SWIMMING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 71, 6 January 1936, Page 3

SWIMMING.

CARNIVAL AT MOUNT SOMERS. The Mount Somers Amateur Swimming Club held a carnival at the Domain baths on Saturday evening. There was a moderate attendance, and the events were keenly concested. Mr L. King acted as starter, Mr G. Green as timekeeper, Messrs G. Green. N. Beckley and J. T. Bull judges, Mr 1-. W. Gifkins handicapper, ani Miss u. King as secretary. Results were:— Boys' 25 yards—First heat: B. Stephen (lsec) 1, W. Gifkins i(scr) 2, J. Harris (3sec) 3. Time, 23sec. Second heat: Andrew Kerr (&>ec) 1, W. Stephen (scr) 2, J. Harris (Bsec) 3. Time.. 26sec. „ .. Boys' 50 yards—First heat: W. bitkins (scr) 1, W. Stephen (lsec) 2, J. Harris (Ssec) 3. Time, 57£sec. Second heat: J. Harris (Ssec) 1, Andrew Kerr (17sec) 2, W. Stephen (scr) 3. Time, 60sec. Ladies' 25 yards—First heat: Miss E Gifkins (ssec) 1, Miss D. Glasson (scr) 2, Miss B. Stephen (scr) 3. Time, 23sec. Second heat: Miss B. Stephen (scr) 1, Miss E. Gifkins (2sec) 2C lime, 22£sec. Ladies' 50 yards—First heat: Mi&s (D. Glasson (scr) 1, Msis B. Stephen (lsec) 2, Miss XT. Gifkins (7sec) 3. Time, 54isec. Second heat: Miss B. Stephen (scr) 1, Miss E. Gifkins (2sec) 2. Time, Men's 25 yards—First heat: F. W. Gifkins (9sec) 1, G. Gifkins (Ssec) and S. Eder (sec}, dead-heat, 2. Time, 20sec. Second heat: iF. Gifkins (7sec) and A. Shaw <7sec), dead-heat, 1, A. Williamson (7see) 3. Time, 20sec. Men's 50 yards—First heat: A. Kilian (scr) 1, S. Eder (9sec) 2, F. W. Gifkins (16sec) and A. Shaw: l(l2sec), dead-heat, 3. Time, 45sec. ■ Second heat: A Williamson (21sec) 1, A. Shaw (Usee) 2; F. W. Gifkins <2lsec) 3. Time, 45sec. Men's 75 yards—A. Williamson (25sec) 1, A. Shaw (22sec) 2, F. W. gifkins (L7sec) 3. Time, 7asec. (4en Dive—Miss B. Stephen I, A. Ki-xan 2, A. Shaw 3. Boys' Dive W. Step! en 1, J Harris 2. N.S.W. CHAMPIONSHIPS POSTPONED' SYDNEY, January 4. The New South Wales swimming championships, in which the New Zealanders, Jaryis and Mathieson, were competing, were to have been held at the Manly baths on Saturday night, but were postponed until Monday night because of heavy rain.

NOEL RYAN.

WINS HALF-MILE AT MANLY.Apparently Noel Ryan, the brilliant New South Wales all-rounder, has not yet struck foam oyer the longer distances and much attention was centred on his performance in the Haltmile Championship of the Manly (New South Wales) Club recently. An unusually large field included Noel Ryan (holder of the title), Sam Herford (Australian half-mile champion) Bruce Hodgson, George Canaway (ex-Victor-ian half-mile champion), Jack bcott, Bossie Sutton, Jack Drinkwater and Stan Paton (North Steyne surfer). From the start Ryan took the lead and passed the 110 yards mark in lmin Usee a few feet ahead of Herford. The 220 yards was reached in 2min 31 2-ssee, with Ryan still in advance of Herford, and Hodgson and Canaway staging a private tussle about 10 yards away for third place. Herford drew close to the Empire champion at the quarter, which was covered in Smin 19sec. At this stage the race heeame more spirited. Herford was swimming with more dash and entered the last lap only a foot in arrears. Ryan, however, lasted better on the home' run and snatched victory by a foot in the slow time of 10mm 58 1-5-see. Herford was one second slower. Hodgson lasted well to beat Canaivay for third place in llmin 36 4-ssec. It was unimpressive from Noel Ryan, for he did lOniin 37 l-ssec when he took second place to Charlton in the New South Wales event last January. He has even got down under lOmin 30sec.

Herford, on the other hand, has done slightly better—a matter of a few seconds—but the pleasing feature was the decided improvement in style. He has lost that hard-fighting arm movement and appears to glide better. It is probably that Ryan will be one of Walter Jarvis's principal opponents at the forthcoming New South Wales Btate championships.