AUSTRALIA'S NIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 74, 29 March 1933, Page 12

AUSTRALIA'S NIGHT.

GREAT SWIMMING CARNIVAL

ALL SQUARE WITH AUCKLAND

PHILLIPS AND THOMAS SHINE,

The great crowd that packed every foot of available space at the Tepid Baths last night saw the New South Wales swimmers square accounts with Auckland (and New Zealand's) craclc swimmers in more record-breaking encounters. The attendance, too, was another tribute to the ever-increasing popularity of the visitors. Surely no finer team of sportsmen has ever visited these shores. Even Reg Thomas' great furlong victory last night was not cheered more heartily than the cyclonic 150 yds triumph of Carl Phillips and the other record broken by a visitor —Victor Besomo, in lowering the 100-metres Dominion backstroke record, incidentally knocking exactly seven seconds off the figures of L. J. Moorhouse (Canterbury), which were 1.19.2-5. Australia's two wins last night evened up the tallv in the three matches, the attached table showing that each side has won five rubbers, while the remaining one was drawn: —

INTERMEDIATE. Race. Won by Time. Margin. 100 Yards Crump 57 2-5s Yard 220 Yards Dead heat 2.25 2-5 — 300 Yards Crump 3.27 4-5 J-yarfJ 50 Yards Phillips 25 2-5s Touch 150 Yards Phillips 1.29 1-5 4 yards SENIOR. 220 Yards Besomo 2.22 2-5 3 yards 50 Yards Frankham 25 2-5s Yard 300 Yards Besomo 3.29 3 yards 100 Yards Thomas 50 4-5s Foot 220 Yards Thomas 2.23 2-5 Foot 800 Relay N.S.W. 8.48 2-5 5 yards The races in their respective classes were swum in the above order. New South Wales Two Down.-

The Australians made a had beginning last night. ' In the first main contest, the scratch race for seniors over a furlong, Vic Besomo and Owen Griffiths went down to the Grammar speedster, Reg. Thomas. For the first 100 yards, Bob Frankham, the holder of the New Zealand title and record, showed the way by a couple of feet to Besomo and Thomas, who swam along on equal terms. Frankham held his lead to the end of the fourth lap, 133 1-3 yards. But Thomas and Besomo gradually closed on him and he had to give way to them over the fifth lap, which they completed still together. Suddenly Owen Griffiths, who had been tailing the field for most of the time, spurted up in line with the two leaders. The spectators, who were packed in the building, became wildly excited as Thomas, Besomo and Griffiths turned almost together for the final 20-yard dash back to the rope. Somehow or other Thomas managed to creep ahead and he won by a foot from Besomo, who snatched second place from Griffiths 'bj - two feet. Frankham was three yards further hack. The time, 2.23 2-5, two-fifths outside Thomas' best, missed Frankham's national record by 1 l-ss.

Phillips and Relay Team to Rescue. Curl Phillips made amends for his team mates' defeat by winning the 150 yards intermediate scratch race in brilliant fashion. indeed, although aged only 16, his time, 1.29 1-5, lowered Gordon Bridson's Australian and New Zealand senior record by 2 2-ss, a wide margin. In contrast to his usual tactics, Phillips made the pace against Crump. The completion of 100 yards found the young Australian helf a yard ahead of Crump, who was fighting desperately to reduce the lead. Ho was no match for Phillips, and this boy, forging further ahead, won by 4 l-ss.

The first three pairs in the 800 yards relay race, F. Griffiths and Johnson, Phillips and Frankham and O. Griffiths and Crump, gave the spectators very keen racing. • Auckland led until 15 yards from the end of the tussle between O. Griffiths and Crump, the New South Wales captain then spurting and beating Crump by a foot, and thus allowing Besomo to get away a little ahead of Thomas, Auckland's last man. Besomo and Thomas were soon together, and when they turned simultaneously after- going 133 1-3 yards, a close finish seemed inevitable. However, to the surprise of everyone, Besomo shot ahead of his opponent, and won easily by five yards. New South Wales, which, registered 8.48 2-5, was warmly applauded for its clear-cut victory. Details :—

