SWIMMING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12603, 5 March 1903, Page 2

SWIMMING.

' Br " Side Stkoks."

. I FIXTURES. [ March.—Night Races. I Match 23—Races at. Waihola. Regatta. , ' March 23.-Invercargill Club's Carnival. [I Tho D.A.S.C. have brought off the fchirct j annual racs meeting, and the committee i can be fairly congratulated on the excellent k 1 way in which the carnival was run, all, ihe [ oveiits being got off up to the time stated , on the programme, and there were no waits . j between tho events. ; . 11 Tho starting was in' the capable hands: .i of Mcssts Butler and' Scales, and the waythey started their men left no room for , improvement and none for complaints. _ Only one murmur of dissatisfaction |; amongst tho competitors was heard, and that ua concerning the diving. It seemto me a pity that such Mi.all boys as Bvrns ' should b'> cilowct' to compete against men, as it stands tt reason that a lad of Bums's . | weight—something about 6 stone—cannot displace so muoh water as a man of Harris's weight, which is about 15 stone, and the splash is very different, as may be imagined. ' In futuro competitions of this nature I ' would suggest that it be open to men of ! | 9 stone and over, and thus avoid the un- ' pleasantness that - occurred on Saturday, [ arid, if necessary,'put a dive on for lads ' wider 9 stone. •_ ■ The championship, as : was expected, wac won by Crcaghe, in lmin 18scc. This time is about feeo faster than'last year's championship, and I think Creagha could have reduced his time by a few more seconds if ho Had been pushed. Tho 150 yds race waa also annexed by Creaghe, the time being some seoonds'faster: than for the same distance last year. Creagho could have done less in this event also if he had wanted to. The holder of the John Mill Cup is now i pretty well definitely decided, the lucky ; man being Creaghe. .Ho had a day out tin Saturday, getting itwo wins and a sure thing for the 50yds, but he had the misfortune to have 3seo stuck on to his handicap at tho post. I was pleased tc see Scott-Colville get home first. He is a thorough sport, and says he will come to Dunedin whenever the D.A.S.C. have a carnival on. He i takes away with him two firsts—Mr J. A. I Park's prize for life-saving, and the first, prize for the 200 yds Breast Race. His win was also popular, the publio being glad that he had not made his trip from. Christchurch for nothing. Pickles, also of Christchurch, competed unsuccessfully in j this ovent. * * . I The undcr-waier Swimming was won by , G. A. Harris, of Sydney. His was a very 1 good swim, as he kept underneath the ' water properly,, and covered a length of , tho baths—lOOftJ This is not his best, or I' tho writer sa4v him do a. length and about ; 10yds, he having turned round under the I Water. The publio were provided with iv good few 1 : amusing items, such as the Seahorse Race, ' Touch-ball Piace, greasy polo, fancy dress polo match, etc. Tho fancy dress polo match was not 1 it very great success, as there wero only four competitors, whose costumes were very good indeed, especially tho Maori getup. The polo match resolved itself into u ducking match, which, I think, proved more enjoyable to the -pectators than, a genuine nolo match. The Tofch-and-Candlo Race was someWhat of a failure, owing to ,tho wind blowing out tho light. There wero about a dozen starters, and this event will be rim off in heats some evening in tho small bath. Tho committee intend holding another of the series of night races some time this month, but as yet neither the date nor the ! events are decided upon. I heard it whispered that, one event was to be a quarterihile handicap. I liopo such will turn out to be the iase, as. I think long-distance swimming is not encouraged half enough here. I hear that Williams and Knox intend going to Invereargill to try their luck on the 23rd inst. at the newly-formed Invereargill Club's sports. I believe that the club , down south is in a very flourishing condition, and that big entries are expected for , their gala. ■ The Ladies' Swimming Club is moving steadily on. The membership is increasing, and all bids fair to its ultimate success. It is surprising to note the number of'beginners who can now take a turn round the baths entirely upon their own, whilst others indulge in headers from the springboard, stops, etc.- An air of perfect enjoyment pervades tho whole bath. Through want- of competitors ihe Ladies* Race on Saturday proved rather a failure, but this was no doubt owing to the very recent formation of the club. Ere the next tournament com6s round a large'number will have become expert swimmers, and will be able to proVe to their big brothers what they ate capable of doing. Those who follow the doings of Cavill and Company will bo pleased to learn that ' the' English Association has decided to acknowledge Cavill's time of 58 3-sseo for 100 yardj as a record. Tho 220 yds championship of New South Wales was won by Cavill in 2min 32 2-ssec, which constitutes an Australasian record for the distance. The previous best (2min 37 l-ssee) stood in Lane's name, and Was accomplished on February 8, last year. The world's record figures (2min 28 2-saec) are Lane's, created at Woston Suner-Maro (EngTandl in August, last year. Conditions con--sjdered—the great idbblo which a number qf swimmers racing must oreate in so narrow n space, and tho difficulty'of ■ getting a clear course where eight laps and a further stretch of 20 yards were necessary to'cover tho distance—Cavill did well indeed: his effort was a very fine one. If Craig keeps up practice, he may be expected to improve before the; season ends, in whioh event ho will get closer to Cavill over the shorter distances than has been the case so' far. .Moon, the South Australian, who lias designs on the English Channel, has been beaten by Georgo Read over 100 yds course. Moon, who is the local ohampion, got away iVell, and lead Read right to the last lap, when he was a yard ahead of the Sydney | craclt. _ A magnificent finish resulted in Read winning by the barest touch. Both men wore all out. The time was lmin.Bseo. Both Moon and Bead won heats in the Terai Tea tronhy. A swimming record was pnt up at the East Christelmtch Amateur Swimming Club's bath last Tuesday week by .T. M. Hamilton, of Rreymoutli, who tackled the 220 yds New Zealand record of 2min 58 l-ssec, at present standing to the credit of .Malcolm Champion. Hamilton was ably paced by F. Truscott, P. W. ■ Olliver, V. and F. Drake. Tho time was kept according to tho Swimming Associa- ' tion's regulations, and was returned at 2mm , 67 4-ssec, which beat Champion's record hv 2-ssec! According to the revised rules of the association, a record can bo secured by a swimmer whenever ho desires to make the attempt, apart from ordinary competitions. Chairmion's t ; me was put up at tho West CliristchuTch Club's sports on December 27. 1900. when h" wo" th- ?.20vrl= New Zealand Cliampionshin, Hamilton finishing second, and Fred. Truscott third. The council of the association lifts selected I Hamilton to represent the colony at ! tho Australasian championships, to bo heltl ]in ' Brisbane in Mnrcli. The successful swimmer is stopping in Christchurch for a few days hejnro leaving for Australia, probablv on Friday.