SWIMMING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7301, 3 December 1910, Page 10

SWIMMING

(By "Crawl.”) WATEB POLO. Now that water polo has become a permanent pastime with swimmers, and is year by: year growing in importance and popularity, some remarks on the game, its origin and progress, will be of interest. Exactly what club or individual was responsible for its introduction is a point upon which authorities are hopelessly at variance. All agree, however, that the game originated in England, but at what period or at whose instigation has hot yet been satisfactorily explained. According to “E.A.W.” in the "Athletic 'Field,” a committee was appointed in London in the year 1870 to draw up rules for a game to be known as “football in the water.” The writer continues: “No report on the subject by that* committee seems _ to have been submitted, nor is anything of the . kind in existence, and it is not jumping too hastily to conclusions to assume that nothing in a definite form was even drafted by any committee, as searching inquiries .have utterly failed to reveal, either in the nature of a report or in any way, suggestions or details as to what the game was to be or how it was to bo played. “Eeferring to the first international oaquatic football match engaged in by the English and Scottish associations at Kensington Baths, London, in July, 1890, tho sporting editor of a metropolitan nows-shoet wrote: 'Only one thing was wanting to give swimming a place equal to cricket or football amongst our national pastimes, and that was to associate it with some interesting and exciting'game. That has now : been supplied by water polo. . I do not know who may be the genius to; whom we are indebted for the game of water polo, but, whoever he may be, tho country owes him a debt of gratitude, for he has done incalculable 1 service towards promoting the noble art of swimming. II he could be discovered he should he awarded' nothing short of a national memorial, for the game is a really fine one.” The-writer of those lines had, it appears, not a very long time to wait, ns, in his columns of August, 1890, he wrote; 'Eureka, I have found him—the inventor of water polo—and now. all I have to say is, how will you take it; Mr William Wilson, in bronze, marble, or solid coin, of the realm?' In. this tome issue is given the substance of a letter written by ’ the above-named swimmer, who claims to have been the inventor by (Virtue of his having, suggested the game' of water polo .and .writtenrules for playing it,, in; response, to a request from toe president of a swimming club in Abeideen, who asked for something new, whereby aoquatio competitions, displays, -oto.j might be,-, varied, and .additional interest given them, and Mr Wilson gave the .date as some time .in 1877. It has transpired. since, on turning up the newspapers of that date; that the suggestion was made in tho year previous, and was put into practical operation in May, 1876, in the public baths, Crooked Lane, Aberdeen. The cutting from the local paper, is dated May 13th, 1876, and the paragraph referring to the match reads as follows: ‘Tho chief and important feature of the evening was a football match between members, of two clubs. A large ball was placed in the centre of the pond, and at a given signal two teams of swimmers who were standing at each end of ;the bath, plunged to the ball.’ This is the first re: corded report of an aoquatio football match,, and as far as can bo ascertained it refers to the very first match played anywhere.” The writer states that in July of the same year a scries, of acqnatio “handball’! matches were played at tho Bournemouth regatta, and that at a later date the Lome Club played handball or baseball matches in the Pitt street Baths; Edinburgh. The claims of Mr;'William Wilson as originator, of the game were disputed by Mr Andrew J. Baillie, on behalf of the Lome Club, of which ho was one. of the original members! - 'A specially selected committee was appointed to go into tho matter, and the result of their investigations was a frank acknowledgment that the game at Aberdeen was anterior to theirs. The writer quotes Messrs P. G. Bretton and J. Si Lowland, authors of “Water Folo and How to Play It,” published in 1895. These gentlemen say: ”W« find that although rudimentary games, devoid alike of definite rules and scientific method, were played as far back as 1873, under the titles of ‘water-baseball’ and ‘handball,’ it was not until fifteen years later that the Amateur , Swimming Association took steps to form rules . and put the game ,on a firmer footing; and we may add that through the association’s elforts tho sport has assumed its puce and most scientific aspects, and its development has .been- a. gradual, and, although slow, a most satisfactory one, the result of practical. experience and the keen insight of those to - whom has been assigned the task, as delegates in power and-as representing, the large, bodies of swimmers throughout the civilised world, of forwarding the interests of the game.” “E.A.W.” concludes: —“I consider that I have proved my contention,‘which is, that awjuatic football, or water polo, was originally played in Aberdeen in 1876, and in accordance with ideas'prepared by Mr William Wilson, of Glasgow, who is also the inventor of the lifesaving drills which form the groundwork of the Eoyal Life-Saving Society. If proof can be adduced of the game having been played, no matter where, previous to May, 1876, then the argument decidedly falls through'; but in the absence of anything of the kind it must be acknowledged that tho originator of the game of water polo is none other than the authority named.” Mr Archibald Sinclair, founder of the London Water, Polo. League, and one of the world’s highest authorities on all matters pertaining to .swimming, quotes evidence, which, though not quite upsetting the conclusions of “K.A.W.,” throws , some doubt- on .their accuracy - HJs remarks on the subject will be published next week.

ISLAND BAY CLUB. Tho initial gala- of the island Bay' Club will bo held at Island Bay to-day. As far as tho city baths are' concerned the entries have been decidedly poor, due, no doubt, to the oarliucss'of tho season and the general lack of condition on tho part of swimmers. It is probable, however, that the swimmers at the Bay will turn out in good numbers, and, given fine weather, there can be no doubt why this carnival . should not bo as successful as any held by the city clubs. Besides tho usual competitive events, the programme will include water polo, comio events, life-saving display, etc. In connection with this latter event it is probable that the ‘Wellington Club's life-saving reel will bo seen in action."..;'