SWIMMING GALA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 30 November 1907, Page 3

SWIMMING GALA.

The most successful swimming sports yet held in New Plymouth eventuated at the municipal saltwater baths last j night, the proceeds being intended for the purchase of additional apparatus for the baths. There, was a good attendance. Messrs. Tisth and Wiitkins acted as judges, Mr. Roberts as timekeeper, Mr. Lints acted as supervisor, and Mr. Ogilvie as gatekeeper. Thin curtailment of the numlier of officials worked excellently. All the races drew good entries, and there was some good swimming. "Mr. Lints and a "clown" (who sliall be nameless) gave a fine and diverting exhibition of fancy diving, inclusive of some clever work. Mr. Swanson, ex-champion of Scotland, treated those present to a rare exhibition of swimming and fanev stroke-. Starting olf with the breast-stroke, lie gave displays of side and overhand strokes, floating, sculling, head first and feet tir-t, duck-scnlling on breast feet first, and "how to keep cool." Mr. Swanson's exhibition was worth going a long way to see, and we lioiw to see it repealed on some future occasion. The diving competition was productive of some excellent work. The "Te Rappey Band ami Comedy Company" supplied music during the' evening, keeping the fun ■ .in" and creating no simil] amount of ..ouwioent. Ke-ults: - ; Covs Race. r.i0.4-. W. li.ui.i- (1 !--<•( 1 j 1. I). Liing I-el-) 1. I I,iris" Race. Ofivd-. —M. Ambiiry j lln-ecl 1. D. Johnston (18-ec) 2. liiiv.V Handicap.—€. Brown (2see) 1. .1. IL fiihlmns (sen 2. ! Bov' Race. 33vds. —W. Francis I (W) 1. Harle (Ssec) 2. ! Cirls' Race, 33yds. First heat: T. j Thompson I7sec) 1. Crozier (scr) 2. Second heat: D. Johnston (Bsec) 1, Gilbert (7see) 2. Final: I. Thompson 1, 1). Johnston 2.

n.lvds Handicap—First heat: D. kfling (.-*=«•) 1. White (Osed 2. Second beat: -• Tleldt f.Vec) 1. 71. Blvth I .Vet-1 >. Final: Heldt 1. I.aing 2. Neat Dive.-11. Hlvth I. D. "■

The opening of th«- Xcw I'lyuinuth Swimming Club's season will take place early in the coining; month. A good programme has been prepared. A new feature will lie a competition in graceful swimming, prizes having Ix-on j offered by Mr. Swanson to encourage j r.nr swimmers to cultivate the art of j ! natation for its beauty rather than for it'i-i: .li-tortioii which seems fashionable ] li.tc. Tin- youngster learning to swim di-eard- the breast-stroke—the most ! natural and ea-y form of swimming—j and proceeds to give a splashy burlesque I of the "trudge" or some other fast or iani'.v -troke. Arm- ami legs are thrown i .il.nut jn-t anywhere and anyhow, and tlie learner goe- to a tremendous amount ot uuneecw.arv trouble and docs a Irerevndous amoiilil of work to eovcr a ' |V,.v yard- that would have |„,,„ .„ ,„. ■ ,'i-hed with the greatest „f ~; l„ . ) )V t)|| , ..'d fa-hinn.'.l but grae,.ful hrcasl -iroke •|',e -tvat fault induct bv this rncklc-s -vla-hingand waul of eoaehimr or t,.;„h iv.. i- a laeki.f kg development. 1,,-tead : of ;i b"_' -troke e - a kiek. Till' flop's ■ a-tion whiel, is -er us as a pal tern is'as . foreign to the young Xew Plvtunillh ; ! swimmer a= lion- to Mount Kgniont.