SWIMMING,

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 6067, 23 March 1891, Page 5

SWIMMING,

NELSON COLLEGE

[By Os looker j

Shortly after 2 p.rn on Marcb 5, a lively sc-hio was presented to a large number of sp^cr-ttorsat Denne's Hole, in the Maitai, tha eausd being tb.e Nelson College Bwimniing rac's. Dozens if boys, iuoluding some of 8 or 9 yeirs of ago,, were disporting tbamas'lves mm perrect confidence, and to see them doing so showed the wisdom of the Governors n giving the boys the ohance of such useful and healthy recreation.

The first raae was a 50 yards go as ycu please, and as the kern was one of the Championship events, the entries were large. After a good race the contestants oame in in the following order — Ligbtband, Broad ii, Blick, Milner, and Bennett.

Immediately on completion of the above event, the Juniors under twelve went over tne same oonrse, the result proving Tomlinson ii a little too good for Leggatt ii, the others being a good deal behind. For the next event, fancy diving 1 ., the entries again were large, the winner turning up in Purkiss, closely pressed by Milner and Stuckey, who tied v for second place. In future competitions it would be advisable for the boys to exerci?e a little more originality.

The next race, 50 yards on the back, brought out seven boys. Milner proved himself tco good for the others, quite ten yards sepaiating him from Bennett second, while Blick finished third.

Fifty yards for the Juniors, oame next, and proved an easy win for Fell, Mules ii and Moore ii, tieing for second place.

After a short spell the diving for marbles (championship event), whioh brought out 8 competitors, commenced, sixteen marbles having been thrown into the river. Bennett took the first header, and appeared after a very long spell under water with 13 marbles, a really gocd performance, Stuckey in his seoond attempt brought up 12, entitling him to stcond place, Blick coming next with 7, then McMurray with 4, and Melhuiah with 3."

Swimming 30 yards on baob,, feet foremost, oitne next, and proved a verb's musing sight, the frantic endeavors of thif boys to keep theauselvea in the proper position causing much laughter. Milner going very steadily was the only one to Snish.

After a five minutes spell, daring which " Hoc coffee " being called ouc, a rußh was made for the brewer of the same, and I do not doubt it wa~3 thoroughly enjoyed, the event of the day Game off, viz., 200 yards race, For this championship event only three started, Milaer, Blick, and Bennett. Milner took the lead from the first, and going along with a steady powerful stroke came in ths dinner by about thirty yards, Blick seoond, and Bennett third about 15 yards behind.

The next race, 50 yards in clothes, proved very amusing, and the contestants as they appeared ready to start presented a wonderful appearance, reminding one strongly, of the meagiely clad boys of Dotheboys Hall in Nicholas Nickleby. Broad ii did .not seem to mind tbe handicaps, ant going strongly won easily, Bonar getting second place.

For the next ev<-n!, 50 yards for boys under 16, there were nine entries, but the race seemed to be between Lightb*nd and Milner. It turned out as expected, for after a splendid race, Lightband reached the tape first by about 6 inches, Milner coming next, and the others a good deal behind. .

The long dive championship event, for which five competed, was eventually won by Stuckey with 86 feet, then came Bennett with 73ft, Melhuish 60 feet, and Blick 58 feet. This item was not nearly so good as the similar one last year, when Wright did the splendid distance of 154 feet. The weather, however, being very cold and wintry yesterday most likely caused the great referred to above

• The last, but certainly not the least performance was • Saving .the Dummy* 1 and a very substantial and contrary, dummy he was. He was not going down.to the bottom; not he, at least not willingly, but after ;the combined of^the smaller boys sink The.. did, and that very effectually, as phesboyfouri'd out on hisattenipt, as on his; coming rup to ;the ! surface he spluttered out; ? I could-not h'ft him.' All the competitors but the one: before mentioned brought him -to land'in fine style, and showed' that in 'a 'ease of ; emergency tfaey | could give a good v a«c6urit ; of • themselves! ■!&tter^a %6"od-- competition BHck proved* the -■winner; his time being; 26 2 -Bth seoajßennett i'beuigihextfwith 28 2?sthrsecß,iandiTreni 31J ■se'c'Si' 1 ' -"i:^-* \' i .ins •.,-- i .-.i s a •>•»;.^ m;=s\\ o 'This ended tne afternoon's sport, and<.after ascertaiping that^the winner of theohampionf iship events proved to bei ßennett Lwith' 34 points, Blick coming next with 30, and r Milner third with 24, 1 had a dip myself, and started off for home, congratulating myself with having bean prewntaVth* sport*.