AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 35, 10 February 1909, Page 7

AQUATICS.

SOWING. WEST END ROWING CLUB. This club will be well represented at the forthcoming championship fixture at Mercer on Saturday next, the following crews, including the now famous un|.beaten light-weight juniors, having been entered: — Light MaiOsn.—W. Massey (stroke), A. Bennett, W. Davidson, 'X. Bell. Open Maiden. —W. Trevarthen (stroke), A. Webber, S. Cole, G. Wright. Light Junior.—T. Blomfield (stroke), 1. Kelly, S. Hazard, A. Carlaw. Heavy I Junior.—L. Dixon (stroke), W. Mackreli, H. Rowe, M. Alison. Auckland Plate.— L. Dixon (stroke), W. Maekrell, T. Blomtield, I. Kellyi In addition to the foregoing entries the light junior crew are to have an opportunity of trying their mettle against their heavier opponents in the open junior class. i In view of the fact that so many row- ' ing authorities declare that " weight" is * an absolute necessity in the composition ! of a successful oarsman, it is interesting to note that the West End light-weight crew, in addition to winning every race in their own class, won the open weight race against all comers in the junior division on no less than three occasions last season. Under the circumstances it is 1 hardly surprising to find that the Club's I supporters give the light-weight crew 1 a good chance of getting home with both the light and open heavy junior championships. I At a meeting of the Committee held in i the boathoiise on Monday evening it was decided to hold trial fours for trophies j presented by Mr. Schmidt, a vice-presi- j dent of the club, on Saturday, February \ 20th. Entries close with the secretary at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, the 17th. i Double sculling trials for trophies presented by Mr. W. Smith, a member of the club, will be held on Saturday, March 6. It is to be hoped that this branch of the sport, so deservedly popular at Home, will continue to make headway among our local clubs. In the opinion of those competent to judge, an Aucklander should go very close to annexing the sculling trophy at next Saturday's contest, a contingency to be hoped for, as the success of a local man TCPuld undoubtedly give an additional impetus to sculling in the North

- MesstSi -J, J. MulviMU, D. -Stewart, arid Eaathope, of the Waitemat'a -Swii_ T ming Club, were'■ passengerb" by> the Main Trunk line..on Saturday last en route for Tima.ru, where they represent the Auckland centre ai? the championShip's, which are to; be ;lield ; - thjjre. it;o-mor-tow and Friday.'.', air.' MV Champion left for Timaru* on Sunday to compete in a number, of the, events. All lour will form an Auckland team to take part in "the relay race between the centres. At the Opawa Swimming Club's carnival on the 13th, they, will ais'o Compete in the interclub- relay race, while Champion will 'enter for the invitation handicap. During the course of the Timaru Championships, a , conference will be held by the delegates from the various centres, and a number of matters in connection with amateur swimming in New Zealand will be discussed. Three subjects have been set down by the Auckland' centre for consideration, these being the questions of distributing the Government grant on, a more equitable basis, the holding of champion meetings over three days with an interval of at least three days between each day's racing, and the allotment of championships for a given period, say, ten years, to the various centres. Champion's ■ performance Jii lowering his own time for the New Zealand mile record was an excellent one, and it is doubtful whether this, well-known swimmer has ever, before been seen in Auckland to siich advantage as on Friday evening last. His action throughout was exceptionally good, and not the least symptoms of tiring were discernible at any stage of the race. With the retirement of . Kean at the 36th lap, Champion was for the remainder of the race left to swim against time, and it must be said in describing his feat that even after that he showed no signs of nagging. His time for the whole distance was 26min. 28 4-5 sec, a reduction of 44 1-5 sec. on his previous time of 27 mm. 13 sec. He covered the halfmile in 12 mm. 48 sec, his own New Zealand record for the distance being 13 mm. 2 sec. Healy, the Australian swimmer, whom Champion meets at Timaru, covered the mile in 27 mm. 10 2-5 sec, and the half-mile in 12 mm. 57 2-5 sec, and the supporters of the Auckland man are confident that Champion will prove quite equal to carrying off a full share of the honours at the meeting. Mr. E. M. S. Pilkington (hon. treasurer of the Royal Life Saving Society) is at present on a visit to the Dominion for the benefit of his health. He will be visiting Auckland at the end of this month, and will endeavour to form a strong branch of the society in this centre. Mr. Pilkington is well known in connection with philanthropic work of relieving distress amongst the poor children of London. The Ponsonby Glut's harbour race and "At Home" will be held on Saturday next at Shelly Beach. The Tace is to be held from Northoote to Shelly Beach, the distance being estimated at oneand a-quarter miles. The Auckland Centre' 3 forthcoming carnival will eventuate in the Albertstreet Baths on March 6. A capital programme has been prepared for the occasion, including the following events:— Novice handicap (s(>yds.); handicap race (50yds.); handicap race (100 yds.); handicap race (440 yds.); relay race (open to factories, athletic clubs, trades, etc.); school boys' relay race; school boys under 14 j'ears (25yds.); boys' race under 17 years (50yds.) j championship of Auckland, breast stroke (200 yds.); secondary schools' relay race; novelty and other events. YACHTING. Next Saturday will be an off day for most of the, clubs, so .far as racing is concerned. The crews of the yachts Waioni, Iris, Waterwitchi and Matangi were at Putiki Bay, Waiheke, for the week-end. They had a capital time on shore, and there was plenty of rabbit-shooting. Before the yachtsmen left, one of the settlers made a liberal present of fruit. The Waioni leaves on a fortnight's cruise to the north on February 20. The Ngatira is now in the north, and the Ariki is in the Bay. of Plenty. The Thelma is expected to leave on a cruise shortly. The majority of the yachts were at various parts of Waiheke for the last week-end. The Royal New Zealand yacht squadron, and the North Shore Yacht Club held cruising races to the island. The boats, in many cases, were becalmed near the finishing line, but on the run home on Sunday they had a fine run, spinnakers being set all the way. The time limit for a challenge haying expired, there is no prospect of a race in the autumn of 1909 for the America Cup. The restrictions laid down by the New York Club made a challenge practically impossible. A special meeting, of the Richmond Cruising Club was held last evening in the club house, when it was resolved that owing to.the Premier Picnic falling on the 20th inst., the series of class races set down for that date be held on Saturday next. Entries for classes 1, 2, and 3 will be received at the clubhouse, Cox's Creek, on Friday evening next, from 7.30 to 9 p.m., or at the secretary's house, Tutanekai-road, Richmond.