Aquatic.

Southern Cross, Volume 12, Issue 46, 11 February 1905, Page 12

Aquatic.

SWIMMING TOURNAMENT. The second tournament of the season (writes a correspondent) held in the Corporation Baths on Tuesday night, was a great success, both spectators and competitors being largely in excess of the previous tournament. The arrangements were well carried oat, and the handieapper (Mr Hanna) is to be congratulated on the close finishes in all the events. Several of the club members are developing the racing stroke, known as the “ crawl,” of which Mr Johnston is the best local exponent. The girls’ races were well contested, and the numerous entries required the events to be run in heats, so that Mrs Walter is to be greatly commended on the success of her pupils. The attraction of the evening was no doubt the exhibition given by Miss Miller. This young lady performs a feat in the water which no other lady swimmer I know of has yet attempted. Her legs are tied round the ankles, and her hands tied at the wrists, and properly knotted, so that the hands cannot be pulled out without undoing the knots. Mr Miller invited anyone present to examine her hands and feet after being tied. She then dives under the water and comes up with bands and feet untied, then, diving again, ties her hands while under the water, holding up her hands to show them tied ; then diving for the third time, she comes up free. With her sister Kate, an exhibition of floating and swimming concluded her performance. Rounds of applause greeted each item as it was successfully accomplished. The results of the swimming competitions were as under : 50yds Junior Handicap —Ist, J. A. Findlay (scr.), G. Miller and H. Folley dead heat for second place. 60yds Senior Handicap—lst heat; fl. McKay (6 secs), J. Finnerty (2 secs). Second heat : R. M. Johnston (scr.), E. Folley (8 secs.) Final : Johnston, Finnerty, Folley. 20yds Girls’ Race (for beginners) —A very interesting race. First, Miss B. Miller. Misses N. Spicer and H. Barry made a dead heat for second place. The winner of the race is only eight years old, 20yds Boys’ Race (for beginners) —lst, A. Cook; 2nd, Butler. A close finish.

40yds Boys’ Handicap—lst, O. McQuarrie (3 secs), 2nd, H. Folley (scr), 3rd, G. Miller (I sec). A very close contest. Neatest Dive (senior) —E, Folley, T. M. Haslett. 40yds Girls’ Handicap—lst heat : Miss Deschler (scr), Miss E, Spicer (2 secs). 2nd heat : Miss M. Miller (5 secs). Miss E. Vickery (scr.) Final : Miss Miller, Miss Vickery. This race was keenly contested, and the spectators heartily applauded the winner. Neatest Dive (junior)—A. Oook, J. Sutherland, J. A. Findlay. 80yds Handicap (four different styles). —This was an easy win for

\J, Findlay, with G. Miller second. This is a most useful race, and should be encouraged, as it develops the different styles of swimming. Plunging Competition—R. Pollej> J. Mahoney—a dead heat. It was nearly ten o’clock when the programme closed, and it would be better in future to start half-an-hour earlier on account of so many little ones taking part.