SWIMMING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5199, 13 February 1904, Page 15

SWIMMING.

(By “N abator.”)

Tho success of the swimming carnival to be held in connection with the Hawera Exhibition seems already assured. The offer of tho Hawera Borough Band to play for one hour each evening waa accepted at a recent meeting. The medley race and the Undressing Race have been made handicap events. The New Plymouth water polo team has been practising hard lately and a good exposition of water polo can be expected. . . A team from Wanganui will visit Auckland for the championship meeting to bo held there on March sth. Tho 100yds and 220yds championships of Victoria were decided' on January 23rd and 30th respectively. The following is tho programme for the rest of tho championships: —Fob. 13, Abbotsford Swimming Club, quarter-mile, at Oollingwood; Feb. 20, Hobson’s Bay Swimming Club, half-mile, at V» -,liamstown; March 5. Western Swimming Club, squadron race, at Geelong. It is said that Creagho will attempt to break the 100yds record for New Zealand at the championship meeting of tho Northern Amateur Swimming Association to ho held on. March sth. "Tho New Zealand Herald” published tho following in a recent issue:—“lt seems a great pity that the two swimming associations cannot manage to oomo to some satisfactory ,arrangement. As matters stand now the swunmeis belonging to tho registered association in Auckland aro debarred from competing in events outfhdo those held under the auspices of the Auckland Swunming Club. Unless an understanding is -arrived at before tho end of tho present month, Goorgo Tyler and other well-known swimmers, who have stood ■loyally by the Northern Association, will not bo eligible to oomjjcto in the championship events to bo decided here next month.” This state of affairs is truly pitiable but it is also easily remediable.

In connection with tho passing of Gavdll’s time of sm)in 28 l-ssec for 440yds by tho Now South Wales A.S'.A. it is interesting to note that the previous world’s host was Sinin 38seo, accomplished by Dillington in 1902. The same swimmer covered the distance at Bacup in smin 32 l-sseo last year, but the time has not yet been endorsed by tho English Swimming Association. Permission has beer, granted by tho Now South Wales A.S.A. to R. Cavill to attempt to lower his record for 100yds. and to A. Wickham to attack his record for 50yds. Both attempts were to bo made at tho carnival of the Randwiiok and Coogee S.C. on Feb. 6th. Tho first raco of a scries to decide the Queensland representatives for the Australasian championship meeting was held at the South Brisbane Baths on Feb. Ist. The distance was 220yds. D. Galley won by a touch from K. Honoyman, with W. Hetherington third. Time 2min oOsec. d: Tho second test race for tho purpose of selecting Queensland representatives to compete for the Australasian championships was hold at Brisbane on Feb. 2. Tho distance was a mile. F. W. Springfield had an easy win in 27min 9Jsee, D. Gailoy being second in 27min I^rSCO. Arrangements in connection with the carnival of tho Thomdon S.C., to be held on Feb. 27, are now well forward. Tea will be supplied free, programmes will he distributed- gratis and no charge will ho made to competitors for admission. Some interesting sport is promised in tho 50yds distances. A native of Chatham • Island has joined tho club and is said to be equal if not superior

