LIFE-SAVING TITLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 13

LIFE-SAVING TITLES.

THE AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS.

The first Auckland provincial championships for four-men life-saving teams were held at the Takapuna Beach during, the week-end. Milford A team (94 1-3 points) won the competition by 2-3 of a point from Takapuna A (93 2-3 points). Milford entered two teams :n the competition and Takapuna four.

The run-outs and land drill were of a very high standard. Milford was aided considerably by the time of its beltman, S. Bacon, who wins the gold medal presented by the Royal Life-Saving Society for the fastest beltman in, the province.

The winning team was presented with the Laidlaw Cup by Mr. A. Dickey, chairman of the Royal Life-Saving Society. Following were the officials: — Judges, Messrs. A. Dicker, A. Coleman, J. D. Foster and H. Coleridge (Wellington); timekeepers, Messrs. T. Anderson, J. Foster and Langley; recorders, Messrs. A. Higson and J. H. Simpson; beach steward, Mr. B. C. Hart.

The course for the beltman consisted of 100 yards sprint to the water and 200 yards swim to a moored boat, where the patient was waiting. Resuscitation drill was done previously, and there was si marchpast by both teams. In sesveral instances minor accidents occurred to retard the beltmen's times, on wliich the results of the competition mainly depend. At one time the line of one of the Takapuna teams, C, snapped, but the linesman, E. Mclnman, quickly joined it, and the beltman proceeded with a loss of only 13 seconds.

A seven-man run-out display was given by a team of boys, averaging about 13 years, .who have been trained by Mr. G. Cameron. Their work attracted a great deal of attention, as the lads have only just joined' the Takapuna Club, and just started on water work.

Teams in the order of placing were as follow:—

Milford A.—A. Faulkner (captain), reelman; O. D. Mills, linseman; T. Hurren, patient; S. Bacon, beltman. Total points, 94 1-3; beltman's time, 2m 58 2-ss.

Takapuna A.—T. Hilliker (captain) reelman; S. Higgins, linesman; R. Riddell, patient; H. C. Sidford, beltman. Total points, 93 2-3; beltman's time, 3m 14 2-ss. Milford B.—W. Wells (captain), reelman; T. Hey wood, linesman; W. Oshabr, patient; R. Double, beltman. Total points, 90 2-3; beltman's time, 3m 18 2-ss.

Takapuna B. —G. Edmonds (captain), reelman; E. Mclnman, linesman; R. Price, patient; C. J. Sidford, beltman. Total points, 86 2-3; beltman's time, 3m 18 2-ss.

Takapuna C. —G. Cameron (captain), reelman; T. Pollock, linesman; H. Bioletti, patient; R. Eskrigge, beltinan. Total points, 84 2-3; beltman's time, 3m 38 2-ss. Takapuna D. —R. Moor (captain), reel-, man; N. Brown, linesman; B. Hart, patient; D. McLeod, beltman. Total points, 74 2-3; beltman's time, 4m 2 2-ss.