SWIMMING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16366, 3 March 1921, Page 3

SWIMMING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. CR.v “ XATATOJI " ) Noxt. Sunday, at Corsair Bay, the Sydenham Club will hold - its annual quarter-mile handicap for the Putnam Cup. The entries for the race total fifteen, and the contest should be a good one. This is the first time the race has been swum at Corsair Bay, the club on all other occasions goin" to Redeliffs. Last year, however, this course proved a little unsatisfactory as there were a number of boats in the way and the committee decided to try swimming the race at Corsair Bay this year- The hay is certainly a much more pleasant place at which to hold ! a race, and as the club intends holding a picnic in conjunction with the swimming a. pleasant day should be spent. The quarter-mile will be swum at about half-past three in the afternoon, and two other events, a 50yds breaststroke sweepstake handicap and a diving competition, will be held in the morning. Last week the Sydenham Club held the second distance for the Jones Cup. 50yds, and some close finishes were seen. -T. Matthews won the final, with S. Loader second and AY. Main third. Matthews, with 7 points, leads in tho Cup competition, for which there is one more race, 75yds, which will bo decided at the end of next week. Last Thursday the Kendal Lon .School held a swimming carnival at the school baths, 3iid the youngsters spent a very enjoVable afternoon. The winner of the boys’ championship was J. Berry, and the winner of the girls’ championship Was 11. Pearson. Other schools might well follow the example set by Fendalton, in fact there is no reason in the world why every school in Christchurch should not have an annual swimming carnival. The .children are always keen enough, and it generally only remains with the teachers to show enough enthusiasm to create a meeting. There was some very good swimming see n last Saturday at the Opawa Club’s carnival., Though the absence of Miss G with a’ Shand removed a big attraction, the meeting was very successful. Tire Harris Cup relay was the big event of the day and provided a good race with a sensational finish for second place. Three teams— Opawa, East Christchurch and United competed. East, who drew middle position in the bath, winning by about three' yards. Over the first 50yds East and Opawa were on terms, with United a little way back. N- S. Batchelor (East) gained a slight advantage over the next 50yds, while the United man moved up a little. The East third man, Dam pier, increased tho lead substantially, covering the. 50yds in 28sec dead. At this stage East had the race well in hand, and the last , man to swim, Boon, started with a

lead of four or five yards, winning by I three yards. In the last 50yds Wheeley (United) entered the water slightly ahead of Jcrrod (Opawa), and in a great finish for second place United won on the touch. Jerrod must !>ave made very fast time, probably doing better than anyone else in th© race. The Cup, which has heen competed for on twenty-two occasions, has been won each time by East Christchurch, a remarkably creditable performance. MV C. Atkinson, captain of the "East Christchurch Club, was at the carnival. and was presented with the Cup by Mr W. FT. D. Hi shop, president of the New Zealand Swimming Association. at the conclusion of the race. Mr Atkinson able to get about again, hut his foot is still in plaster of Parts. However, he has followed the sport with the greatest keenness all through his illness. There will he a meeting of the Canterbury Centre on Friday night. Entries close for the Garrison Sports Carnival on Friday. March 11. with the bonorory secretary, Ideutenant H. M. Foster, Box 938. The final of the Dalton Cup Quaterrnile was held by the Fast Christchurch ( lub last Monday might. when N. S. Batchelor won from A. E. Dalton by a small margin. The 880 yarns race of tliis series has yet to be decided. It looks now as if Batchelor will win the trophy. On Monday night, also, a sealed handicap dive was held, the winner being A Howarth. All who went to Ashburton la-st Thursday enjoyed themselves. The carnival was a great success, and the visitors .ail had a good time.