SWIMMING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13145, 1 December 1904, Page 5

SWIMMING.

Bv Side-Strokk •<

The attendance was not. large at the opening of tho West Harbour Amateur Swimming Club's baths on Wednesday evening last, owing probably to the rough weather. It is hoped the next carnival will be better supported by the public.

O'Donnoll, the winner of the junior and senior handicaps, is the makings of a splendid swimmer, and should be heard of winning several good races, before- the season closes.

The diving event at the "VV.H.A.S. Club's meeting was very close going. The winner turned up in Stevens—u. bvginuer, but a very promising diver. Morran, who hails from Oamar'u, also showed good form. In addition to being a diver be is a fail swimmer and polo player.

The St. Clair Club purpose holding their opening meeting on the 10th inst. A splendid programme has been arranged, and the sport promises to be first class. The 75yds should in iteclf be worth going to see.

l'olo practice has commenced at the Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club's baths, and tho members are showing good form. The polo match at the Otago Club's meeting should be a good contest. Apropos of polo, Harry Thompson had the other evening the misfortune to break one of his toes while at practice.

For some time past complaints have been nuulo by persons using tho Duiiediii Amateur Club's baths of petty pilfering. On Sunday, morning last a close watch was kept, and the culprit arrested. On being eoarehed, a fair amount of money was found in his possession. Members and visitors are in future requested to leave money and valuables with tho caretaker. . A swimming club has boon formed in Thnaru, mating use of tho fresh wator baths which belong to the municipality. being mado to fonnaHy open tho season early next month. The club has 70 members already on the roll.. Surely it is time the plunge—neither one thing nor tho otlier, serviceable nor ornamental—was struck off the State championship list (says Sydney Referee). It is not among the Continent's premicrships now, and the arguments that brought about its elimination from those must certainly apply with equal-force locally. Plung-i ing drags heavily and wearies weightily from a spectator's point of view, and occupies time that might bo filled in with something attractive. Wo liave a plunge championship, and yet rarely ' h«rV of a jplunge event being included in a club carnival programme. ' .

An inventor has devised a new belt, which, ho thinks, will keep everyone who wears it from drowning. It is mado of indiarubber, andi insido is placed a little box containing a certain quantity of onoof the compounds of calcium. "When tho belt comes in contact with the sea the calcium compound decomposes, and produces a quantity of gas sufficient to inflate the. belt and preserve its wearer from any risk of death by drowning. ~ Experiments with this liavo been perfectly satisfactory. J. A. Jarvis hae a fine list of championships to his credit. The following is the list:-Salt water, 440yds:twice, in 1898 and 1900; 50Oyds, four times) in 1898, 1899, 1900, and 1901; half-mile, four times, 1898, 18S8, 1900, and 1901; mile, six times, 1897, 1838, 1899, 1900, 1901, and 1902; long distanoo, e&ven times, 1898, 1899, 1900, ,1901, 1902, 1903, and 1904; plunging, once, 19041 Thus he has won no fewer than 24 national events. ■ '

Dick. Cavill, the champion swimmer, is said to have accepted tho invitation' of the Wanganui A.S.C., i to be present at their carnival galas on , the , 25th and 31st of December. Barney Keran, holder of the 880 yds and ono mile Australian championships, and the world's records for- these distances, has also signified his intention of being present provided satisfactory leave can 'be obtained.

The Wellington Conko lias teen approached by the Wangamii Centre with a view to .haying a special - carnival arranged at Wellington on Boxing Day in honour of B. Koran, Mho is coming over to Wanganui from Australia. After some discussion tlio Centre decided- that it could not hold a carnival on the date suggested, as most of the officials will be out of town at Christmas, but it was resolved to inform the Wanganu'i Centre that arrangements might be mado for a big meeting in January, if suitable terms can be made between the two'con ; tres.

