealand party a hearty public reception, and many toasts and speeches in honour of the occasion were indulged in. There were 13 starters for the classic mile event, now for the first time competed for in Australasia, Several dropped out, however, and the swimmers finally placed were: P. Cavill. 1; L. Leo, 2; and W. J. Strattou (New Zealand), 3. The time was taken as 28m. ss. It is much to bo regretted that Gormly, the great swimmer whom we all remember so favourably, was badly hampered by tho tactics of a brother of the winner, who was most properly not allowed to enter for any subsequent events. The day's programme was ended by a banquet, at which some 200 to 300 were seated, and a long list of toasts were gone through with much enthusiasm. On Friday, the 17th, the Quarter-mile came off at the Enterprise Club's Gala in the Natatorium. Thore wore seven starters and three heats, those placed in the final being W. J. Gormly, 6m. 83., 1; L. Leo, 2; and A. Holmes, 3. A good race. The Balmain Club brought off their fixture on the next day—Saturday afternoon—in the Sutherland Dock, the Half-mile Championship being the event of special intercolonial interest. Ten starters made their take-off simultaneously, and some splendid swimming was seen. Gormley retiring, tho race was fought to a finish by P. Cavill, L. Leo, and J, Murphy in the order named—time, 13m, 27 4-ss. The latter surprised everybody by his performance using the double over-arm stroko the whole distance, a fact without parallel in any championship event ever contested. On the Sunday a splondid outing was enjoyed up L:me Cove River on the invitation of the Balmain Club. Water frolics of all descriptions being indulged in and the members of the party though returning tired felt on oxcollont terms with themselves. Monday found a number of tho intercolonial visitors at Lady Robinson's Beach, where Mr. James Kidman, president of the Brighton Bowling and Recreation Club received them, and having uncorked champagne, proposed their healths in welcomj. Each gentleman present was, on the introduction of Mr. Corbett, made an honorary mombor of the club, and tickets carrying a similar courtesy were handed Mr. Goldwater to bo given to tho others from his island. Au adjournment was then made to tho baths, where, at the invitation of the lessee, Mr. C. W. Lincko, a gentleman of great geniality, a very nice repast, of which Botany Bay oysters formed a prominent feature, was enjoyed. Then tho worthy host invited the swimmers to take a trip around the bay, during which all spots of historic interest where shown them. The Parraraatta people had the management of tho next programme, which included the Distance Dive Championship. Tho venue was Parramatta, and the fixture came off on the 21st. Tho event was won by H. W. Wylio, New South Wales, who made an immersion swim of 84yds, the other placed men being J. R. Wallace, New South Wales, 75yds 2ft (2): ami W. Allen, New Zealand, 70yds (3), the latter securing honours. Mr. Wylie in his first dive steered an erratic course, but by tho considerate conseutof Mr. Wallace a second dive was allowed, with the result stated. The Parramatta swimmers bestowed most particular attention upon the New Zealanders, and during the afternoon they were tooled round the extensive park, shown the first Government House of New South Wales, and many other objects of interest. This was tho last programme Mr. St. Clair was able to attend, as ho left Sydney the following afternoon, and was thus deprived of the pleasure of seeing tho 100 yds event swam out, a circumstance he most sincerely regretted, as Senior-Sergeant Chalmers, a solid enthusiast whose company ho had enjoyed, had the control of tho programme, thus assuring success. From the cabled results to hand we observo tho 100 Yards has been won by J. H. Hellings. in lm. 5 4-sth s., C. Proudfoot second, A. Holmes third, the other starters being L. Loo, J. Twohor, W. J. Gormley, J. Taylor (all New South Wales), H. Heath (Victoria), and J. Hogan (Queensland). It need hardly be mentioned that the New Zealand swimmers were all outclassed as regards spoed; still, Hoey and Stratton invariably started for all events entered for. and the Christchurch swimmer finished third in the mile. The other Auckland swimmers did not appear to givo themselves any concern as to their engagements, a featuro that has been adversely commented upon. The Natatorium, although a splendid bath, is not flourishing financially sufficiently to induce tho mwiagemont to bestow moro attention upon it, and does not con--1 trasfc to advantage with our apple pie baths in Albert-street. The water is moro flush with the sill, thus making the floor sloppy, and the dressing boxes are cramped, whilo the space between sill and box is very small, making it impossible to pass along when onco the audience is seated. l did not (said Mr. St. Clair) seo the Police Club s gala, but of the others, with the exception ot that at Balma'm, they do not manage their sports so well as we do here, and this must bo attributed to two thiugs-tho baths are not so well suited for largo fixtures, and the competitors are not so amenable to official control. The "waits" wore pronounced, but at Balmain event tollowed event free from drag, as time was only approximately programmed. All hands met with the most encouraging cheer from friends, oldand now. Mr. Richard Burke (the assiduous secretary of the Association), Messrs, Heath (of Victoria), Hogan (of Queensland). Major Ferris, Captain Love, K. Keenan, P. J. Marks (brother of the athleticcelebrity). Senior Sergeant Chalmers, etc. All these and many more entertain tho intention of crossing over in 1893, when wo | I shall delight to honour thorn to tho utmost of I our power. . ~,.•• » ~ I " Yes, I certainly enjoyed tho trip, said j our informant, as he roso to take his departure. mmmmm «._____——