The events which can be included in the programme of a meeting are so varied in character that little advice can be given on the subject. Scientific swimming should, how ever, find a place in every bath gala, but in open water this branch of the art should be limited to surface work almost entirely, otherwise the spectators will not be able to see half the performance. A plunging competition is so intolerably slow that we cannot conscientiously recommend it as a suit able contest at a public gala. Until recently it nearly always found a place, but the advent of water-polo has ousted it from its position, and a match is a sine qua non at every important meeting. Two good clubs should be invited to play, and if necessary a prize allotted to them. The system of advertising a scratch competition open to all who enter for the open races is bad, as usually only a wretched game results. A polo tournament between five or six selected clubs for a set of prizes is a great draw at an open all-day meeting, but the matches take up too much time if they all have to be decided at an evening gala.
The ordinary races have to be regulated according to the size of the bath. Most of those held in inland towns are over short distances, a long-distance race being the exception, while round the coast, with but slight variation, all the races are over long distances. We should like to see long-distance racing encouraged, not only in the open but in baths, but we frankly admit that financially the short-distance events are by far the more successful. For a short race you may possibly secure over a hundred entries, while for a long race a score would be considered wonderfully good. In open water, the hundred yards, two hundred and twenty yards, and five hundred yards are the best racing distances ; but for baths any race much over a hundred yards in length would not be well supported. The majority of bath handicaps are decided over sixty yards, eighty yards, and one hundred yards, or fractional distances between fifty yards and one hundred and twenty yards. In addition to the open handicaps, which, by the way, should include a short-distance race for ladies, various races for members should be provided. If possible, the distances of these should not be the same as those in the open events. If a championship is to be decided, the conditions should be implicitly complied with, and every competitor made fully to understand them before he starts. Nothing is more prejudicial to a club's interest than to have any unpleasantness arise over an important event such as this.
times termed, flying squadron races, are an adaptation of the old Royal Mail races. The teams usually consist of seven members, and take their stand on the end of the bath. If the distance be, say two lengths, one man from either team plunges at the word go,' and swims the two lengths, then touches the feet of the next man on his side, who at once plunges. This goes on until the last man on either side has started, and the team whose last man gets home first is declared the winner. If both sides be equally matched, these races prove most exciting, as well as capital tests of the relative strength of rival clubs. In the Royal Mail race each swimmer has to carry a mail-bag, and when finished hand it to the next man on his side, who must put it on before he plunges.
A short exhibition of rescue and resuscitation drill will prove of extreme interest, and for ordinary galas it is only necessary to demonstrate the rescue drill in the water and re suscitation. Full details as to the methods of conducting rescue competitions will be found in the chapter on Life-saving.
The crocodile race is also a contest between teams, and is usually decided across a bath, so that as many turns as possible have to be made. As a rule four men take part. They stand in the water in Indian file, each, except of course the front man, placing his hands on the hips of the swimmer in front. At the word `go,' they start swimming and are required to turn, as well as complete the stipulated distance, without leaving go their hold.
Hurdle and obstacle racing is capital fun. In baths, the hurdles are ordinary poles placed across at intervals and lashed to the sides. The swimmers must learn to take them as it were in their stride, and many a fast man is hopelessly out of it when it comes to hurdle racing. A hurdle race can be varied in many ways. Sometimes the competitors have to take small barrels over one hurdle and under the next, or else each keep a top hat on and carry an umbrella whilst in the water.
Obstacle races in baths cannot be made such a success as in the open, but some fun can be extracted from a contest in which the competitor has to wear a top hat, go over a hurdle, then under two close together, haul himself out of the water, get over a loose rope, touch the end of the bath, return over the same course, and wind up by getting through a life-buoy before touching the winning post, all the time retaining possession of his hat.