SWIMMING.

West Coast Times, Issue 10536, 21 July 1897, Page 2

SWIMMING.

Lqndon, July 19. The contest for the Five Mi.c Amateur Swimming Championship of the world took place in the presence of an enormous gathering of spectators. Amongst the competitors was Green, the champion of the English southern counties, and Hart the American champion. Green led for half an hour when Cavill, N. S. W', drew . level with him. Both Green and Cavill were seized with cramp in the last half mile, but after taking stimulants they I went on and Cavill won a plucky race by 12 seconds, although Green came on very strong towards the finish. Sixteen swimmers started for the Five Miles Amateur Championship of the World. The course was from Kew to Putney. The race was contested on a fast ebb tide. Tyers, the amateur champion, was absent. Green, champion of southern counties, was leading by twenty yards at Barney's Bridge, which was reached in 18min ssecs. C-.vill was 6secs behind, with lla\C3, London, ilnrd and

Hart, the American champion, fourth. Rougher water was now entered, which suited Cavill, who was level with Green at Ohiswich, where the time was 34min 35secs. Swimming very strongly Oavill scon led by thirty yards and increased it at Hammersmith Bridge to fifty. Time 43min 37secs ; a record for the distance. Green's time was 44min 15secs. Green was seized with a cramp in the stomach but after taking a stimulant swam amazingly well and fast gained on Cavill. In the last half mile the Sydney man was sei'ed with a bad attack of cramp. He took a breather and eventually won a plucky race by 12secs, breaking the record for 5 miles by 6min 22sees. Hawes was a bad third ; Hart, fourth. It was a splendid contest with an enormous attendance of spectators.

Green wishes to meet Cavill in the Half Mile Amateur Championship, which will be decided on July 31st.

Percy Cavil!, Jack Hillings (Sydney), audStratton (N.Z.) will compete in the international swimming contests at Brussels on Saturday and Sunday next.