AQUATICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 528, 31 January 1901, Page 8

AQUATICS

I By

Spinnaker.

The first Australasian swimming championship meeting under the new compact takes place in Victoria, and begins on February 1. It- will be governed ,by the following conditions The whole of the events must be got rid of in eight days; no postponements. under any consideration whatever to be allowed. Each colony shall only start three representatives in each event. The events and standards shall be: 100yds, 67sec; 220yds, 2min 50sec; 440yds, 6tnin 20aec ; 880yds, 14min ; one mile, 28min 30sec; plunging, 55ft. The winner of each event shall receive a gold medal of 15-carat gold, weighing not less than lOdvt each, and the second a silver medal, weighing 15dwts. Standard certificates of a special design should be given all competitors who finish within the figures given - No entrance fee shall be charged visiting competitors. The V.A.S.A. shall have complete control over the Victorian Meeting, bearing any loss and receiving any profits. The expenses of visiting teams shall be borne by their own associations. Competitors must be bona fide residents of the colony they represent fdr six months prior to the Ist February, 1901. lhe colony whose representatives gain the most firsts shall be the champion Aus ralasian colony until the next meeting in New Zealand, during the year 1902. Dead heats must be swum off Should any two or more colonies obtain an equal number, of firsts, then the championship shall be awarded to the colony that has obtained the most seconds.”

Last Thursday evening, at the Lancaster Park bath, Mr E. Champion, the winner of all the New Zealand championships, made an attempt to lower the New Zealand record for a quarter of a mile. The conditions were not at all favourable, and Champion’s attempt was unsuccessful, his time for the distance being 6min 44 l-ssec. At Lyttelton, on January 2, Champion’s time in the 440Yda Championship was 6min 30sec, while the New Zealand record for the distance is 6min 24 2-ssec, put up by W. J. Gormley, at Auckland, in 1894. Champion left by the Moana on Friday for Melbourne, where be will represent New Zealand at the Australasian Championship Meeting.

The Parnell Sailing Club’s second series of races were postponed from last week until next Saturday.

The Auckland Anniversary Regatta having been postponed from the 29th January, out of respect to the memory of our late Queen, will probably be held about the end of February. St George’s Rowing Club Committee met on Thursday night, and decided to postpone the trial fours for the Coates’ challenge cup until Saturday next. It was also deemed advisable to have the crews redrawn, the following being the result: —(1) Armitage, Edgecumbe, Culpan, Herlihy; (2) Busby, Whitley, Horne. Wright; (3) Pirie, Hay, Gilmore, Turner ; (4) J. Thomson, Dallen, Monteath, McClelland; (5) Waddy, Cooper, Thornes, Keane ; (6) H. J. M. Thomson, Black, O’Sullivan, McCabe. The first race is timed to start at half-past two p.m. sharp.

« The Australasian,” -writing under date December 7th, says : —“ The ceremony of prese. ting George Towns-with the ‘Sportsman’ Challenge Cup, to be held by him asflong as he retains the sculling championship of England, came off on Wednesday evening, when the popular Australian oarsman was banqueted in princely fashion. Mr W. J. I nnes occupied the chair, and Tom Sullivan, Town’s right-hand man, was, of course, among the representative company present. The chairman, in proposing Town’s health, said the latter was a particularly plodding and perserving sculler —not a flier, like Searle or Beach, but a man who was thoroughly honest, straight in rowing, and straight in intention He regretted that the match for the championship of England had had to be rowed for by two Australians, but as Towns and Wray were now practically Englishmen, there was a little excuse for the fact Mr Innes then presented Towns with the cup, with a gold watch given in addition by the proprietors of the ‘ Sportsman,’ with a gold chain subscribed for by a number of admirers, and with a pair of miniature sculls, given by Mrs Tom Sullivan. Towns made a suitable response, in the course of which he expressed a hope that he would soon be called on again to defend his, title of champion and holder of the cup.

Che committee of the Lyttelton Regatta have presented Captain Wood, of the Lutterworth, which was granted by him as flagship, with a handsome spirit stand of oak, with cut glass bottles, and bearing a silver plate inscribed with monogram. Captain Wood’s curtesy to his visitors on the regatta days was highly appreciated by all who -availed themselves of his kindness.

The committee of the Auckland Swimming Club have decided to hold a carnival in the Graving Dock, on Saturday, February 16. The principal events will be as follows:—100yds Provincial Championship, 50yds Crowther Memorial Handicap, 100yds Ladies’ Bracelet, 220yds Century Handicap, and 50yds Old Buffers’ Race. A polo match will also be played by teams from Ponsonby, North Shore, City and Suburbs.

MrA.T. Pittar has solu his crack 36-footo r 1 r yacht Rainbow, to Mr E. 0. Mills, rear commodore of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Wellington.