SWIMMING SPORTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11687, 21 February 1902, Page 3

SWIMMING SPORTS.

Ail interesting and pleasant afternoon was spent by a considerable number of people at tiie Commemoration Baths yesterday, when swimming sports were held tinder the management of the following officials : —Referee, Mr W. B. Howell. Judges : Messrs J. L. Gillies, W. Gunn, W. Priest, P. Cameron, G. H. Rhodes, J. Hole, C. Hassel, C. Collins, C. is 7. Macintosh and E. Hr.ssall. Timekeepers : Messrs R. H. Ferguson and C. W. Wood. Starter: Mr W. S. Jjindsar. Check Starter: Mr D. J. Caldwell. Blackboard Steward : Mr R. T. Wood. Marksmen : Messrs A. Shirtcliffe and W. Raymond. Costiime Steward : Mr G. Granger. Han'dicappers :• The Committee. Committee : Messrs D. Cowan, G. Granger and H. Amos. W. H. Boys (hon. secretary). The weather was very suitable for the sports, a little cool at the'start perhaps, but growing warmer later on. A programme of fifteen events—several of them divided into heats, kept the water fairly well occupied for about three hours, and most of the events were well contested) some very neat work' was witnessed; and the onlookers grew quite excited over some of the finishes, and applauded heartily, and also judiciously, the best performances in the diving feats. The baths were decorated with flags and flutters, and the caretaker, Mr Roper, had the place in very neat order. The attendance was satisfactory, the seatinsr accommodation being fully occupied, and schoolboys made a thick live" fence on the opposite side of the bath, though there were not so many school bovs present as we had expected to see. Among the spectators were many ladies, and the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, was also a visitor. A; -rood muster of members of the Battalion Band furnished music in the intervals between events; everything passed off well, and the items were got off punctually and in good order. The one weak point was .the number of absentees among the entrants, but in only one case was there a swim-over for the heat. The schools were well represented in the first event, a 50 yards race (once alone the batlil. eleven starting in three heats. Their schoolfellows in this and subsenuent bovs' events, cheered on their favourites lustily. The second event, the plunge, was a very interesting one; Hardy, the winner, and also Gresson and Gunn," making long reaches, which, however, were not measured. The 50 vards handicap for all comers was the best filled event, sixteen starting in five heats, and some good contests were witnessed. For the 25 yards schools' championship only two started, a fact which indicates that our school boys had taken one another's measure beforehand, and concluded that to oppose the two who swam would be labour in vain. Cross and Crawford made a. good race of it, there being little to choose between thera. The high diving' and spring-board diving gave onlookers an opportunity to see various degrees of departure from the clean entrance and quick rise. The local diver. Gunn, was popularly thought to have oived most neatly, and he was well applauded, others also receiving & due share for neat "work. The diving for plates was a good item. A number of tin plates were cast into the bath, and the winner was the one who brought up the most plates at a dhe. J first two to dive were the best performers, and tied with five plates each, one other getting three, others only two's. In the second dive to resolve the tie, Price brought up three and Lawson two. The official time of lons-est submergence was 36secs, but ,onlookers without a watch could easily ha ve been persuaded that it was mn-re than a 9 1111 " ute The presence of several Christcnurch swimmers—Drake, Hardy, Sherwood, Mitten. and Sims, of Dunedin. made the open events much more interesting than ttiev would otherwise have been, though local swimmers gave good exhibitions, too, xl. Fra*er coming out best in the young men s | events. One of the most interesting races was the schools relay race. 100-yards, for I teams of four, each boy having to go 25 vards. The Main School team won rather j ' eat; jl v the Marist- Brothers' School being second. The carnival was brougiit to a close with a very amusing dress rehearsal | in which Messrs D. .Cow-an and H. Fraser and the lad Manning took part. Th°y created great laughter, being perfect " "ketches" in pyjamas, bid coats, hats, sunshades, etc. AV>ut haU-past four after the chief events had been got off, the Chr.SLchurch swimmers bad to leave to catch the express, and Mr Howell, on behalf of the committee and officials, heartdythanked them for their presence and in 3 come Mr Hardv. on behalf of the \ thanked Mr Howell for his good he Jl' an( said they had come helping the Timaru C.i'b to e stronglv: and tWy •-» ® kindly welcome thev ha: -e-eive .. were then given for the visiters an ti: The following are the results of the conteso YARDS BOYS' HANDICAP. First beat-H. Manning <4sec) 1, S Stevenson (4sec) 2. Gunn got away badly from scratch. Manning and Stevenson swam together for two-thirds of the journey, when the first-named drew away gradually and won by 18 inches; time 4gee Second heat—H. Segar (ssec) 1, V. Da gleish (scr) 2. The latter got away well and swam well, but could not quite get ut> to Segar; time 51 4-ssec. T' llr< j heat—G. Cross (4sec) 1, G. ' S( £e 2. Cross with a short overhand stroke and good leg action won somewhat easily, time 55 2-Ssec. Final heat-Manmng l Stevenson 2. Won after a splendid race bv a foot, almost a dead heat for second The winner, who is a stout boy went from the jump, and was enthusiastically cheered on by his friends. PLUNGE. —Hardy 1. Gresson i. A V 650 YARDS 1 OPEN HANDKAP.-First heat—McCracken (ssec)'l, Knowles (7sec) 2 The only starters, won easily, time 42=ec Second heat—Brodnck (6sec) 1, Bovs (4sec) 2. A very close go,; won bv"a hand, Finlay a good third ; time 42 sec. Third heat-Drake (scr) 1, Sims (7sec.) 2. Another very close race, Drake just winning on the sill by a foot; time 40sec. Fourth beat —Gresson (6sec) 1, TT-ill (1-ec) 2 The onlv starters; won easily; time 42sec. - Fifth heat-Mitten (6sec) 1. Fraser (6secl 2. The best con 'test of the lot. the placed men, and Bryant. Hardy, and Sherwood going hard tile whole "way. Mitten won by a foot, but Fraser just got home by smartness_in toe raisins of a hand ; time. 36 2-ssec. FinnMitten 1. Drake 2, G' re:- son 3. A splendid race, Mitten showing very fine form and winning by about, a counle of feet, Gresson very close up: time 38 2-ssec. 25 YARDS (Schools' Chairmanship, under 15). H. Waterliouse 1, L. Sptudon 2. This- race caused great excitement among the boys, who cheered their chums on lustily. A most creditable win. Time 20 2-ssec. 50 YARDS HURDLES.—C. Bryant 1, D. Cowan 2. There were two hurdles to negotiate, arid the various styles of " jumping " caused great amusement. Cowan led to the second hurdle at '35 yards, but struck a high corner, and this let Bryant in the centre, where the hurdle was awash, get away, and he won easily^ 25 YARDS (Schools' Championship,

