SWIMMING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5288, 28 May 1904, Page 14

SWIMMING.

(By “Xatator.”) The strong .wind on a recent evening blew Natator against “Appy” Smith. The. latter has recently returned from Auckland and is full of news. Firstly he mentioned that in a plunge competition at the recent sports of the Auckland Swimming Club he had covered Gift—lft over the New Zealand standard. Naturally “Appy” applied for a standard badge but found ultimately] that by the rules of the Association he was debarred from claiming a badge. The reason given was that tho distance was not properly measured —or rather that the judges and referee wore unable to testify to its correctness. As a matter of fact the distance was measured, but owing to a technical breach in not having measurers aprpointed by the Centro “Appy” loses all claim to a standard badge though he has the moral satisfaction of knowing that he has covered a distance greater than that demanded by the standard.

■ Ho was not altogether satisfied with the condition of the sport in the Northern city, the influence of bookmakers being too apparent. Figures quoted in re the “gates” at the carnival go to show how badly off Wellington, is in the matter of r, bath for the accommodation of a largo number of spectators. Roughly about £6O was taken on each day and for the sports in the Dock about 4000 onlookers were gathered together. On such figures a club is justified in holding' a big meeting; will Wellington' ever be 1 able so to do? Of course A.W.S. was well treated in Auckland, and in this respect he praises tho Secretary of tho Northern Swimming Olub, Mr T. Gray. He is very enthusiastic about the Wanganui team which visited .Auckland; tho members he says are among the most gentlemanly and sportsmanlike swimmers he has met.

“Appy” relates a pathetic incident which occurred while he was in Auckland. Sir Kohn who is very enthusiastic in . the cause of swimming arranged a smoko concert to which he invited the visiting swimmers. He is a great -over of docs and has one especial favourite which ho calls “Barney.” While the whole company was seated round the tables at the smoke concert, and enjoying themselves immensely it was announced that '‘Barney” had been run over. The narrator, told how he had Seen the dog run over and taken into a chemist’s shop; there was no doubt' at all that “Barney” was no more. Mr Kohn was visibly affected'and the smoko concert came to a sudden end. The nest morning a few of Mr Kobe's friends met for the purpose of 'burying “Barney.” The dog had been put in a coffin and a move was about to he made to the burying place when Mr Kohn had accasion to bearing a close resemblance to “Barney” who had been there all night, but had been unnoticed by his owner! A close inspection showed that the kouri in the coffin was only an imposter, bearing a close resemblance to “Barney.” A LADY SWIMMER. Miss Annette Kellerrnan lately established a record of cSmin. 30see. for a 2 miles 21 chains swim. The record was put up in the Tana. Sydney swimmers are incredulous and give the opinion that some mistake has been made either m the time or in the distance. Miss Kellermnn is the eldest daughter of Mnif. Charbonet Kellerman until lately a wellknown piauisto of Sydney. Melbourne

papers say that Miss Kellerman showed no signs of fatigue after her record swim. Speaking to an interviewer Mias Kellerman said:—‘‘l learnt to swim at the Sydney Baths from Percy and Arthur Cavil]. It was later, at George Parmer's, that I learnt the double over-arm stroke, after seeing Fred. Lane, who. in my opinion, is the most perfect in neatness, cleanness, grace and velocity of that stroke, nano is the only swimmer who has covered the 100yds. under GOsecs. without the assistance of the ‘crawl/, which all the other great swimmers—such as Dick Cavill and Cecil Healey—have used for the last 40 or 50 yards of their best records. T|i what do I attribute what you call my remarkable pree.. inonce' (your word, not aline, remember!) among women swimmers? Well, first a natural love of the water; secondly, the fact that my father is most enthusiastic about the sport, and' encouraged me from the first, and, besides looking after my training, secured for mo the .advice and encouragement of" Hie best experts. I have never been allowed to ‘loaf/ and X have never ceased to hope I would do better next try.” When asked after her record swim if doing the while distance with the double over-arm str^ l e was not more, fatiguing than changing to simple over-arm and breast stroke, she replied trial it. was such an easy balancing strike that it was to her by, far the easiest stroke. ‘‘l propose to leave for the St. Louis Exposition," Miss Kellerman added. “Then X an Australian woman swimmer, to create some reco-Js that will make my fellow-women talk of me. I intend to devote my time to raci -g and record attempting in America, after which I hope to proceed to London for' the .Great Empire Exhibition.”