Tas Jones
Born
Henry Tasman Jones

(1893-04-07)7 April 1893
Launceston, Tasmania
DiedDecember 1936
Other namesTasman Jones
Known forswimmer, diver

Tasman (Tas) Jones (1893 – 1936) was an Australian sportsman, well known as a swimmer and a diver. He also played water polo, rugby union, and rugby league.

Early life and education

Photographic portrait of Henry Tasman Jones at fourteen years of age in swimming costume.
Henry Tasman Jones, at age fourteen

Jones was born Henry Tasman Jones on 7 April 1893 at Launceston.[1] He went by the diminutive given name Tas, which he also used in legal matters.[2]

Jones attended the Crown Street Superior Public School. As a teenager he showed talent in swimming.

By 1906 Jones was winning handicap races, 45 yards school competition, starting from scratch,[3] Winning again over 50 yards.[4] At the age of 14 he won the 60 yards championship at Crown Street Superior Public School.[5]

Jones was required to "swim off" to split dead heat eligibility to compete in inter school events at above his age,[6] and missing out, still winning at age level.[7]

Two decades later, Jones' swimming performance at school was still a benchmark for competitiveness for others.[8]

Adult life

Jones devised a scoring method for diving, adopted in December 1914,[9] using standardised tabulated forms[10] which took account of diving elements, including approach, deportment, and entry.[11] His method was considered simple for judging and broadly satisfactory, but it did not account for the degree of difficulty of the dive.[12]

Jones was respected as a "never failing volunteer" for sporting demonstrations for "good causes".[13]

He managed the Spit Baths from 1918 to 1922.[14] His knowledge of and experience in the provision of swimming bath facilities was called upon by others.[15]

Jones was involved in water rescues, saving one life.[16]

His profile was such that he was used to endorse products in advertising.[17]

Jones died December 1936.[14]

His death left his widow in difficult circumstances and the Spit Club raised funding to assist her,[14] known as the Tas Jones Memorial Fund.[18][19]

Outreach

As well as performing in demonstration diving and swimming events, Jones took a keen interest in the administration, development, and support of others in sport.

Jones was a vice-captain for the East Sydney Club,[20] and a handicapper for the club.[21]

He was the inaugural president[22] of the Spit Club, and its swimming coach.[23] and later the president of the gentlemen's section of the club.[24]

Jones coached individual diving,[25] and individual swimming,[26] and he was the inaugural coach of the Balmoral Amateur Swimming Club.[27]

Jones would sponsor sporting achievements, some included the 50 yard swim trophy for the East Sydney Amateur Club,[28] the Spit Club diving trophy,[29] and the North Sydney rugby league club trophy for most consistent forward.[30]

Swimming

Jones was referred to as a "star sprinter".[31]

Diving

Photographic action of Henry Tasman Jones as an adult executing a dive in swimming costume.
Tas Jones executing a dive.

Jones had a diving reputation in 1912.[32]

He frequently led diver teams in demonstration events.[33] and was considered a diving veteran.[34]

Water polo

In 1909 Jones played water polo second grade for East Sydney.[35] And later played water polo at state championships.[36]

He was sought by the [amateur] Randwick and Coogee water polo team in 1931 but was regarded as professional. While Jones had never competed as a professional he had managed the Spit Baths and taught children to swim for fees.[37]

Rugby union

Jones played second grade for the Eastern Sydney rugby league club from 1912[38] to 1914.[39]

He moved to first grade in 1914 in fullback and three-quarter positions.[40]

Jones also played in seven-a-side competition for Eastern Suburbs[41] as a back.[42]

Rugby league

Jones played first grade[18] for the North Sydney rugby league club.[14]

He started playing rugby league, for Eastern Suburbs, in a pre-season game, but was under disqualification from rugby union. Jones was observed to be a bit hazy on the rule differences between league ad union.[43] Jones played at halfback for Eastern Suburbs first grade opening game of the season against Annandale.[44]

In 1919 Jones played for North Sydney.[45]

