WANGANUi AMATEUR SWIMMING CLUB.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9385, 11 March 1898, Page 2

WANGANUi AMATEUR SWIMMING CLUB.

The Championship Meeting.

officials : President: P. R. Jackson, Esq. VicePresidents : W. Empson, G. Sheriff. J. L. Stevenson, and H. B. Watson, Esqrs. Judges: T. D. Cummins ana E. W. Andrews, Esqrs. Starter: Mr J. G. McNaught. Handicapper: Mr H. Mowtell. Timekeepers : Messrs W. H. G. Foster, C. H. Chavanne3, and R. Springman. Result Board: J. W. Kirby. Captain: W. J. Mahoney. Vice-captain : G. H. Larking. Stewards: Messrs Drummond, H. B. Watson, D. Meldrum, J. Bannister, G. Carson, M.H.R., R. Anderson. Hon. Treasurer : C. L. Dymock. Hon. Seoretary : W. J. Mahoney. The sports yesterday afternoon at the Corporation Baths passed off successfully. There were some excellent races and exciting finishes. Youag St. Gorton, the ex-Collegiate School champion, demonstrated that, with training, he would be quite equal to the best swimmer's in New Zealand. Although he had not had a swim for a couple of months, he, nevertheless, acquitted himself most creditably. He won the 100 Yards Club Championship, and had he been in good form would undoubtedly have had a big say in the Quarter -mile Championship, in which event he led for a couple of lengths of the baths. H. Rich, the Lyttelton representative, maintained his reputation, and scored an easy win in the Quarter-mile Championship, A. B, Trußcott, the other Canterbury man, coming secondr The latter also won the 150 Yards Handicap from soratch, beating Hamilton,of Napier, to whom he conceded 6sec, by several yards. Had Rich been pushed in the Quarter he 'would have put tip a much faster time ; as it was he beat the standard by 3 l-sth sso. The result of the Plunge Championship was somewhat of a surprise, as it was expected that the popular seoretary of the Wanganui Amateur Swimming Club, Mr W. J. Mahoney, who put up a record of 48ft for the Baths last week, would have appropriated that event. He was, however, beaten by his club mate, Mr M. Spurdle, by one foot. The judges' task in deciding the Neatest Dive was by no means a Binecure, in consequence of the age and disparity in size of the competitors. They awarded the first prize to the Wellington representative, though the public's verdict was young Perrett. In this event Willis struck the water best, but splashed with his legs. Following are the concluding results : 75 Yards Handicap (Boys) : Matai Campbell, lOsec, 1; B. Bassett, scratch, 2 j N. Pownall, ISsec, 3. Borlase, Gurr, and House also started. A capital race; won by about a yard, a couple of inches separating second and third. Time, lmin 15 4-6 th sec. 60'Yabds Handicap: First heat: P. Mahoney, 6aec, 1 ; E. R. Willis? lOsec, 2 ; J. S. Butler (Wellington) ,3. W, Brennan, 3seo, also started. Won by a foot, Second heat: P. Orabbe (Wellington), lsec, 1 ; W. J. Mahoney, ssec, 2 ; E. E. Larking, 7sec, 3. C. Fownall, 7seo, also Btarted. Won by an inoh or two after a great race, the third man several yards behind, Time, 38 3-sth sec. Final: P. Mahoney 1, Crabb and Willis dead heat for seoond place, 'W, Mahoney a couple of inohes behind. Wop by a yard. Time, 40 l-sth see. 100 Yards Com.eoiate Scnooii Handicap : Beatson, 18sec, 1; Burns, 28sec, 2; Hunter 13seo and Murray Bsec, 3. Gould, 29860, also started, Murray swam splendidly, but was too heavily handicapped. Won by a couple'of feet In lmin 31seo. " ' , " ' Neat Divino (boys nnder-16): Campbell, 1; Neverman, 2; Borlase, 3, Only competitors. All the lads dived well, there being little to choose between first and seoond, 100 Yakds Clot Championship : D. St Gorton, 1 ; J. Hamilton, 2 ; W. Brennan, 3. P. Mahoney, W. J. Mahoney and R. MoGregor also started. St Gorton was the first to show ahead, and at half the distance had a lead of three yards. Although he had not been in ,the. water for over two months, and consequently very far from being in good form, he succeeded in maintaining the lead to the finish, beating Hamilton by a ooaple of inches. The latter swam wide 25 yards from home, and collided with the side of the'baths, otherwise the positions of the first two might have been reversed. There was scarcely an inch betweeu the second and third men. Time, Iminl7sec. < ' Plunoe Championship of N.Z. : ■, M. Spurdle, 88ft 6in, 1 i W. J. Mahoney, 37ft 61u, 2 j J. Hamilton, " Napier, 37ft, 3. H. Rich (Lyttelton} also dived, reaching 83i}t. Spurdle in his first attempt touched 30ft and in his seoond plunge 38ft Gin, Hamilton's other dives were 33ft, 361{t and 86£ ft, ana Mahoney plunged 37ft in three other trials, 50 Yabds Collegiate School Handicap, under 16 : Burns, 12aeo, 1 j'Fry, I2seo, 2; Murphy, ml, soh, 3. Won easily by five or six yards, Time, 42 4-sth sec 150Taiids Handicap: A. B, Trusoott, Canterbury, soh, 1 ; J, Hamilton, Napier, 6seo,'2; O. Pownafi, 16seo, 8. W, Brennan, W. Mahoney, P. Mahonay, E. Larking, and E. Willis also started. Willis led for two lengths of the B.aths, then P. Mahoney came to the front, olosely followel by Hamilton, Commencing the last length Trusoott and Hamilton were together ahead, but IS yards from home the Canterbury representative came away from the Napier man and won by three yards. Time, 2mm 50 2-sth sec. CnAiipioN Teams Race: St George's team (Mowtell, McGregor, Brennan, Whitcombe and Day), 1 j Wanganui Amateur Club team, 2; visiting team, 3. The 'atter, which was composed of Crabbe, Truscott, Rich, Butler and Hamilton, had to concede the other teams 25seo start. Won easily by a length of the baths, hah! a length between the others.