The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-15 00:00:00

THE NORTH LONDON SWIMMING CLUB.

To show the increasing popularity of the useful science
of natation, the above club, scarcely six months old, but
yet numbering upwards of 50 members, had their first
public race on Saturday, in the Pond, Lower-heath, Hamp-
stead, when, -notwithstanding the showery afternoon,
some thousands assembled. Next to the Serpentine there
could not be well imagined a better pine , for not only test-
ing the merits of the swimmers, but also for seeing the con-
tests. The pond is exactly 200 yards in length, and its
greatest depth 35 feet. There was a strong muster at the
club house adjoining, Mr. Rowland Hill's "Freemasons'
Arms," Downshire-hill, and at the time appointed all re-
paired to the heath, the weather being all that could be
required. The race was

A HANDICAP OF FOUR HUNDRED YARDS.—Out of the
17 entries 11 put in an appearance, namely, W. Williams
and C. Carling, with two minutes start; E. H. White, 1
min. 50 sec.; R. Rouse; W. Wilkie, and C. Elphinstone
1 min. 20 sec.; G. Olden and T. W. Mingay, 50 sec.; G.
Cole, 25 sec.; and J. Cole and W. Cole, 20 sec. start. The
prizes were a fine Leander medal for the first; a silver
Victoria medal for second (given by D. Pamplin, who
swims Gurr for the championship this morning), and a
small silver medal for the third. On the eleven competitors
appearing on the platform it was an interesting as well as
an exciting scene. Mr. Harry Leverell, of the Field, kindly
undertook the duties of starter ; 111 r. G. H. Vize, the noted
swimmer, was timekeeper; Mr. Rowland Hill acted as
judge; and Mr. Charles G. Powell, the president of the
club, had the general management, and under the latter's
judicious arrangements this, the first race, was brought
off satisfactorily, and to whose courtesy we arm much
indebted.

On the word "Go" the first two breasted the water to-
gether ; the three next, in the order given above, made a
straggling affair of it, but the others got off well with the
exception of little Elphinstone (a mere stripling), who lost
start altogether ; so well and pluckily, however, did the lat-
ter swim that he quickly overtook and passed the five in
front of him and rounded the flag first (half the distance) in
4 min. 10 sec. ; G. Cole came next ; then G. Olden, followed
by J. Cole, the rest, with the exception of White, who
had given up, close together; the return journey increased
the excitement, each being urged in his exertions by the
shouts from the thousands on the banks; Elphinstone
gamely kept in front on turning for nearly 50 yards, when
he was passed by the Coles, Olden, and Mingay; between
the latter six a fine struggle took place ; at 30 yards from
home G. Cole was leading, when that fine powerful swim-
mer J. Cole came out in grand form, collared the leading
man a few strokes from home, and eventually won, amidst
loud cheers, by a bare yard, G. Cole second, W. Cole third,
G. Olden (three yards behind the latter) fourth, T. W.
Mingay fifth, and the game little Elphinstone sixth ; the
rest did not persevere. Tho time occupied in the race was
exactly 7m. 31sec. ; the winner, J. Cole (allowing for the
im. 40 sec. start he gave), accomplished the 400 yards in
sm. 54 sec.

Mr. S. Leslie Nibbs's ornamental swimming and floating
was really wonderful to witness ; his performance alone
was a real treat, and worth the journey to see. The prizes
will be presented to the winners at the club meeting at
Mr. Rowland Hill's, " Freemason's Arms," on Wednesday
evening next. A good deal of speculation on Gurr and
Pamplin's match took place.

Pigeon Shooting.

WELSH HARP, HENDON.

So successful did the novel water shooting at Hendon
prove on Saturday week that a Free Handicap was made
for Saturday last. The card contained the names of no
fewer than 108 noblemen and gentlemen, of whom only 26
put in an appearance, the field mustering 29 with the addi-
tion of three post entries. The morning in town was very
dull and threatening, and rain falling heavily during the
afternoon the attendance was only limited. After a sharp
thunderstorm the traps became very wet, and the birds
hanging, a large number were killed and wounded. Even
under most favourable circumstances the pontoon system
is by no means a favourable shooting test, as the birds do
not face the water, and rising immediately, without any
"dash," they fall an easy prey to the marksman. As a
proof of the facility for making good scores, six of the
competitors killed all their pigeons (7), and in shooting off
the ties the Marquis Graham had to score his fifteenth
successive bird before ho became entitled to the first prize
(XB5). Col. Owen Williams, who "broke down" after the
fourteenth roun 1, took second money (.£35), and the third
(15) was secured by Mr. Rogers. Betting previous to
the Handicap was very brisk, Capt. Fredericks, a very
fine shot, and Mr. Rogers being most in demand, and the
former was unfortunate enough to miss the first bird in
the ties. All round the execution was of a most deadly
nature, 131 " kale being recorded against 42 "misses."
The ground arrangements, under the personal superinten-
dence of Mr. Warner, the host of the Harp, were of the
usual excellent character.