SWIMMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13414, 16 February 1907, Page 8

SWIMMING.

THE AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

MEETING

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Australasian Champion-hip Swimming Meeting of 1907 was concluded at the Lancaster Park Baths, Christchurch, last Saturday afternoon, in the presence of a fair attendance of the public. The programme submitted was the best of the three days. The racing was keen, and the finishes close and exciting. The 75yds interclub handicap, although there wore a number of scratchings, provided some good racing. The evenness of the times of the winners of heats was a remarkable feature of the races. Auckland swimmers again competed in this 'event, but no place was secured by them in the finals. 11. Bell, D. Neven, and S. W. Kean competed. The two former won their heats. Pell was defeated for a place in the semi-final, but Neven got second. In the final, however, Neven, who was the last to leave the board, did not get placed, the gap being too great to bridge. The winner turned up in J. narrower, a brother of the Queensland representative, who did the 75yds in 575. He had 9s. from Neven, and decidedly got the belter of the handicapper. lie swims a good, steady trudgeon stroke.

The championship events were the 220 yds and 440 yds. Both were well contested, liesides the Australian cracks, C. D. Campbell, E. Midler, and E. J. Dawson swam for New Zealand. The two former are Wanganui swimmers, and Dawson, who was only selected to start at the last minute, hails from Dunedin. Two heats were contested. Baker (N.S.W.) and Harrower (Q.) finishing in that order from Mason (V.) in the first heat. Campbell, of New Zealand, also started, but, lie only swam 100 yds. Campbell ami Frcyberg ..ere sent, to Australia last season, lint neither bus done anything much since thev returned. Freyberg, owing to having contracted a cold, did not swim on Thursday or last Saturday at all. Baker's time was 2m. 415., Harrovver's 2m. 44 2-55., and Mason's 2m. 495. The second heal, was won by A. D. Hill, the Sydney Grammar School boy. while Dawson, the Dunedin lad. swam a remarkably good second and well-judged race. Midler, of Wanganui, was ' third. ill's time was 2m. 515., Dawson's 2m. 53 2-55.. and Midler's 3m. Is. The final proved a good contest, but it ..as soon confined to a struggle between Sydney and Brisbane. Baker went away at a great bat, with Hill and Harrower in very close proximity. At the 200 yds turn Baker had established "a good lead, and won rather comfortably. Harrower and Hill, however, had been together all the way, but Hill swam in front of Harrower and obstructed him just when the latter began to sprint. Notwithstanding this Harrower was just defeated by Hill by a touch. Baker's time was 2m. 385.. Hill's 2m. 42 2-55., and Harrower's 2m. 43 l-ss. Dawson was some lengths behind fourth. The quarter-mile championship proved the hardest race for Springfield of the distance events, Healey pushing him right from the start. MaeMillan, of Dunedin, and Mason, of Victoria, also started, and finished in that order. Springfield ar-' Healey raced practically neck and neck ft- 150 yds, but here Springfield gained a litti- Then Healey went after hint, and just caught him, but the latter could not stand' pace the Queensland boy set him, them n until the last, lap half 'a length was the average distance separating the two. Springfield eventually finished about three lengths ahead of Healey. though he did not finish as freshly as ho did in tin- mile on the previous Saturday. Mason, who kept up a good pace for half the distance "blew" himself out in trying to keep with the frontrankers. MaeMillan kept a steady pace throughout. Or, his Christchurch form ho cannot be said to be speedy but. lie is distinctly a phigger, and the man who swims with him will not require to think that he has him beaten at any stage of a race. m the New Zealand race/at any rate. Springfield s time was sm. 56 l-55., Healey's '" s I l' sß -', and MacMillau's 6m. 18 2-55., or 8 2-55.. above the standard time for Australasia.

An "Resting contest was the squadron iace for the Harris Cup, presented by the president of the Now Zealand Council (Mr George Harris). The squadron race and the relay races for inter-club teams generally bring together the best men of the varS cubs. It is to bo hoped that the Auckland clubs and centre will not lose sight of those races when framing their next programmes. '

The polo contest last, Saturday at Christchurch between teams representing Australia ami New Zealand was, however * ffood deal better than the club displays, and a good exposition of water polo was" given especiallv by Baker, of Svdnev, whose throwtag of the hall was splendid. Though the Australian team included three Svdnev cracks— Healey, and Bohn-the N'ew /.ealandors were- onlv defeated l.v two ~oil* '» ml. The latter team was not b v °anv means representative, being practically a combined Wellington- Wanganui team '

QUEENSLAND WINS THE SHIELD. For the first time in the history of Australasian fmimiimg Now South Wales has been deprived of her proud position of having earned away the majority of championslips i from an Australasian meeting. Queensland, whose swimmers have beeTn '"•'king rapid strides in the natatorial art nas now .secured this honour, for at tin' meeting just concluded in Chri.stchurch the Queensland representative, .Springfield, won three championships, the mile, 880 yds, and 440 yds .while Now South Wales, with Baker secured two (the 100 yds and 220vds), and »hf %ti A V 3tr / lha - trough Matson, onehe 220 yds breast stroke. This is the first •me.that the shield has been competed for (being- one of those to commemorate the memory of the late B. B. Kieran), ami all swimmers wdl join in wishing Queensland her deserved success and distinction. New South Wales, however, scored well otherwise ) tf for besides getting two wins the ■mother State representatives filled the second place n five of th , championships, the breast-stroke being tho only race in „oV C com t 11 Wal ° W Q uoensla "d did

It is interesting to note the position ocril",;(l b. Now Zoalander., at the recoil meeting ir. relation to their success against the Australian!.. To say that the New Zealanaors proven doughty opnonents in the water for the Australians would bo absurd, but it woiJd be equally absurd to say that the .New Zeruanders had not advanced considerably in swimming since tho last visit of Austral.an representatives. The tour of the Australians at that time-especially the trio' Oavill (now in Auckland), Lane, and Readwas an eye-opener to the homelanders, and the value of the lessons freely given m that occasion in the various centres bv these and other Australians is strikingly shown by the advance marie in swimming in Now Zealand since then. The Australia,, visitors were rather surprised at the advance made by some of those swimming tor New Zealand while a frequent comment of the New South Welshmen, after the first day, was- "They are not so slow after all " The times registered. however. give an excellent criterion. Without gointr into details already given in " the reports of tho races the interesting statement was made by Mr. W. .-Johnston, secretary of the Canterbury centre, during a send off Just Saturday evening in Christchurch tint a record number of standard times for New Zealand had been broken at the meeting iust concluded, there bein" no loss than 19. Of these seven go to !X«cw South Wales, no less than six to Now Zealand, four to Queensland, one to Victoria, and one to West Australia. The prominent position occupied bv New Zealand in _ the list must lie highly gratifying to all interested in the progress of ' the sport, and distinctly encouraging to those engaged in advancing swimming in the colon v. From what. I saw of the swimming in Cliri-tflmrch. I cannot help remarking that whatever centre has charge of the New Zealand championships next season should have one of the best local meetings of New Zealnnders in the history of thcolon v. for with the great interest' now being taken in swimming, esneciallv in tho South, and the healthy rivalry that exist:;, the events next, season should be well contested by good fields in each case. It Is also hoped that ample notice of the date selected will be given by the centre .securing the meeting.