to Roberta over 50yds. If Roberts, Macdonald, Davies and ho meet- over the distance the host raco of tho season can ho looked for. Tho quartor-milo championship of New South Wales was decided at tho carnival of tho Balmain Swimming Club on Jan--23. Tho following were the competitors: —R. Cavill (Pynnont). J. Craig (Mori's Dock). B. Koran (N. 5.3. Sobraon). It. Byers (Balmain), 11. Baker (East Sydney) and A. Vernoy (Balmain Gladstone). Cavill won tho race m 1903, his time being smin 28 l-ssec. the standard time being 6min lOsee. All tho competitors pot away to a good .start and for the first lap wero pretty well together. Cavf 11 and Koran turned aJmcstsiimiltaneously, the time for tho first lap (GSVyds) hein" 45seo. Keran led at tho end of tho second lap, but Cavill had him weii in hand. Craig, about oyds away, was third. In the .fourth lap Cavil! and Koran wore, again level and turned together. Byors left tho water at the end of the third lap. Cavill led in the fifth lap and turned about 2yds in. the lead of Keran, who was swimming a strong clean stroke. In the fifth lap Cavilf moved ahead slightly but Koran made a groat effort to keep up to tho champion. Cavill turned about 4yds m tho lead of Keran, Baker aim Craig being level about 30 yds behind. The remaining 34yds of tho course v.as negotiated by Cavill with a fast “crawl,” and ho finished about 6yds ahead of Keran. Baker was third. Tho winner's time wan smin 43scc. Koran finished m smm Msec and Baker in Gunn Osec. Ihe times for each lap were as follow: Firet lap, 45scc; second, limn 3o 2-ossc; third 2min 32 3-ssec; fourth, 3m in 29 2-sseo; fifth, 4min 2fisec; sixth, smm 22ses; and tho remaining 34yds, smiu At a recent meeting of tho New South Wales Amateur Swimming Association the world’s record put up by Cavill of smin 28.15e0 for 440 yds made ait the Newcastle Corporation Baths on March 2nd. 1903, was passed. Tho lOOyda championship of Victoria waa decided at the meeting of tho Melbourne Swimming Club held on Jan. 23rd. There wore eleven starters. M. G. Robb gained a slight advantage when half tho distance had been covered and eventually won by half a length in Imin IX 2-ssec. The GOyds championship of Queensland waa contested at the Valley Chib’s carnival on Jan. 28 and won by D. Corrio by a yard from IHsohenhagen, with F. Springfield third. Tho time was 37 l-sseo.

For tho intcrclub teams raco, decfdede at the carnival of the North Sydney District Swimming Club on Jan. 30, 159 entries were received. The following fast teams entered: —C. Healy, Alick Wliokham and It. Baker (Bast Sydney), It. Cavill, H. Morrison land W. Bardsley (Fynnont), It. It. Craig, B. Koran and J. Craig (Mort’s Dock). In viiew of the fact that Lane did net swim for Elast Sydney, the race may have gone to Fyrmont, but with so many good men entered at is hard to prophesy.

In the lOOydis First-class Handicap at tho carnival of the North Sydney Club, Cavill endeavoured to break his own world's record.

The 220yds championship of N.S.W. was decided at Goulburn on Jan. 27th. 'lavill won with B. Koran second. Tho judge’s deo'sion met with a hostile reel'll tier., as it was hold that Koran had misunderstood tho distance and hesitated when lie had covered what he considered to ha the proper distance. No time was declared.

The second sports meeting under the auspices of the Nelson Swimming Club was-he-Id between the tees of the Govormr.eut wharf at Nelson on Feb. Ist. The daj -was hot withjiub a mild breeze. There was a good, attendance of spectators, but “Tho Colonist” mentions that ‘hnany went to see Mends off by the steamer,” so the small gate (£5) is not surprising.

It is said'that it is unlikely that Oreaghe will return to N.Z. after his visit to Sydney to • v inoto in tho Australasian championships.

Tho Northern Swimming Association has invited Cavill and "Wickham to visit Auckland and compete in tho championship meeting there on March sth. Owing, however, to the fact that the Australasian championship meeting takes place soon after that date it is considered unlikely that either will come over.

Cavill announced his intention of attempting to break his own record over 100yds at the carnival of tho North Sydney S.C. held on Jan 30th. On that day, however, it was announced that he did not feel well enough to do himself justice hut ho nevertheless started and finished in 59seo—faster time than any man other than an Australian has accomplished. The 230yda championship of Victoria was swum at Ballarat on Jan 30th and resulted as follows: —M. G. Robb (Melbourne), 1; R. Edmunds (Brighton), 3; A. Ware (Ballarat), 3. Nine started. The finish was close and exciting. Time 3min 4}sec.

The 220yds championship of VictoiCa was decider! at Ballarat on Jan.' 30th, and resulted in a win fo'r M. G. Babb (Melbourne) in 3min 4 1-Ssoc. R. Edmunds (Brighton) and A. Ware (Ballarat) were second and third respectively. The finish waa very close.

No mention was made at tho latest City Council meeting as to making tickets issued at one of tho city baths available at tho other. The matter is evidently forgotten—another deputation is wanted. It is to be sincerely hoped that no one needs reminding that entries for the forthcoming carnival of the Thornf.on close nest Saturday.