Swimming Competition.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 584, 19 March 1891, Page 3

Swimming Competition.

INAUGURAL MEETING. The Gisborne Swimming Club, which has just been in existence a week since the first public meeting was nailed, held its opening sports on St. Patriok’s Day. The officers of the Club have been very energetic during the last week, having secured 63 members in that time. The Committee having chosen that portion of the river near to the Carnarvon street jetty as the most suitab'e place tor the sports, a course had been marked out, and a portion of the bathing shed closed off for a dressing room. The public have been very liberal in supporting the Club, which enabled it to give prizes to the value of £7. and then leave a surplus in hand. The races, which commenced at 9 sharp, were quite a new thing for Gisborne, and about 200 persons (including many ladies) attended, there being a good many spectators io boats on Che river. Mr T. Morgan acted as judge, Mr H. Bull as starter, and Mr W. Fraser as handicapper. The first event was the race for boys under 12 years nf age; Ist piiza value ss, 2nd 2s 6d. Entries—Hugh Morrison, Herbert Thompson, Mnrice Power, Bertie Clark, Bertie Quigley, Willie Morgan, and James Taylor. These boys, who would otherwise have required a regiment of starters to keep them in order, were extremely quiet under the eye of Mr Bull, and although there was a slight delay owing to the boys not being placed in a position on the boat which to-’k them down the river, so that they might jump off the boat at tbo word of command and swim up the stream, this was rectified in the next race. Mr Bull having got them off, nothing but arms and foam could be seen for thirty yards of the distance—the race only being 50 yards—when the contestants began to take it a little more gently, and young Thompson, who is a very good swimmer, was a clear three yards ahead of the second boy Morice Power, and be quickly forged ahead, with a good steady underhand stroke, and beat Power by five yatds, the latter of course being second.

The second event was a handicap of 100yds, open to all members; Ist prize value £l, 2nd silver watch pendant presented by Mr McLernon. The following competed : B. E Fox, 12 sees.; W. Morrison, 10; Apirani, 2 ; H. .Reed, 3; P. Reed, 1; A. Veale, ser; G. Taylor, 6; 0 Taylor, 4. This race was looked forward to with some interest. Owing to an unfortunate mistake made by the starter, a greater number of seconds was allnwed to those who were handicapped than that given by the handicapper, but nevertheless a very good race ensued, and 20 yards from the finish, B. G. Fox was leading by 4 yards, with W. Morrison quickly overhauling him, which he did three yards from the post, followed by C. Taylor, who, if the race hud been another 15 yards, would have won, as he was swimming very quickly and powerfully. As it wae W. Morrison won by half a yard, B, G. Fox beating Charlie Taylor for second place by the same distance.

The third event was a handicap for bovs under sixteen; 100 yards ; Ist prize va ue 12s fid, 2nd ss. The following competed: J. Poole, 7 B-cs. ; F. Gray, 3; Wall Thompson, 2. W Lewie, 5. G Evans, 2; H. T ylor 6 ; H. Faram, 5 ; C. Taylor, scr; G. Mi'ler, 4. By the time the race came on the boys were worked up into a fine state of excitement, and when the starter gave the word to each one there was a flush, and one would see, about 20 yard* from the boat, a boy with a pair of arms working like a windmill, making for the goal as hard as he oouid go, with six or seven other boys in bis tracks; then Wall Thompson and Charlie Taylor shot forth from the rest, and fought for first place very hard, but Thompson'* good swimming secured him first place, with 'Taylor second. The fourth event was the Stub's Handicap ; Ist prize value £1 10s, 2nd silver Maltese cross (presented by Mr McLernon); distance 300yds. Entries and handicaps: O. Buscke, 20secs ;J. Hay, 20; H. Branson, scratch ; Apirani, 15 ; A. Robinson, 30; A. Veale, 15; Sutherland, 25; W. L. File, 35. In this event a fine race was witnessed between H. Branson, A. Robinson, and Sutherland, Branson swimming the overhand stroke, Bobinson with the underhand, and Sutherland swimming in the ordinary manner; but Branson waa too much for his rivals, and the result waa Branson Ist, Robinson 2nd.

The filth event was an Obstacle Kaos, oompe'edfor by W. Edwards, F.Muir, G. Warren, and H. Branson, For thia race a boat was moored across the stream, competitors having to swim from the bathing shed, dive under the boat, climb up the other side, and return; five second* start being allowed to all save Branson. Muir took the lead, with Warren in hie wake. At the dive Muir waut under very neatly, soon followed by Branson, but Edwards and Warren clutched the side of the boat, not oaring to go under, Muir, who had by thisijme oome upon the other side, quickly got into the beat, followed by Branson, when a start was made for the goal iu the same order, with the result that Muir won. The diving match for distanoe wae competed for by J. Hay, H. Branson, G. Henderson, D. McKenzie, and T. Faram. Hay, who had the first dive, came up about 26 yarde from the jetty, being closely followed by McKenzie, who nearly equalled him. Brai - ■on, however, did an exceedingly good dive, having a clear advantage of six yards over Hay. Thia concluded th* events, which had been get through ia tvro haan so w not to inlet"

fere with the sports at the Park. Each event caused much enthusiasm, and the spectators warmly cheered on the competitors. The President (the Mayor) and others were present, and there is good reason to suppose that the inaugural meeting was pregnant with great benefit for the future. To the Secretary, Mr Frank Faram, great credit is due for the success which has so far been obtained. The Club is strictly an amateur one, the winners on Tuesday being allowed to make their own selection of trophies of a stated value.