SWIMMING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2747, 28 February 1910, Page 6

SWIMMING.

CB AMPIONSHIP MEETING

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Feb. 26. The amateur swimming championship meeting of New Zealand was brought to a successful conclusion last nigfit. live principal events on the programme, ■were the 100 and 400 yards champion* skips the mile relay championship, and the final of the water polo, championship. The programme also included a 50yds open handicap, which attracted a large field of over 50 competitors, nine preliminary heats and a final heat being swum. The 100 yards championship was the first big event decided, and it created indescribable enthusiasm, a magnificent race being' won by B. C. Freyburg, of Wellington, who finished less than six inches in rront of O’Hare, while Champion was less than.-, a foot away from the winner. The time for the race, 65sec, was only 4-sths sec out_ side the New. Zealand record time.

The 440yds championship produced another grand race, and lowered another record, M. E. Champion winning by half a yard after a desperate struggle with Healy in the record time of 5m in 54^secs. The mile championship relay race was won by Canterbury, and the water polo championship . finals by Canterbury. The 50 yards open handicap was won ■ by J. H. Knight, with G. Handcock second. The 36yds open handicap was won by F. Tmscott, of Christchurch. The meeting was well managed and a successful carnival was brought to a close at a late hour. The attendance was even larger than Tuesday’s immense crowd. The results were:— 100vds championship of New Zealand Holder, R. H. P. Ronayne, record of the world, C. M. Daniels (■Manchester), 55 2-5 secs; New Zealand, R. 0. Murphy (Wanganui), 64 l-ssecs ; standard time, 66secs. First Heat: O’Hare (Auckland) 1, O. G. Campbell (Wanganui) 2. Also started: C. Atkinson (Canterbury), W. M. Rees (Auckland), E. H. Bailey (Canterbury). Won fairly easily. R. Healy was a non-starter. Time 64 4-ssecs. Second. Heat: B. C. Freyburg (Weilington) 1, J. D. Stewart (Auckland) 2. Also started: L. Triston (Auckland), J. Hunter (Hawera), L. Dingley (Canterbury). Won by two yards. Tune 66 l-osecs. • Third Heat: M. E. Champion (Auck. land) 1, L. N. Weston (Auckland) 2. Also-’ started: G. Seymour (Hawke’s Bay), R. H. P. Ronayne (Auckland), G. L. Bull (Canterbury), F. E. Dodge (Canterbury). A splendid race, won by two feet. Ronayne. was a few inches awav third. Final Heat. B. C. Freyburg ... 1 E. O’Hare ... 2 M. E. Champion ... 3.

. Also started: C. D. Campbell, J. D. Stewart, L. H. Weston. This was a magnificent race, and created tremendous enthusiasm. Freyburg and. l Stewart beat the gun. Champion was the last to enter the water. ,At the first turn, 36’ yards, Freyburg turned just in front of the field. He

came up the. bath at a great pace, with Stewart, O’Hare, and' Champion in a line half a vard behind. He turned first at 72 yards. Champion and O’Hare both spurted, hut just failed to catch Freyburg. who won, in a scene of undiscribable enthusiasm, by less than six inches from O’Hare, who was a similar distance in front of Champion. The time, 65sec; was 4-ssecs outside the New Zealand; record 1 . The placed! men will secure standard badges. 440 YARDS CHAMPIONSHIP OF NEW ZEALAND.

Holder, R. Hoaly (Wellington); record, world’s (Australian) B. B. Kieran (Sydney), 5 min 19secs ; New Zealand, It. Healy (Wellington), 6min 8 fkosec if, standard time, 6min 15sec. M. E. Ghampion (Auckland) 1 R. Healy (Wellington) ... 2 F. E. Dodge (Canterbury) 3

Also started: C. Winson (Auckland), W. Manhiro (Canterbury), C. H. H. Rich (Canterbury). From a fairly even start Wilson, put on the pace and led over tho first two laps. At 100yds Wilson led Healy and Champion by three yards. At 150yds Wilson and Healy were together," with Champion and Dodge close up. At 220yds Healy led by a yarl from Champion. Then followed Dodge, Wilson and Manhire. Rich had retired. With 150yds to go Champion created great excitement by draw_ ing level with Healy. The pair raced neck and neck down the bath, Champion gaining at the turn. Healy caught him. but lost him again at the turn. Hc-alv made a desperate effort over the last lap, but Champion, swimming grandly, held him off, eventually winning by half a yard, in the very fast time of omin 54- 3-ssecs, a fresh New Zealand record thus being created, tho time being reduced by Msecs. Dodge was third, 14 yards away, and then came. Wilson fourth, and, Manhire fifth. The placed men qualified for standard badges. ONE MILE RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP (For teams of four men.)

Canterbury A (C. H. 11. Rich, P. Schwartz, AV. Manhire, F. E. Dodge) 1 Ponsonby (Auckland), (R. B. Bells. S. W. Kean, W. M. Rees, F. J. Fernott) ... ... ... ... 2

Also started: Canterbury’ B. Ponsonby went off with the lead, but this was lost on the laps, the race being finally won by 50yds.

WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP. Canterbury A and B teams contested the final, Schwartz scoring for the A in the first spell, and Rich and Hales in the second spell. Canterbury A thus won by 3 goals to nil.