SWIMMING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 999

SWIMMING.

THREE RECORDS ESTABLISHED. The Northern • Amateur Swimming Club’s first championship meeting, held iu the Auckland Dock on Saturday afternoon, was in all respects successful. The attendance came quite up to expectations, and the estimate of 2000 could not have been very far out. By some of the Southern competitors and others it is averred that there has never been held in the colony so successful a meeting, conducted by a local club. The day was delightfully fine under the circumstances. The carnival throughout was one of continual interest. The first event set down for competition was the 100yds championship of Auckland. This race was contested in two heats and a final. In the first heat J. M. Hamilton was successful, his time for the distance being equal to the standing New Zealand record, viz.. GGsecs. The second heat was not particularly fast. The final provided the best "go” witnessed during the afternoon. 11. Creaghe, Dunedin’s representative, proved the winner, finishing fully two yards ahead of Hamilton (Greymouth). Creaghe put up a remarkable performance. His time was 65 3-ssecs., which eclipses the previous record put up by Malcolm Champion at Christchurch two seasons ago by 2-ssec. When it became known that Creaghe had established a fresh New Zealand record the crowd cheered lustily, and the win was evidently very popular. Hamilton, who finished second, notched G7secs. dead. Creaghe, it may not be generally known, is a Rockhampton boy, and has only resided iu this colony some six months. He is now in his seventeenth year, and tops the scales at 12st. Of the other items on the programme the half-mile championship of New Zealand was undoubtedly the most interesting. In this race a not hex- New Zealand record was made, the winner being J. M. Hamilton, who put up a marvellous performance. His time of 13min. 34 2-ssecs. for the distance reduced the colony’s best by the substantial margin of 42 3-ssecs. Hamilton swam a great race, and was apparently equal to doing even better than the time recorded. He was not pressed at any part, of the race. L. Penrose (Christchurch), the second man, also cut out remarkably good time. The record for the distance was 14miu. 17secs„ and the Christchurch man swam it in 14min. Gsees., which is Usees, better. Loud and prolonged cheering greeted the result. If the races mentioned wore the most interesting, the relay race, in which all manner of athletic bodies took part, certainly carried W’ith it a great amount of local rivalry, and the cheering and shouting that' was indulged in was enough to work any team up to a very high pitch of excitement. After an even “go” the City Football Club was victorious, the. Auckland Rowing Club coming second.

In the evening the carnival was continued at the Albert-street Freshwater Baths. Again the attendance was exceedingly good. Those present must have numbered close on a thousand. The racing proved very exciting, and there were several close finishes. Hamilton again established a fresh New Zealand record, this time for the quarter-mile. Only three started, Hamilton, Penrose and Wattie Dunn. Hamilton won rather easily. He finished in Gm. 23 2-ssee, the previous New Zealand record being Gm. 30s. The second man, Penrose, was credited with Gm. 57 4-ss. Instead of being cheered, as might have been supposed, poor Hamilton was hooted and yelled at; a clique of hoodlums at one corner of the baths being the cause of all the, disturbance. It was a despicably mean attitude to take up, and under no circumstances could it be put down to any but the veriest hoodlum or larrikin. As it was these persons were absolutely wrong in their conclusions. They believed, or made believe, that Hamilton was responsible in a measure for Champion’s disqualification, but, ns stated, in this they were entirely wrong. Hamilton did all in his power to assist the local club to get the Wellington body to rescind its resolution and allow Champion to compete at the meeting. The Southern Club stood firm, and Hamilton even went so far as to apply to the governing body in Christchurch, asking them to overrule the Wellington centre,

and allow Champion to swim, as it would, he pointed out, be a great help to the Northerners and swimming generally. Champion, he added, seeks protection under Clause S. A reply was received to the effect that the Association could not overrule the Wellington centre, as the matter was purely a local difference. On the face of this the Club was quite justified in not permitting Champion to start. The general arrangements of the day were carried out in a thoroughly efficient manner, the several races being started with commendable promptitude. In this respect Messrs R. Eagleton. W. Seeley, and the other members of the committee were indefatigable, and are deserving of every praise. At the conclusion of the day’s programme the members and their friends adjourned to’ the Federal Club rooms, where a valedictory smoke concert was tendered to the Southern visitors.