SWIMMING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5765, 8 January 1897, Page 4

SWIMMING NOTES.

• _: :., ,♦ ■.- ■• . [By Natator in " Canterbury Times."] The swimming races in connection with, the Lyttelton Regatta on New Year's Day were' decided iii the dock and attracted considerable interest, as the best swimmers in the province took . part in them. . The various "officials worksd with a will, and the races were got off punctually. The starting of Mr Gv E. Collins was excellent, and Mr W. B. Eyre's handicapping highly satisfactory. Seven started in the 50yds Championship of Canterbury, which T. S. "VVauchop (East Christchurch) won by a yard from W. J. Stratton (Christchurch), Truscott (Richmond), a similar distance away, third. H. Rich (Lyttelton) was fourth, the others outpaced. Wauchop broke the Canterbury record, swimming the distance in 31|sec . The 50yds Lyttelton Club Handicap was won by J. O'Brien 18sec, with C. D. Cleary Usee second. The New Year Inter-club Handicap, of | 50yds, was swum in six heats, the first in each heat swimming in the final, which was won by T. J. Walhew Bsec (East Christchurch), 11. Hatch 9sec (East Christchurch) being second. All the heats in this race were evenly contested. The Sunimer Handicap of 75yds (interclub), was decided in three heats, the first and second in each heat starting in the final, anr], after a most exciting race, was won hy the scratch man, T. S. Wauchop (East Christchurch) just on the touch, A. Russell Bsec (Sydenham) second, and E. C. Brown 13sec (Lyttelton) third. Only six started in the 100 yds Regatta Inter-club Handicap, out of an entry of fifteen, the North Island being represented by E. J. Fleming Usee (Wellington), but he could get no nearer than fifth. The race was won by the limit man, C. D. Cleary 24sec (Lyttelton), by a yard from A. B. Truscott 6seo (Richmond), who swam very gamely and looked like winning a dozen yards from home. H. Rich 6sec (Lyttelton) was third. W. J. Stratton, the scratch man, was favourite for this race, but he gave up after going about eighty yards. Tho East Christchurch Club won three first prizes and one second, Lyttelton two firsts and one second, Richmond, Christchurch and Sydenham one second each. An exhibition of Mr Morgan's lif e-saving belt was made during the afternoon, a feature of the article, being that it is fastened moro quickly and securely than the belts now in use on our coastal steamers, ono of which was shown in conjunction with Sir Morgan's. The inventor claims that .as his belt is fastened around tho neck * instead, of the waist, it is almost impossible for the wearer's head to be under the water.