References

  1. ↑
    • "Jones, Henry Tasman". Names Index. Libraries Tasmania. 1893. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
    • "TASMANIAN NOTES". The Referee. No. 1320. New South Wales, Australia. 21 February 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 133. New South Wales, Australia. 25 July 1918. p. 4. Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "CROWN STREET". Sunday Times. No. 1089. New South Wales, Australia. 2 December 1906. p. 8. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "CROWN-STREET PUBLIC SCHOOL". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 21, 552. New South Wales, Australia. 14 February 1907. p. 10. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "SOMETHING ABOUT HORSE-SHOEING". Sunday Times. No. 1112. New South Wales, Australia. 12 May 1907. p. 2 (The Sunday Times MAGAZINE SECTION). Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "SCHOOL SWIMMING". The Daily Telegraph. No. 8973. New South Wales, Australia. 4 March 1908. p. 14. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "SWIMMING". The Sunday Sun. No. 259. New South Wales, Australia. 15 March 1908. p. 16. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "ONE OF A FAMILY OF BOOKMAKERS". Sunday Times. No. 2105. New South Wales, Australia. 6 June 1926. p. 7. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "HIGH DIVING AND SWIMMING CARNIVALS". Referee. No. 1468. New South Wales, Australia. 16 December 1914. p. 7. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "Swimming". Referee. No. 1461. New South Wales, Australia. 28 October 1914. p. 13. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "THE DUKE BEATEN". Saturday Referee And The Arrow. No. 979. New South Wales, Australia. 9 January 1915. p. 7. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ "TO JUDGE DIVING COMPETITIONS". The Referee. No. 1501. New South Wales, Australia. 6 October 1915. p. 13. Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "SWIMMING ITEMS". Saturday Referee And The Arrow. No. 986. New South Wales, Australia. 27 February 1915. p. 6. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "The Two Million". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. I, no. 275. New South Wales, Australia. 6 February 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ↑ "SWIMMING BATHS". Daily Observer. Vol. IX, no. 139. New South Wales, Australia. 13 June 1919. p. 1. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ↑
    • "SAD DROWNING. ACCIDENT". The Mercury. Vol. XCX, no. 13, 739. Tasmania, Australia. 9 March 1914. p. 5. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
    • "IN RIVER WHIRLPOOL". The Mercury. Vol. CXLII, no. 20, 108. Tasmania, Australia. 5 April 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ↑ "Advertising". Sunday Times. No. 1739. New South Wales, Australia. 18 May 1919. p. 23. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. 1 2 "Records Expected at Last National Carnival". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. I, no. 256. New South Wales, Australia. 15 January 1937. p. 19. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ "SPIT CLUB CARNIVAL". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. I, no. 273. New South Wales, Australia. 4 February 1937. p. 20. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ↑ "SWIMMING". Sydney Sportsman. Vol. X, no. 640. New South Wales, Australia. 27 September 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ↑ "SWIMMING". The Evening News (Sydney). No. 14, 779. New South Wales, Australia. 21 October 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ↑ "SWIMMING". The Arrow. No. 1321. New South Wales, Australia. 30 September 1921. p. 10. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ↑ "SWIMMING". The Arrow. No. 1094. New South Wales, Australia. 17 March 1917. p. 8. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ↑ "SWIMMING". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26, 159. New South Wales, Australia. 7 November 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ↑ "SCHOOL SPORT". The Arrow. No. 1349. New South Wales, Australia. 14 April 1922. p. 12. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ↑ "AMONGST THE SWIMMERS". The Arrow. No. 1185. New South Wales, Australia. 13 December 1918. p. 2. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ↑ "PREPARING FOR HARRIS". The Arrow. No. 1380. New South Wales, Australia. 10 November 1922. p. 12. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ↑ "SWIMMING NOTES". The Arrow. No. 1126. New South Wales, Australia. 26 October 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ↑ "SWIMMING". The Arrow. No. 1092. New South Wales, Australia. 3 March 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ↑ "NORTH SYDNEY OUTING". The Referee. No. 1750. New South Wales, Australia. 22 September 1920. p. 12. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ↑ "Popularising Swimming". Sydney Sportsman. No. 1320. New South Wales, Australia. 7 October 1924. p. 8. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ↑ "SWIMMING". Sydney Sportsman. Vol. XI, no. 705. New South Wales, Australia. 25 December 1912. p. 7. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. ↑
    • 1921 "SWIMMING". Sydney Sportsman. Vol. XVII, no. 1168. New South Wales, Australia. 9 November 1921. p. 10. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
    • 1922 "SWIMMING". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 26, 290. New South Wales, Australia. 10 April 1922. p. 6. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
    • 1925 "SWIMMING". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 27, 206. New South Wales, Australia. 17 March 1925. p. 12. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. ↑ "Swimming : Duke's Form Reviewed". Referee. No. 1478. New South Wales, Australia. 24 February 1915. p. 13. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. ↑ "SWIMMING". Evening News. No. 13, 001. New South Wales, Australia. 9 February 1909. p. 2. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ↑ "STATE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS CONCLUDED". Referee. No. 1315. New South Wales, Australia. 17 January 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ↑ "NO INCREASE IN FEES". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. 1, no. 263. New South Wales, Australia. 18 December 1931. p. 3. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. ↑ "FOOTBALL". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 23, 489. New South Wales, Australia. 23 April 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. ↑ "RUGBY UNION". Sunday Times. No. 1476. New South Wales, Australia. 3 May 1914. p. 13. Retrieved 7 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. ↑
    • "UNIVERSITY v BALMAIN". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 23, 823. New South Wales, Australia. 18 May 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 7 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
    • "FOOTBALL". Evening News. No. 14, 649. New South Wales, Australia. 22 May 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 7 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
    • "GENERAL ITEMS". Evening News. No. 14, 661. New South Wales, Australia. 5 June 1914. p. 7. Retrieved 7 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ↑ "INTER-STATE RUGBY UNION". The Sun. No. 1234. New South Wales, Australia. 11 June 1914. p. 7 (FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 7 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  42. ↑ "RUGBY UNION". Evening News. No. 14, 673. New South Wales, Australia. 19 June 1914. p. 10. Retrieved 7 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. ↑ "EASTERN SUBURBS". Sydney Sportsman. Vol. XIV, no. 880. New South Wales, Australia. 3 May 1916. p. 3. Retrieved 7 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  44. ↑ "EASTERN SUBURBS v. ANNANDALE". Sydney Sportsman. Vol. XIV, no. 881. New South Wales, Australia. 10 May 1916. p. 9. Retrieved 7 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. ↑
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