Cecil Healy was again very much in the limelight last Saturday (says "Natator" in Sydney Referee) with another fine performance—his third successive week-end hairraiser—at Farmer's Rushcutters' ]3ay baths in handicap events promoted'by East Sydney Swimming Club, of which ho'is a member, and on each occasion improvement has been shown, consequently swimmers gonerally are wondering what tliey will bo treated to next. Last Saturday afternoonCecil succeeded in covering the hundred in 58 1-5860—only l-sseo outside Dick Oavill's record, and ,3-iisoc better than his (Healy's) performance of a week before. If this speedy traveller keeps as well'as''ho is now;, it is quite within the bounds of probability that the 100yds'championship of New South Wale.?, to be decided at Mort's Dock Club's carnival on January W; will see a new world's best created. —[Healy lowered Cavill's world's record of 58seo for the 100 yds on Saturday last by two-fifths of a second.—Side-Stroke.!, As was generally anticipated, F. 6. V. Lane's old opponent, Derbyshire, managed to retain his title as the 100 yds amateur swimming champion, when that race was decided recently, but 4io failed once 'more to achieve his great ambition, which is to ■lop a littlo off 'the Australian's 100 yds record. He won the first heat in 63 2-ssec, and the,semi-final in 62 l-sseo, after indulging in" a hcad-Ha-head collision with Billington, which dazed both men. On coming, out for the final Derbyshire was still stif- , feiing.from the effects of the accident; but he won easily enough by half a. dozen yards from the Welsh champion, Radmilovie, in 60 4-ssec, and had all lieon well ' with him would probably have como 'very near to cutting Lane's figures for the distance.

The 500 yds championship of England was decided on September 27. C. ¥.. Forsyth Rrde Seal 5.0.), 1; D. Billington ■(Baoup o'S- ■ ' lolcl "; Z > J - °- Smith (Hyde Seal ».U), 3. Times: Forsyth, 6min 35 l-ssec; Billmgton, 6min."3* l-sseo; Smith, 7min 25 3-ssec. Wen by a'yard-and a-half, Smith being eorne 60y(U Iwhind Billilieton, During the first length (40yds) the three, swimmers were well together, but afterward? Smith: quickly dropped behind, and never-had. a chance. ■ Forsyth and Billingtoti,, however, kept toJI together. latter led slightly dm-ing. the- firsWourilaps but for.the rest of the race Forsyth lesl nearly "always,--a-ithpugh by very kittle.; nearly ■ always,. although by very; >little. Eeemcd to have a slight advantage' ini ijiis respect. ....Forajih was leading'.by' : 2rds at the turn of the 11th lap,' but Billinßton decreased this by half a yard in the 16y'ds which vremauied. The race .wis'of the closest description, and both nien swam very finely indeed. The amateur English record for, the distance (held by D.-BillinE-ton) is 6min 25 2-ssoo. '. : i

"' ■ —British Championships.— Hero is a list of tho British championsliips decided up to tho date of the last Viail's departure:— *. ' iooyds (decided fit Ifaddlesborough, October 3).-J. H. Derbyshire 1, ltadinilovic 2, C«H 3.' Time WMsscc. . 100 yds (ladies).~Miss H. Mactoy 1, Ifiaf H. C. Tlicrp 2, Hiss M. M'Laugltlon 3. Time, lmin 25 l-ssec. *• .150 yds (feick).-W. Call 1, V.'. H. Jonca % I'. A: Unwin 3. Time, 2mhi 1 S-osec. 200yds 1 (breast).—W. \V. Kobinson .1, F. H: Xuylor 2, E. linnglcy X Time, 2min 52 l-oeee. ':■■'■ ■■"220yds.—0. E. Forsyth 1, 11. Taylor 2, G. Wilkinson S. Time, -2min 37 -l-ssoe. 'ilOyds (stilt witer).-D. Billingtoii 1, F. H. Parpone 2, F.. Smith 3. Time, 6min lOaec. f stX)y<Js.—o. E. Foisylh .1, 1). Billington 2, J. C. Smith .1. Time, Cnun 33 1-ssm. 7lalf-mile.-C. E. Forsyth 1, J). BiMington 0, T'.]}j.:lmi!ovic.3. Time, lSnrin 21scc. ' One mile.—D. Billington 1, T. Wildgooeeia, A. G. Hnrv'ey 3. Time, 27mi!i ISsec. Long distance.— J. A.- Jarvis 1, iV..G Ayling 2 W. J. Hams 3. Time, GTinin 32 1-Ssec. Plunging.—J 4 A. Jarvis 1. Tiylor 3, G. jlurrisori 3. Distance. 75ft 4iu. Cinb -ffatw ] J olo.-Hyde Seal-beat-Wigw, < goals to 2. . •' Coiuitj' AVnter Polo.—Middlesex beat Lanaiter extra time. - > '