CLUB-SWINGING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2547, 27 June 1895, Page 3

CLUB-SWINGING.

THE WORLD’S RECORD BROKEN. Sir T. B. Bax,' ot Blenheim, successfully concluded lust night his attempt, at the Wellington Amateur Gymnastic Club’s Rooms, to break the world’s record fer continuous club-swinging. A largo number of people assembled in tho room in the evening to watch tho close of tho performance, and at 9 o’clock when Bax equalled the world’s record of 25 hours a ringing hurst of cheering was accorded him. Mr J. Doyle then announced, amid further cheers, that Bax proposed to beat tho record by half an hour, but subsequently stated that ho proposed to keep on for a full hour. This Bax succeeded in doing, and during tho last 20 minutes gave a very fine exhibition of fancy club-swing-ing, which showed that, despite tho great strain ho must have been subjected to, lie still had plenty of go loft in him. At 10 o’clock round after round of cheers was accorded him, and Mr Fischer at tho piano struck up “ See the Conquering Hero,” and a number of enthusiastic spectators then carried him breast high to tho dressing-room, whore, after a good rub down, he was convoyed to his homo in a cab. In response to enquiries he stated that ho felt by no means exhausted. Mr Bax, who is 45 years of ago and weighs lOst 81b, is of medium height, and 38in round the chest, but his muscular development is by no means extraordinary. During tho night ho suffered much from cold, but eventually a fire was lighted in a tin, which added considerably to his comfort, lie was fed during tho progress of his task by means of a cup with a long spout, which was held to his mouth while ho kept up a slow front movement with tho clubs. He drank a little over a pint of beef tea, and ate a small custard, besides consuming four eggs beaten tip in a teaspoonful of brandy, Tho rate of revolutions of the clubs varied from 50 to 84 to tho minute, and from 8 to 9 last night tho rate was 74. At 2 a.m. yesterday Mr T. B. Ellison handed over his duties of judge to Mr Marshall, who at 5.30 gave way to Mr S. Mathews. At noon tho last-named was relieved by Mr J. Doyle, and at 3 p.m. Mr Louisson took over tho duties until the public began to arrive in the evening. Mr Bax was assisted during the progress ot his feaj; by Messrs Mff ßoll aitd Lanp, of Blenheim. '

During tho evening Miss Clara Bax, daughter of Mr Bax, gave a very clover exhibition of cluh-swinging. Other gymnastic performances completed a good programme.