VISITING SWIMMERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 288, 5 December 1929, Page 18

VISITING SWIMMERS.

RYAN BELOW FORM. BRIDSON'S WIN IN QUARTER- . • . MILE- • .:;•' ; , "j ; GRIFFITHS SCORES IN SPRINT. Although they were' not wble' to put up any record-smashing ; performances, the Australia , ?!, etviminere-. Noel; Ryan and Owen Griffiths made many: ftiends at the Auckland-- Swimming:.. 'C/eAtre's carnival in th& Tepid Bathelaetevening. It -was the tourists' first New Zealand appearance, and they had to>: content themselves with a win and a Joss. In the Sprint eyent beat: Auckland's beet, fout' Eyan had to haul .doWn his colours to C~Bfi3son ill the quartermile.' \ ''.'-:,■, >.' v ' -V^ In the >absfen(?e" ©f-" the Mayoi , and Deputy-Maydr, ■ the Australians were ■welcomed on "Kehalf of the Auckland public and New Zealand swimmers generally by Mr. J. JB. Patterson, chairman of the Parks Committee oi! the Auckland City Council. *': ; ' , / Only two days off the 'steamer, Ryan ■was obviously- below form-for his duel with Bridson, the New Zealand recordholder, over the quarter-mile. Ryan las been hailed as the greatest middledistance swimmer produced in Australia with tha exception of Andrew; Charlton, and big things were expected of him. As events turned out, the Australian was a long way below his best, and the sterling struggle anticipated did not eventuate. As a matter of fact, Bridson'a victory Was .not totally unexpected, as the record time established by him laet Week was two-fifths of a second better than Ryan has ever registered for the distance. Always the Aucklander had the race in hand, and when the Australian was unable to put in a serious challenge at the finish he won easily by 14yds. Spirited applause greeted Bridson'e success, and the same was accorded Ryan when he smiled his congratulations on his conqueror. Brideon a time for the distance was 5.21 1-5. lL\l' 5 \ B , lower ilmn hls record-smash-ing effort last week.

CrifluS ng "V OO^3 swatch race Sft?* ,4 tlle distan <* 58 3-5s without W at the finish SSnT fl A Ve starters > deluding J. £ ntfte time was 2 4-5 a outside I W Cam«tfon'a Zealand S Jf 4-58, established at the New ZealaS meeting last ion A demonstration of the fevelnHn,, ~e ewhnmln. by Griffiths was SdhSL? dated. Competition in tho other 3££ jvafl koon, and spectators wero treated to a good evening's ewimming;. SeeSff nnd Portoouß lilt t lo waitir Urn Anfl w/

final turn. Fai'rell also sprinted, but over the last lap the Australian never looked like 'being caught and he went on to win comfortably by five feeb; ■ Farrell .showed his heels to" tna other (contestants and and beat Raper for second place by four feet. Time 58 3-ss.

Invitation Scratch Race, 440 Tards. —G. Bridson (Grammar), 1; Noel Ryan (NjS.W.)i 2. The only starters. Bridson,. who towered above his rival As the" pair awaited the. starter's, signal, got the; .better of the start, but" he was only a fraction of a second ahead at the first turn. Going down the bath the .second time Ryan drew level and they turned together.. It looked" as if an exciting struggle lor the lead Would f0110w,., but Bridson slowly forged .ahead and, the Australian w&s unable to catch him.' At the fourth; turn -the Aucklander was a ward to the good., The margin. did not change much over the next two laps, but 'Ryan then seemed : to tire and Bridson rapidly increased hi® advantage* With half ; -tfie distance covered, the Aucklander, who was swimming very easily, jwas. four yards out in front. Thence to-the finish the local champion Increased his lead , with every;lap. and eventually , won by 16 yards. Ryan finished gamely and immediately congratulated his opponent. Time, 5,21 1-5. Boys' Handicap* 60 Yards,-HFlret heaf: A. Mcßeath, 4s, 1; R. Frankham, 45,. 2. Time, 30s. Second heat: 8. Gardiner, 4s, 1; R. Thomas, Is, 2; A. Lockie, 2s, 3. Final: Mcßeath, 1; Frankham, 2; Thomas, 3. Won by two feet.- Time, 80s. ; : Men's Handicap, 66 2-3 Yards.—First heat: J. F. Patrick, 6s, 1; J. B. Stevenson, 6s, 2. Time, 455, Second heat: R. Pidgeon, 55,-1; H. Homiston, ss, 2; OX-Keane, 4s, 3. Time, 41 3-ss.> Third heat: A. Raper, scr, 1; W. Stevens,, : . 4s, •2; G. LeaSk, scr, 3. Time, 30 l-ss. Fourth heatf J. Bickerton, 4s, 1; J. Enwrlglit, scr, 2. Time, 415.Fifth heat: R. 'Porteous, scr, 1; I* Fairgray, IS, 2. Time, 38 3-ss. Final: Pidgeon, 1; 'Raper, 2; Bickerton, 3. Won by a foot. Time, 40 l-55. ; Girls' Handicap, 50 Yards.T-r-First heat;: Misjs.D. Guthie, ss, 1; Miss G. Sadler, fa, 2; 'Miss A. Grange', 6s, 3. Time, 89s. '.Second heat: Miss B. Rainey, 6s, 1; Miss •S. • Grange, Is, 2;-Miss 'B. Page', '.Bs, 3. Tifflle, 3'6s l-ss. Final: Miss, Rainey, 1; Miss Sadler, 2, Won by a touclu Time, 36 2-ss.

Breaststroke Handicap, 150 Yards. —First heat: W. Foster, 18s, 1; T. Lowe, ect, 2; •Miss J* Thomson, 15s, 3. Time, 2.29 2«5, Second heat: J. Magee, 4s, 1; A. Olark, 17s, 2; Miss, O'Mera, 225, 3. Time, 2.16 4-5. Final: Magee, 1; iFoster, 2; Lowe, 3. Won by a touch. Time, 2.10 4-5. Ladies' Handicap, 06 2-3 Yards.—Miss J. Roberts, 4s, 1; Miss M. Smith, 6s, 2; Miss S. Brown, ss, 3. Won by a. yard. Time, 44 l-ss. •Dual Kelay Race, 100 Yards (men to swim 66 2-3 yds, ladl&B 33 l-3yds,).—- J. P. Farrell.and Miss P. 'Robertson, scr, 1; R. Porteous and Misa iS. Grange, 3s. 2: J. Bickerton and M 1&8 'S. Brown, Is, 3. Won by half a yard. Time, 565. Open Dive.— J. Mulvihlll, 1. Water Polo.—'Philomel ( 4 . goals, (beat trniveftsity, 0. Scorers for 'Philomel were Simpson, Klrkland, Williams and Hooker.