SWIMMING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 9, 2 March 1910, Page 10

SWIMMING.

New Zealand Championships. There was an attendance of well over 1000 people at the Albert-street baths last week, to witness the swimming matches held under the auspices of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. The different events enticed very good entries, and competition was exceedingly keen. For the mile championship of New Zealand there was a great race. M. K-. Champion, of Auckland, wresting the title from the last holder, R. Healy, of Wellington. and also making a new time record over the distance for New Zealand. The Bavarian Band was in attendance, and the evening’s entertainment appeared to he thoroughly appreciated. Following are the results: — MILE CHAMPIONSHIP OF NEW ZEALAND. M. E. Champion (Auckland) 1 F. E. Dodge (East Christchurch).. 2 C. 11. H. Rich (Canterbury) 3 W. Man hi re (Canterbury).. 4 Other starters: C. Welson (Auckland), R. Healy (Wellington), and F. J. Kernott (Auckland). The men got away to an even start, and the first lap was not productive of any marked development. At the end of the

second, the bolder of the champlon«ht> title had forged his way into the lead, the positions being Healy, Welson, iticli, Champiou, Dodge, Mauhire, and Kernott, in that orjier. The end of the fourth lap.saw Healy improve his lead, with Welson, Dodge, and. Champion in his wake, and Mauhire last. Turning at the sixth lap; Healy had a lead of four yards from Dodge, who was just la front of Champion. At’the tenth, positions were unchanged, but in the next Champion had swum into second place, and had, reduced Healy’s lead to two yards by the end of the twelfth lap. The quarter mile saw Champion extend himself, and amidst considerable applause lie got on even terms with the leader. Another lap a.nd Champion was in the lead, with half a yard to spare. Dodge was swimming gracefully and steadily, and was six yards, away, third. At the end of the 18th lap Champion had improved his position by two yards, and the 22nd round saw’ him increase his lead to three yards. Kernott at this stage retired from the race, and Champion had got on even terms with Welson, who thus had two laps more to go than the leader. At the half mile Dodge caught up to Healy, in second place, but by this time Champion had improved his lead on the others by 13 yards, in the 33rd lap Dodge accidentally fouled with Manhire, but soon made up for lost ground. In the 40th, Healy retired. Dodge was then left half a lap behind Champion, and a lap ahead of the others. Positions were practically unchanged throughout the concluding stages, and Champion won by 20 yards. Rich being the best part of a lap away, third. Manhire fourth, and Welson fifth. The time put up by Champion was 25m 375, which is a record for New Zealand, and boats the winner’s previous record by 4 4 ss. Dodge, Rich, ami Manhire all finished within standard time (27m), and will also receive standard certificates and badges. Champion finished his race looking almost as fresh as when he started, and was accorded a warm reception. Healy, who was the holder of the championship title, did not appear to be swimming with his usual freedom and confidence, and for some time prior to his retiring from the race seemed to be in trouble. On leaving the baths he was, despite his defeat, warmly applauded. GREASY BOOM COMPETITION. J. Gibbons 1 CHAMPIONSHIP RELAY RACE. Waitemata, Auckland (K. Marett, J. D. Stewart. A. O’Hare, M. E. Champion and B. Becker) 1 Ponsonby. Auckland (It. 11. I’. Ronayne, E. Fristrom. F. H. Baker, W. M. Rees and L. Weston) 2 Canterbury (A. Brightling. L. Dingle, P. Mason, C. Atkinson and G. L. Bull) 3 Wellington also started. Won by four yards.

