SWIMMING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 42, 20 February 1933, Page 11

SWIMMING.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS.

MONA LEYDON BEATS MARIE FARQUHAR IN FURLONG. 808 FRANKHAM 100 YARDS VICTOR. Before a capacity crowd of about 2500 spectators tlie New Zealand amateur swimming, diving and water-polo championship meeting opened at the Napier Municipal Baths on Saturday evening. A 100 yards men's race that bristled with, sensations and a thrilling duel between the two Aucklanders, Misses Mona Leydon, the winner, and Marie Farquhar, in the 220 yds ladies' championship left the spectators tingling with excitement. In every race there was brilliant swimming, but, strangely enough, no New Zealand records were broken. This failure to set new records proved the Napier baths unworthy of their reputation as the fastest of all New Zealand's baths. Indeed, visiting competitors have complained of the coldness and heaviness of the water.

Canterbury came through the evening with a three-point lead over Auckland for the Yaldhurst Shield; nevertheless, Auckland is expected to gain from the remaining two sessions a number of points sufficient for retention of the trophy.

The programme opened with the 100 yds men's championship, and as the Dominion's fastest sprinters lined up on the board Reg Thomas (Grammar) was obviously favourite owing to his feat in equalling the record, 55 4-ss, when he won the Auckland title. He drew the outermost lane on the right side of the bath, then came E. McConville (Canterbury), P. McGrath (Southland), R. Frankham (Auckland), D. Symes (Canterbury), W. Whareaitu (South Auckland) and last, C. Watkins (Hawke's Bay) in the other outermost lane.

All except Thomas, who was left for quite a second, got away together. McConville shot to the front and at the end of the first lap he led Frankham by a yard. Two feet further back were Thomas, Symes and Whareaitu. In the dash down the second lap McConville lost his lead to Frankham and Thomas, who had been repeatedly fouling the cork lanes through swimming erratically, was in third position, a little ahead of Symes and Whareaitu. By this time the 2500 spectators, who had been waiting for Thomas' sprint, were on their feet in a frenzy of excitement. Their cheering grew to a thunderous roar as Frankham valiantly strove to stave off challenges by Thomas, who was moving up well, Whareaitu and McConville. Frankham held his lead to the end and in a smother of foam the next four men finished within 1% seconds of one another. The Auckland contingent was jubilant that one of the team had carried off the blue riband and that another had finished as runner-up three-fifths of a second later. But they were disappointed by the judge's decision: Frankham 1, Whareaitu, not Thomas, 2, McConville 3. No one likes disputing the decision of the judges, but Thomas was so clearly second, in the opinion of many spectators and several officials near the finishing point, that Mr. Leo Kenny, the manager of the Auckland team, had firm grounds for lodging a protest against the placings. This protest was to have been considered by the judges and referee this morning. The judges, had to distinguish in poor light among four swimmers finishing so closely together that only one yard separated the first man from the fourth. In these circumstances, it was easy for the judges to make a mistake. Moreover, Thomas finished almost at their feet, and this forms a strong basis for the argument that he was outside the judges' line of vision. One good purpose has been served by the dispute. It has shown that the departure from the usual practice of limiting a 100 yds championship to four finalists ■was a very bad error. Frankham's victory was a magnificent one. To see the look of mingled surprise and joy that appeared on his face, when, after finishing, he had recovered enough breath to raise his head to be told, of.hia victory, did one's heart good. By winning, Frankham avenged his defeat by Thomas at Auckland, and, although his time, 57 2-ss, was slower than his rival's 55 4-ss, it it quite equal in merit through having been done in the heavy Napier water. After Frankham and Thomas had fought out a great finish in the Auckland championslr.p it was written that, while they raced each other, they would have turns in winning. Already, this statement is bearing truth. Thomas was fairly beaten, but there is no doubt that Dame Fortune was not with him on this occasion. Eight from the moment he drew one of the. outside positions/the worst in the Napier Baths, he was dogged by ill-luck. The ir.ony is that the same tactics that brought tan victory at Auckland mainly, brought about his downfall at Napier. He planned to hang back for the first 75yds and then to move up to the front. But he had not foreseen the disadvantage of being in an outside lane. Unlike most other baths, the Napier Baths have no channel in the sides for the purpose of minimising the chop of tne water. As already stated, Thomas was left at the start, and so from the outsel he had to swim in water made choppy through being violently disturbed by the eeven contestants and thrown against the sides of the pool. . The chop had tne effect of unbalancing Thomas from his high-planing position and of causing hmi to The m s P r e o ed ked sh y own by Whareaitu a Maori youth from Rotom was perhaps the greatest sensation of the race, lo -most enthusiasts in Napier he was unknown, yet he has be«i doing exceptionally fast times at Rotorua. His coach is J. Perrin/who did much handicap racing.™ Auckland two or three, years ago. Pnor to Saturday's race Perrm had the utmost confidence in Whareaitu, felt sure that he would gain a place. Whareaitu may come to Auckland next month in. order to race against the visiting Australian champions, and also Thomas and Frankham. , . ~ The 220 yds ladies' championship, was the freat race everyone anticipated it would e. Those that eaw Miss Farquhar win the race for the Auckland championship a fortnight ago by a yard, in the record time of 2.46, knew that Miss Leydon had an excellent chance of turning the tables at Napier. She proved capable of doing this, and won by three yards in the fast time of 2.48. For about 150 yds Miss Farquhar, the title holder, held a narrow lead, but Miss Leydon has remarkable stamina, and she crept wp into the lead. She turned for the 20yds sprmt back to the rope about a yard ahead of Miss Farquhar. The latter supped badly at the turn, and although ehe made a plucky effort to reduce the leeway, Miss Leydon was too fast for her, and drew a little further ahead over the last few yards. Miss M. Mathieson, of Otago, did well to finish third, eix yards behind Miss Farquhar. Barbara Lewin, Auckland, was a close fourth, and Nancy Ludlow, another Aucklander, was last. Miss Farquhar s time was 2.50 1-5, Mies Mathieson 2.56 1-5, and Miss Lewin 2.58 2-5. In the absence of the holder of the title since 1928, L. J. Moorhouse, Canterbury, who had influenza, George Low, also of Canterbury, won the 150 yds men's backstroke by 14 yards in 1.52. A product of Moorhouse's coaching, Low has a delightful action. E. McConville, Canterbury, and A. Raper, Auckland, had a keen tussle for second honours, McConville beating the Aucklander to the rope by about two yards. ! D. P. Lindsay and A. T. Stokes, both of Canterbury, were the only aspirants for the mile championship. Lindsay is in a class by himself at the distance, and he won an uninteresting race by about 65yds in 23.29 2-5, or 29 3-5s outside hie record. He had previously won the mile in 1927, 1928 and 1932. Seven men participated in the contest for the diving championship, which was retained by R. Calder (87.3 points), Otaffo, with W. Wesney (86.5), Southland, second, and G. Geddes (75.2), Hawke's Bay, third. The general standard was only fair, and in the opinion of Mr. L. Kenny, W. Hassan, the Auckland champion, would have had a bright chance of being placed had he gone to Napier. • - .~- ...