onbj starters; won by a foot; time 22 l-ssec.

HIGH DIVING.—Drake 1, - Gunn 2. A very' picturesque competition, in which some clever and graceful diving was seen. Drake won by half a point, and others who did well were Hall and Sherwood.

25 YARDS DASH.—There were four starters, H. Fraser winning the first heat in 17 l-ssec, and A. Sims having a swim over in the second heat. In the final heat Fraser beat Boys by a foot, Sims a yard away; time 17 l-ssec. Fraser i=< a very pretty and powerful swimmer, and should be heard of in more important races by and bye. RELAY RACE, 100 yards. Timaru Main School 1, Marist Brothers' 2, High School 3. Won easily, the winners bsing much too good for the others. 100 YARDS HANDICAP (open).—First heat —Brodrick (18sec) 1, Hall (3sec) 2. Going out Brodrick kept up a steady go, and on turning for home had a good lead. The struggle home was a keen one, Hall just being defeated by a few inches; time lmin, 36 l-ssec. Second heat—Hardy (9sec) 1, Drake (lsec) 2. With Sherwood (4sec), the trio made a good race of it out, but coming home Hardy was putting on the best speed, and easing near the winning still won leisurely ; time, lmin 28sec. Final heat—Hardy 1, Brodrick 2, Drake 3. ■ Hall, did not start. Brodrick again lost no time to half way, and turned with a good lead. Hardy once headed for home came very fast, overhauled Brodrick inside the last ten. yards, and won by a few inches ; Drake a vard away; time lmin 35sec. - DIVING FOR PLATES.—Price 1, Lawson 2. The winner brought up eight plates in two dives, and the second man seven. The other? made a. poor display. It was astonishing how long some of the men could remain under water, two of them staying under for 36 seconds. DIVING (springboard).—Sherwood 1. 50 YARDS (South Canterbury championship).—Fraser 1, . Boys 2, Cowan 3. The three made a pretty race of it, Fraser winning by about 18 inches; time 38sec.