F” WATER POLO. Wellington defeated Canterbury A., Waitemata defeated Canterbury B. Wellington aqd Waitemata meet in the final next Friday night. BOYS’ HANDICAP, under 17, 50yds. First Heat.—J. Cowley. 4s, andW. Lunn, 7s, dead heat for first. Time, 355. Second Heat.— E. Bovaird, 3s, 1; I. Stewart, scr., 2. Time, 36 2-ss. Third Heat. —N. Joan, 2s, 1; J. McQuillen, Gs, 2. Time, 38 1-os. Final: J. Cowley . 1 N. Joan 2 Time, 355. SCHOOLBOYS’ HANDICAP, under 14, 36yds. B. Stewart, 2s 1 11. Is 2 Time, 27 l-ss. OPEN HANDICAP, 72yds. First Heat. —C. Murray 1. Time 48s. Second Heat. —W. Geddes 1. Time 50 2-se. Third Heat.—E. McLaren 1. Time, 50 2-ss. Fourth Heat. —I. Stewart 1. Time 50 2-ss. Fifth Heat.—M. Harrison 1. Time 51 4-ss. Sixth Heat. —A. Danrell 1. Time, 54 2-ss. Seventh Heat. —J. Stone and W. Beard dead heat. Time, 54 l-ss. Eighth Heat. —J. McQuillen 1. Time, 545. Ninth Heat.—C. Kane 1. Time, 48 l-ss. Final: - C. Murray, 9s 1 E. McLaren, 6s i.. 2 A great race resulted in a win for Murray by a yard. McLaren was just ahead of the seven other starters, who almost finished in line. Time, 52 1-5. QUA RTER-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP. M. IS. Champion (Auckland) 1 R. Healy (Wellington) 2 F. E. Dodge (Christchurch) 3 Also started: C. V. Welson (Auckland), W. Manhire (Canterbury), and C. 11. Rich (Cianierbuiy). From an even start, Rich and Welson were the'first to show out. At the end of the second lap Welson was leading by a yard, Healy being in second position, and Rich third. The fourth lap saw Healy and Weise n together, just ahead of Champion ami Dodge. At this stage of the race Rich retired. When half the distance* had been covered, Healy bad a load of a yard, with Champion, Dodge, Welson and Manhire following in that order. The end of the eighth lap saw Champion on terms with Healy, and with three parts of the course covered Champion struck out for the lead. When tne tenth lap was reached, Champion had a yard's lead, and at the eleventh had Increased it io a yard and a half. In the final lap Healy chalenged the leader, and made a great struggle to reduce the distance between them. The Wellington man made a beautiful turn, and shot out iu the last stretch to the tape. Champion was full of vim, however, and amidst much excitement, he shook Healy off, and won by a yarn. Dodge was 12 yards away, third. Welson was fourth, and M-aahire fifth. The quarter-mile was swum in smin. 54} sec., thus establishing a new. record by 14 secs, for New Zealand, the previous best time being that of 6’uin. 8 3-ssec., recorded by R. Healy, who held the championship title last year. The world’s record time for the distance is smin. 19sec. The three first men—Champion, Healy and Dodge —all get standard certificates and badges. 100YDS CHAMPIONSHIP OF NEW ZEALAND. First heat: A. O'Hare (Auckland) 1, C. D. Campbell (Wanganui) 2. Other starters: C. Atkinson (Canterbury), W. M. Rees (Auckland), R. 11. Bailey (Canterbury). Won fairly easily. Time. 65 4-ss. Second heat: B. C. Freyberg (Wellington) 1. J. D. Stewart (Auckland) 2. Also started: L. Fristrom (Auckland), L. Dingle (Canterbury), Won by two yards. Time, 66 l-ss. Third heat: M. E. Champion (Auckland) 1. L 11. Welson (Auckland! 2. Also started: G. Seymour (Hawke’s Bay). R. H. P. Ronayne (Auckland), G. E. Bull (Canterbury), F. E. Dodge (Canterbury). Won by two feet. Time, 65 3-5. Final: B. C. Freyberg (Wellington) J A. O’Hare (Auckland) 2 M. E. Champion (Auckland) ...1.... . 3 When the men lined up at the starting point their positions were: Stewart, Frevbtnrg, Welson, Champton and O’Hare. At the sound of the pistol,' Freyberg got away with a beautiful flying start, and at once established a lead. At the end of the first lap he was quickest to make the turn. O’Hare, on the extreme left, was next to round, and Stewart and Champion were just ahead of the others. Freyberg, swimming beautifully, maintained his lead in the next lap, though a strong challenge was thrown out by O’Hare, the young Aucklander putting In magnificent work, and improving his position a little as they neared the final turn. Freyberg, however, proved himself a remarkably clever swimmer on the turn, and was first round, still having a slight lead on O’Hare. Champion then joined the issue, and Stewart was also putting in great work on the outside course to the right. In the final stages of the race, O’Hare, Champion, and Stewart all gained on Freyberg, but the Wellington-iari, though hard pushed, succeeded in stalling off the challenge. As they approached the tape, the three men appeared to be in line, and cries from their respective supporters went up simultaneously for Freyberg, O’Hare, and Champion. The margin between the three appeared to be very hard to define, but the judges declared In favour of Freyberg, placing O’Hare second, and Champion third. The distance separating them was, according to the judges, “just inches.” Stewart was very close up, fourth, Welson fifth, and Campbell last. Time, 655. The last holder of the 100yds championship was R. 11. P. Ronayne, who failed to gain a place In his heat last night. Standard time for the race is 66r, and the first three men all qualify for standard badges and certificates. The record for New Zea-

