SWIMMING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 234, 6 November 1914, Page 2

SWIMMING.

THE PATRIOTIC CARNIVAL. The first carnival of the season in Christchureh will take place at the tepid baths on Show Night, under the auspices of the Canterbury Centre, the proceeds to be devoted to the Mayor's Patriotic Fund. The two big objects are, to get as much money as possible from, the public by getting as large a section of the public as possible to attend, and to disburse as little money as possible in expenses and prizes, thus leaving a„ maximum amount to be devoted to the object in view. Various affiliated clubs and other bodies have contributed towards the prize fund, and two members of the New Brighton Surf Club have donated prizes ..for a special event, an old-timers' egg and spoon race. The events to be contested are: — 33 l-3yds inter-club handicap, relay, race, old-timers' 33 I-3yds, old-timers'' egg and spoon race, ladies' 33 l-3yd\; water polo match, springboard divingytub race. The entries will close at the tepid baths to-morrow at 9 p.m. It is anticipated," in view of the object of the carnival, that the entries will be large and that a good evening's sport will be afforded. - v. ,v y I;

THE SPORT IN WELLINGTON. > Thus "Breast Stroke" in the "NewZealand Times," anent the somnolence of the sport Wellington :— Ji The •Imteliness of tir® baths mali«e» one think' of the happy, t crowded enclosure of lastgreat falling off? Because a few dozen swimmers—(a few dozen—phew!—' f Crawl'') —join the Expeditionary Force, are those who are left going to hide their heads and declare a state,of grief until they return? Come, >yoa laggards, and keep the. ball rolling, so that centre, clubs, and baths may be,intact when our comrades come back! Seriously, though,- what is the centre doing? 'Would it not be advisable to. eall a meeting of those delegates • who are left and discuss fully the position? Has the loss of a few killed the'sport? Mr Stevenson for one is not, one to Easily become discouraged, and his energetic reeord in the past should now stand him in good stead. By this time last year swjpiming was iaooming, and several ..club; and i inteiv club contests got off. Wate| 4 ;, jjjplp was |n full -Swing,-;apd liffg aying, Discussing the same question in a\ later issue, the ,same .writer s>ays.v—'■* Thesuggestion;eonveyied through thiai;., column last week that the centre con-; vene a meeting of delegates to discuss, the present position, has so far fallen, on barren ground. Delegates who have, been spoken, to during the last few days report ' nothin' doin',' and say that so far as can be seen nothing will" happen. Many of the clubs have been j depleted of valuable executive officers,; but if-'the books apd papers are acces> sible, there are surely members of the various committees who can take ifc upon themselves, to call together the remnant of their clubs and talk matters' over. It seems that the centre is ing a move by the clubs, and vice versa, the result being, : of course, that there is 'nothing doing.' "

- THE KING'S CUP. The Royal Life-saving Society lias decided upon an important departure in the conditions governing the King's Cup competitions. Hitherto it has been neeessar-y for c,ompetif;pi;s to jourpey to London "tq.take part in thia contest. In the case ,ofoversea representatives,' ' this,' of course, entaile# the expenditure of much., money and. time, and it was only every now and then that an entry from distant parts could be secured. The executive has been seized with the ftiet that under those circumstances it was not possible to do full justice to the idea underlying the event, seeing that the society's work has now assumed a world-wide character. They have therefore resolved on a drastic alteration in the method of conducting it. The difficulty of getting to the venue will no longer be a bar sinister, because it will be here, there, and everywhere. That is to say, arrangements are .to be made henceforth for competitors to "be examined in their respective countries. The tests will be carried out in firesh water, and in all respects under conditions as near identical with those obtaining in London as possible. Particulars wilFthen be forwarded to England for adjudication, and results arrived at on a time basis. Another stipulation to be enforced in future is that all contestants must be holders of the society's award of merit. It is also laid down that tests shall be completed in the Northern Hemisphere on or before September 1, and on or before January 1 in each year in .the Southern Hemisphere. The system is not an entirely new one, except so far as it'applies to th®» King's Cup, because it has been in vogue in connection with 'several other challenge trophies of the society competed for annually by teams situated in different parts of the United Kingdom. For that reason it can hardly be said to be an experiment, as the principle has been given a thorough trial, and tiie experience thus gained will no doubt enable Mr Henry to ensure its smooth worldng in its international aspect. During 1913 the . Royal Life-saving Society granted 17,590 awards, made up as follow: —Elementary certificates, 3511; proficiency certificates, 7905; bi'onze medallions, 5128;' teachers' certificates,. 136; instructors' certificates, 371; awards of,..merit, 510; -diplomas, 33. In 1892, when the society started, its work, the' number of awards granted wns 86.

and finished up.an easy..winner. Quendreux stored well to, the. body with weighty blows in the first seven rounds. McCoy forged ' ahead thereafter, and gained every round. In.the tenth McCoy hit tlie Frenchman on "the, left groin, causing an exclamation of pain from him. After that the Frenchman ,boxed without the snap r stio vigour he Ifa'd hitherto "displayed. From the twelfth round McCoy punched Quendreux all over the ring. The latter' was dangerods: to: the last, however, and often during the contest iarrowly missed with ? dangerous right Crosses. McCoy's clever defence undoubtedly saypd him plenty of punishment. ?.