AQUATICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 450, 9 March 1899, Page 7

AQUATICS

[By

Muritai. ]

F. O. V. Lane, who won the N.S.W. Quartermile Swimming Championship in 5.54 l-ssec, and thus beating Percy Cavill’s previous Australian record of 6.6 J, will presently make an attempt to lower the 100yds record. Lane’s time far the Quarter-mile is only ssec slower than N .all’s world’s professional record, but it is easilj oeaten by Tyler’s world’s amateur record of 5.43 l-ssec. This season Lane has won every N.S.W. Championship, except the 100yds, which was annexed by Bishop. On Saturday Lane accomplished a splendid performance at Sydney in the 220yds swimming match. He swam the distance in 2min 37 4 5 sec, time which constitutes a world’s record for 220yds. The Auckland Yacht Club and Ponsonby Sailing Club their picnic conjointly at the Lake Beach on Saturday afternoon last. The weather was perfect, and the fresh southerly breeze was not only a fair one for the large number of yachts which visited the preity beach, but it gave smooth water for anchorage there. A good crowd of friends went down in the steamer, and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The final of the Ladies’ Pair-oar race, which was postponed from the North Shore Sailing Club’s picnic, was rowed on Saturday. There

had been a lot of interest taken in the race during the week, a number of partisans watching the ladies in their “ work.” The Misses Sullivan had very little difficulty in winning, Misses Lind and Alison giving in at the finish. A lot of Auckland crews are in training for the popular Ngaruawahia Regatta, and most of the clubs willj be represented. The committee has a large sum of money in hand, so there will be none of that pro rata business which has become such a nuisance to aquatic competitors of late years in Auckland. The following cutting from the Sydney Referee, giving the particulars of the second race in which the two New Zealand l-raters (Mercia and Laurel) met, will be of interest to Aucklanders. Mercia was again allowing Laurel llmin, and it will be noticed that the time was given at the start: —“ The race, which was sailed over the Lightship-Shark Island course, gave promise at the outset of providing a slashing go between the two New Zealand rators, Laurel and Mercia, and the little Bronzewing IV. The last-named, however, did not sail up to her historic form, and Mercia’s proverbial bad luck stuck to her. Shortly after the start on Saturday the Messrs Logan’s creation sprung her mainsail yard, and notwithstanding the fact that she had to beat from Bradley’s Head to the Lightship with her main halyard slightly eased so as to save the spar from becoming a total wreck, she yet managed to skim into second place before the finish. The other New Zealand boat, however, upheld her reputation as inter-colonial champion 1-rater by winning from Mercia with Imin 25sec to spare. It will • thus be seen that had these two boats started off the same mark the finish would have been a very close one. Waimea was the third boat to arrive home, 2min 53sec behind Mercia.”