land over the distance is held by R. O. Murphy, of Wanganui, who did it in 64 l-ss. NOVICE HANDICAP. 50yds. First heat: W. Beard, ss, 1; J. Gibbons, scr.. 2. Time, 355. Second heat: M. Joan, Is, 1; J. Johnson, 3s, 2. Time, 32 3-ss. Third heat: G. Wright, 4s, 1; H. Thomas, Is, 2. Time, 345. 4 •'.* Final: M. Joan ■*. 1 G. Wright 2 Time, 34 l-ss. 50YDS OPEN HANDICAP. First heat: J. C. Ilancox, 6s, 1. Time, 33 4-ss. Second heat: P. O. Mason, 3s, 1. Time, 325. Third heat: H. McCartie, 4s, 1. Time, 34 l-se. Fourth heat: J. H. Knight, 6s, 1. Time, 32 3-ss. Fifth heat: W. Geddes, 35,-1. Time, 31 3-ss. Sixth heat: W. Dumper, ss, and J. McQuillen, ss, head heat. Time, 32 3-ss. Seventh heat: A. Danrell. Time, 32 3-ss. Eighth heat: F. Barrett, 4s, I. Time 325. Ninth heat: M. Kroufeld, 4s, Time, 34 l-ss. Final: J. H. Knight 1 J. C. Hancox 2 A good race resulted in a win for Knight by two yards. Time, 31 l-ss. 36YDS HANDICAP. First Heat: C. Kane, ss, 1. Time 235. Second heat: J. C. Emmerson, Js, 1. Time, 21s. Third heat: R. W. Hill, ss, 1. Time, 225. Fourth heat: I. Stewart, 2|s, 1. Time, 22 3-ss. Fifth heat: L. Kerr-Taylor, Ils, 1. Time, 235. Sixth heat: L. Fristrom. is, I. Time, 21 2-ss. Seventh heat: F. Truscott, 2Js, 1. Time, 245. Final: Truscott (Christchurch) 1 Kerr-Taylor (Auckland) 2 DIVING COMPETITION. G. P. Hanna (Wellington) 1 ONE MILE RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP. Canterbury A (C. H. Rich, P. Schwartz, W. Manhire, and F. E. Dodge) 1 Ponsonby (R. M. Bell. S. W. Kean, W. M. Rees, and F. J. Keruott) 2 The Canterbury B team also competed. Ponsonby led in the early stages, but Christchurch A ultimately won by 50yds; WATER VOLO CHAMPIONSHIP. Canterbury A defeated Canterbury B by three goals to nil in the final for the polo championship. The winning team comprised G. Gemmell. C. H. H. Rich, W. Cookson, H. H. Williams, C. Atkinson, P. Schwartz, and L. Hales. The meeting was a most successful one, and much credit is due to the officers of the Association, including Mr. G. Kattems, chairman of the Auckland Centre; Mr. J. J. Mulvihill, the secretary, and his energetic assistants, Messrs. B. O’Hare and 11. D. Crawford.