Swimming Club

The Swimming Club made a mighty splash last season—a race every Tuesday, two picnics, a carnival, and a smoke concert to wind up with—a record no club need be ashamed of. Add to this the fact that the membership was almost doubled, and that the entries were correspondingly more numerous, for the weekly races, where "no entry fees no prizes" was the rule, no less than for the Carnival. At this function, owing to the generosity of several of the (Tub's supporters, trophies were available for the successful competitors.

The results of the Tuesday afternoon races are as follows:—

500yds. Handicap—1, P. Grey (5sec.); 2, G. H. Nicholls (8 sec); 3, T. Ronayne (scr.). Time, 35sec. 8 starters.

50yds. Handicap—1, .G G. Callender and A. N. Hancock (10 sec.), dead heat; 3, P .Grey (2 sec.). Time, 38sec. 8 starters.

100yds. Handicap—1, G. M. Cleghorn (scr.); 2, T .Ronayne (scr.); 3, A. N. Hancock (10sec.). Time, 82sec. 8 starters.

200yds. Handicap—1, P. Grey (4sec.); 2, G. M. Cleghorn (scr.); 3, C. Aston (24sec.). Won by six yards, a good race being put up for second place. 13 starters. Time, 2min. 56sec.

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100 yds. Breast-stroke Championship—1, C. Aston and T. Ronayne (dead heat); 3, P. Grey. Nine starters, no time taken. Luckily for the placed men the executive had not bothered about judges; all three should have been disqualified for using the scissor kick or for not turning properly.

50yds. Back-stroke Championship—1, G. M. Cleghorn; 2, N. Middlemas; 3, T. Ronayne. 8 starters, all very close up.

Plunge—1. F. L. G. West, 46ft. 5in; 2, W. J. Robertson, 46ft. 3in.; 3, G. M. Cleghorn, 44ft, 2in. 7 starters.

100yds. Handicap—1, P. Grey (ser.); 2, T. Ronayne (2sec); 3, A. N. Hancock. Won by about four yards, the field—7 starters—being well up., Time not taken.

50yds. Handicap—1, A. N. Hancock (7sec.); 2, F. L. G. West (7sec.); 3, W. J. Robertson (5sec.). A very good finish; won by a foot. 9 starters. Time, 37sec.

Owoing to the fact that the Te Aro Baths had already been well-nigh monopolised by swimming clubs for Saturday afternoon carnivals, the City Council refused to entertain the applications of the Victoria College and the Y.M.C.A. Clubs, and it was at first feared that the College would this year, at least, have to do without a meeting The Mayor was interviewed, all to no purpose, and as a last resource application was made to Mr. J. P. Firth for permission to use the Wellington College Baths. The request was readily acceded to, and the Club is deeply indebted to Mr. Firth for his kindness.

The only cloud on the horizon of our happiness is the thought that that bright little contemporary of ours, the "N.Z. Truth." was somewhat annoyed that the Club did not throw open the Baths, someone else's Baths, mark you, to the general public.

There was a good muster of spectators, in spite of the wintry weather, amongst others present being the Chancellor of the University. Sir Robert Stout, and Mr. and Mrs. Firth. The racing, if somewhat below interprovincial form, was at all events keen, and competitors had precisely what they wanted—a good afternoon's sport.

Results:—

50yds. Handicap (Mr. Ludwig's trophy)—1, N. Ross (6see.); 2, E. B. Young (6sec.). Time, 38 4/5sec. Won by a touch. H. H. Dean, T. Ward, and A. M. Thomson also won heats.

25yds. Maiden Handicap (Mr. Aston's trophy)—1. F. E. McKenzie (4sec); 2, A. E. Caddick (ser.). Time, 24 3/5sec. P. Burbidge and A. M. Thomson also qualified in their respective heats.

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100yds. Championship (Mr. Ludwig's trophy)—1, P. Grey; 2. T. Ronayne. Time, 81 2/5sec. The time in this race was distinctly disappointing, but is probably explained by the fact that the competitors were unaccustomed to swimming in fresh water. It is to be regretted also that Cleghorn was debarred through illness from competing, as a contest between him and Grey would have been worth seeing. Grey began to draw away from Ronayne at the commencement of the third lap, and won finally by about four yards. Middlemas, the only other starter, was about a couple of yards behind Ronayne.

50yds Cigarette and Umbrella Race—This, a very amusing affair, was won by Middlemas, the only competitor out of the three heats to finish with his cigarette alight.

25yds. Electric Dash Handicap (Mr. Ronayne's trophy).—All the electricity in this race was confined to the title, if the timekeepers are to be trusted. Aston, Salek, Ross, de la Mare, Young, and Caddick won their heats, and the final resulted thus:—1, Young (4sec.); 2, Caddick (3sec.). Time, 17 4/5sec.

Neatest Header (Mr. Hector's trophy)—1. T. U. Ronayne; 2, G. W. Jackson; 3, C. Aston. Seven others, notably one "Frog," also competed.

50yds. Medley Handicap (Mr. R. St. J. Beere's trophy)—1, A. M. Salek (4sec.); 2, P. Grey (2sec.). Nicholls (2sec.) and de la Mare (6sec.) also won their heats. A very close finish. Time, 47 3/5sec.

25yds. Hobble Skirt Race—1, Salek; 2, West. Very amusing, especially for the onlookers. There were five starters.

100yds. Teams Race, for Teams of Secondary School Old Boys—1. Wanganui Collegiate School (Mackenzie, Elder, Carmichael, Salek); 2, Wellington College (Ronayne, West, Nicholls, Grey); 3, Pahnerston North High School (Chapman, Leary, Harden, Inder). Wanganui put their crack men in the middle, while Wellington had theirs at the beginnig and end. Consequently the first Wellington man, content with having established a lead, took things too easily, and Carmichael and Elder were able to make up all lost ground and give Salek an excellent, start from Grey. The last-named made a great effort, but, steering rather a bad course, was just beaten by a foot.

Two swimming picnics were held last season at Maori Hank, near the Upper Hutt, and both were very successful. On each occasion all present did great execution among the blackberries, although this did not prevent a very useful water-polo practice being held at the second outing.

To wind up the season a smoke concert was held in Godber's Rooms the evening before College opened. Professor Hunter was in the chair, and the attendance was large, a number of freshmen being present; we trust they were duly impressed.

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Items, musical and otherwise, and the presentation of prizes won at the Carnival, relieved the monotony of the usual toast-list. Notable features of the proceedings were Professor von Zedlitz's "explanation," a pianoforte duet by two promising young musicians, and a speech proposing "the health of Mr. Ludwig, coupled with the names of Messrs. Smith and Kirkwood."

There was some talk of following the example of the Wellington Club, and holding a Midwinter's Day 50yds. Handicap, but we notice that the enthusiasts of February have been remarkably silent of late.