SWIMMING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIII, Issue 9787, 1 February 1923, Page 3

SWIMMING.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. TIMARU, January 31. The third session of the swimming championship attracted an attendance of nearly two thousand, and favourable weather prevailed. Thfe greatest race of the meeting so far was the ladies' 440yds, in which Misses G. Shand, P. Hoeft, V. Walrond, and K. Bristed started. Miss Bristed pulled out about half-way through, though Miss Hoeft was several yards back. Misses Shand and Walrond. swam together most of the way, the holder with a slight lead. On the last turn Miss Shand was about a yard ahead, but Miss Walrond put up a great spurt, reducing the lead to little more than a foot amid the greatest excitement. Miss Shand partly collapsed after the race, being assisted from the bath. Miss Walrond was given a great ovation for her plucky fight. Miss Hoeft finished several yards back. Time, 6min 29 2-ssec. A great race was also seen for the men's 880yds, the contest being between L. Hill (Canterbury) and D. Murrell (Wellington). The swimmers kept close together till about the last hundred, with Batchelor (holder) well back. The last thirty yards saw a great effort by Murrell, who chased Hill to about a yard, but had to be assisted out. Batchelor was third and Welson fourth, about fifty yards back. En wright (Auckland) also started. Time, 12min 31 2-ssec. The 220 national breaststroke produced a keen encounter between Bolton (Wanganui) and Atkinson (Canterbury, holder), with Claridge (Wellington) third; The holder was defeated in the last few yards, though onlj' by a very small margin. Time, 3min 19sec.

The 100 yards intermediate boys' breaststroke was. won by Herd (Canterbury, who established a record in his heat. Claridge (Wellington) was a good second, and Evatt (Wellington) third. Time, 78 l-ssec. The junior girls' 100yds resulted— D. Magee (Auckland) 1, L. Copplestone (Canterbury) 2, M. Jepson (Otago) 3. Time, lmin 233-ssec. The junior boys' 440yds ■ was closely contested most of the way, till H. Bridson (Wellington) shook off all his opponents at 300yds, and won by. about seven yards. E. Ryland (Wanganui) was. second, and W. Cameron (Canterbury) third. Time, 7min 13 1-s'. In the polo championship final, Canterbury defeated Wellington by six goals to nil. The intermediate girls' 100 yds resulted—P. Page (Auckland, holder) 1, E. Walrond 2, E. Stockley 3. Won by two yards. Time, lmin 11 3-ssec. The' Swimming Conference decided to abolish the intermediate championships. The age for the junior championships was increased to sixteen, the events to be: Boys 440yds, 220yds, and 100 yards free style, and 150yds breaststroke, and fop girls 220yds, 100 yards, 50yds free, and 100 yards breaststroke.