Tynemouth Swimming Gala in the Haven, North Shields | movie | 1901 | Official Featurette
Edwardian crowds enjoy a fancy-dress swimming race. | dG1fVld6LS03RkVhVjg
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Short filmTranscript
00:00 Perhaps most bizarre of all the sporting events filmed by Mitchell & Kenyon are these scenes
00:07 taken in the Haven at Tynemouth on the 31st August 1901.
00:15 Filmed from a boat, the action starts with a group of top-hatted gentlemen swimming towards
00:19 a floating platform where a steward awaits.
00:24 In the second part of this 60 yards comic obstacle race they have to dress in coat,
00:30 vest and trousers
00:31 and then swim back to the starting post carrying open umbrellas.
00:38 One unfortunate fellow leaves without his umbrella and has to return for it before continuing.
01:02 Various strokes are attempted, some backwards.
01:09 The victor was a Mr E Miller from North Shields, followed by a Mr R Sopwith.
01:16 More traditional pursuits are then captured by the cameraman who's perched perilously
01:23 close to the divers who appear to take great delight in splashing as near to the rocking
01:43 boat as possible.
01:46 According to the Shields Daily News the diving took place from a specially patented platform
01:51 designed by a Mr James Linklater of Newcastle.
01:55 However it's not thought this device was used in later competitions.
02:02 [Music]
02:09 [Music]
02:17 [Music]
02:25 [Music]
02:26 (upbeat music)
02:29 you