The Municipal Bath looked its best on Thursday night at the opening of the Shanghai.-International Swimming Club's 16th annual gala. For one thing, the water looked delightfully clear and cool, and the building had been profusely decorated with festoons of bunting and Chinese lanterns. Numerous flags of all national colours nad also been requisitioned to cover the boxes, and the general effect was most pleasing.
The youthful orchestra dispensed an attractive selection of popular airs and was greatly appreciated. Mr, J. H. McGregor's innovation of sliding enamelled plates for use on the telegraph board proved to be a great improvement When it is remembered that all the details and arrangements for this gala had to be completed in about two weeks, the result was most creditable and a source of congratulation for the hard working committee, notably Mr. J. H. McGregor, Mr. C. J. Encarnacao and Mr. G. V. Jensen.
The standard of swimming has not apparently improved here very materially since last year and the Club championship over the 100 yd. course, won in 71 sec. by C. H. Siemssen (brother of last year's "star" performer) was reminiscent of 1908 and 1909, when MacCabe and Eric Prince used to compete for the title over this same distance in the same bath and about the same time.
The handicapping was unusually good and those who adjusted the imposts evidently knew their business (and their men). Most of the finishes were excitingly close.
In the long plunge championship that wonderful performer J. H. McGregor broke his own record, covering 68 ft.
In the 220 yd. championship the promising youngster C. N. Brown also broke a record for Shanghai by covering the furlong in 2 min. 493 sec., just one second better than E. Siemssen put up last year.
It is a pity that former years' championship results were not included in this year's programme, thus forfeiting a lof of interest. The principal results were 100 Yarps Crus Cxampionsutr.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.