SWIMMING.

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 25, 21 February 1920, Page 14

SWIMMING.

N.Z. Championship Gala.

This meeting was finally arranged in the tepid baths, though it was also advertised to open at the Shelly Beach Baths.

There was a crowded attendance of spectators, the accommodation being taxed to its utmost capacity.

The situation, intensified by the almost unbearable heat, greatly detracted from the afternoon's sport.

It seems regrettable that such an important meeting as the New Zealand Championship should be confined to a place quite unsuitable and inconvenient to properly conduct such a carnival;

Even the officials had anything but sufficient space to freely move and control their arrangements, hence several mistakes were made.

One could readily realise their difficulties in being confined to an overcrowded area, and the wonder is that the management conducted their opening day so well without further mishaps.

Amidst the confusion there seemed to be a feeling of uncertainty about arrangements.

Even the starter of events displayed anxiety regarding the readiness of the timekeeper, whose attention had to be drawn several times to the starting of the racesHe should have only worried about his own job.

All these insignificant .details are quite out of place in a properly-con-ducted carnival, which should proceed with the promptitude of clockwork regularity, especially when New Zealand Championships are involved." ..'■-.

Mayor Gunson,: in a brief but direct speech, opened the carnival, and wished the Centre success. The opening event of. the gala was the 100 yds. junior boys' New Zealand Championship (14 years and mnder). Two good heats were well contested, being won respectively by A. Baird (Auckland) and A. Dalton (Canterbury). Both hoys are excellent swimmers, and deserved their win. The final will be swam this week. « - • • 50yds. Junior Girls' N.Z. Championship. Two heats of this event were swam off, the winners being Miss Edna Walrond (Auckland) and E. Hannan (Canterbury). • * • 200 yds. N.Z. Amateur Breast Stroke Championship. Ist and 2nd heats were won respectively by J. Deem (Wanganui) and G. Deck (Auckland). The final has yet to be decided. The one-mile New Zealand Amateur Championship was swam out in one heat. About eight contestants faced the starter, which included the present holder of the title. Mr. C Welson. This proved to be the most interesting contest of the day. 52 lengths 26yds. had to be negotiated. All swimmers used the hand over band stroke throughout. Welson appearr ed to be the favourite, and swam with a clean, strong stroke. After several laps bad been completed Paterson, Kronfeld, and Welson forged ahead, with Hill some yards behind. This order practically remained for a greater portion of the distance. At the eleventh lap, after winning many admirers with bis easy style of swimming. Paterson left the water. Only four competitors then remained"in the race—Welson, Kronfeld, Champion close together, with Hill gradually creeping up. It looked a foregone conclusion for Welson, who, still swimming strongly, took the lead, with Hill in close attendance The two leaders improved their position in the remaining laps, and to the surprise of many Hill headed Welson, and began to draw away," despite Welson's desperate attempt to remain with him. At the third lap Hill turned with a clear length ahead of Welson, with Kronfeld and Champion some yards behind. At this stage an unfortunate blunder was made in lowering the winning tape, consequently both Hill and Welson touched, and stopped, the latter rising to get out of the water. Hill was called to and continued. Meantime Welson was almost out of the water before he apparently realised the position. Hill, Kronfeld, and Champion finished the distance in the order named, and were awarded the places accordingly. Welson would have at least got second but for this blunder, as he was well ahead of Kronfeld when he stopped. Such occurrences are regrettable, as it robbed the championship of a finish that might have proved an exciting and memorable tussle for supremacy. Moreover, Welson waß deprived of second place by the action of apparently irresponsible officials whose bungling is quite inexcusable. • • • J ooyds. N.Z. Ladies' Championship. This,proved a most exciting event, and roused, the audience to a pitch of enthusiasm. The contest was between Canterbury and Auckland competitors, and included the present champion, Miss Shand, of Christchurch. An excellent start was effected, and it was soon seen that the Auckland favourite was outdistancing her opponents.

Miss Walroud swam with a beautifully clean and sweeping stroke, and well deserved the win she established, a New Zealand record for the distance, 71 4-ss. Miss Shand, of Canterbury, came second, and Miss Hoeft (Auckland) third. * « * 50yds. Inter-club Handicap. This resulted in 11 heats being - swam, the final to be decided later. .» • • The Plunge. This was won by a Napier boy, J. Cameron, who had little difficulty in negotiating this event. » * *^ The carnival will be continued on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week. " The carnival should prove highly interesting as well as educative to the various contestants. Swimming is one of the most important branches of sport, and it is hoped the public will extent a liberal patronage during the week to the gala. • * * At Sydney. Miss Fannie Durack won the 440 yds. swimming championship in the splendid time of 6.29 2-ss. Norman Ross, the American swimmer, i,s. still maintaining his reputation as a champion. In the '440 yds. championship at Sydney the other day a feature of this race was Ross's remarkable spectacular plunge, which enabled him to head all the other contestants. The time established will go down as an official record for the distance, as the better time put on by Barney Kiernan in 1905 was not officially recognised. Ross covered the 100 yds. in 58 seconds. He was not, however pressed, otherwise he might have chipped a couple of seconds off this. He also completed the 880 yds. in 11m. 24 l-55., but Ross won as he liked.