SCRATCH RACES. 150 Yards Intermediate—Carl Phillips (N.S.W.) 1, Noel Crump (Auckland) 2, Walden Johnson (Auckland) 3. Time, 1.29 1-5 —breaking, Gordon Bridson'g Australian and New Zealand record of 1.31 3-5. 220 Yards Senior.—Reg. Thomas (Auckland) 1, Victor Besomo (N.S.W.) 2, Bob Frankham (Auckland) 3. Owen Griffiths (N.S.W.) 4. Time, 2.23 2-5. SOO Yards Relay—Walden Johnson beat Frank Griffiths by two yards, Carl Phillips heat Bob Frankham by half a yard, Owen Griffiths beat Nool Crump by a foot. Victor Besomo bent Reg. Thomas by five" yards. Time, 8.48 2-5. New South Wales thus won the event. In each case the succeeding- man had the advantage of his predecessor's wining margin.

' HANDICAP EVENTS. In the results which follow, the abbreviations represent: B.N. (BirkenheadNorlhcote). G. (Grammar). H. (Helensville), Mt. B. (Mount Eden), N.S. (North Shore). Par. (Parnell). Pon. (Ponsonby), U. (University), W. (Waitemata) :—

HO Yards (girls).—First heat: M. Gillies (N.S.), sa, 1 ; M. Black (W.). ss, 2. Time, 33 2-iss. ' Second heat: D. Miles (N.S.), 4s, 1; C. Watters (W.), 2s, 2. Time, 33 4-ss. Final: Mary Oillics I, Dorothy Miles 2, Margaret Black 3. Time, 32 455.

00 2-3 Ynrds (Indies). —First heat: E. Sfeele (8.N.). (Is. 1: M. Farquhnr (W.), scr. 2. Time, 40s. Second heat: J. Thomson (U.l. (is. 1; E. Strong (H.), 6s, 2. Time. 45 2-ss. Final : Edna Steele 1, Mario Farquhar 2. Jean Thomson 3. Time, 40s.

50 Yards (boys).—First heat: J. S. Jones (N.S.), lis. 1; M. M. Jones (N.S.), 13s, 2; R. S. Jones (N.S.) 15s, 3 Time.. 40s. Second heat: D. Webster (Mt. E.), 4s. 1; A. Hodgson (N.S.). (is. 2. Time, 325. Third heat: A. M. Dav (N.S.), 4s, 1: W. Gibbons (Pon.). fis. 2. Time, 30 1-Ss. Fourth heat: -R. MoHardv (Pon.). 3s. 1 : O. R. Buchanan (N.S.I scr. 2. Time. 20 2-ss. Fifth heat : V. Stanaway (II.). ss. 1; M. Cleary (W.), scr, 2. Time. 30 4-ss. Sixth heat: A. Pascoe (TV.), 2s. 1. Time, 30 2-ss. Final: Vin. Stanaway 1. Jim Jones 2, Ross McHardy 3. Time. 31 l-ss.

50 Yards (open).—First heat: T>. E. Roane (Van.). 3s. 1; W. G. Smith (Pnn.). 2s. 2. Time. 27 3-Hs. Second heat : B. Glbb (W.), Ik, 1: E. V. Cunnold (W.). 3s. 2. Time. 25 1-.". Third heat: M. M. Matthew (Mt. E.l. 4s. 1 ; S. W. Whitley (G), 4s. 2. Time, 2S l-ss. Fourth heat: G. Donaldson (N.S.I, 4s. 1: T. Rapano (H.), 3s. 2. Time. 30 l-ss. Fifth heat: W. Gnnn (U.I. 3s. 1; R. Webb (N.S.), 4s. 2. Time. 28 l-ss. Sixth hcet: L. Beck (N.S.), 2s. 1; 15. Stevens HNT.S.), 3s. 2. Time. 27 4 ss. Seventh heat: R. Sellnrs (H.L 3s. 1: Frank Griffiths (N.S.W.). scr. 2. Time, 26 4-ss. First semi-flnal : Bill Gihb 1, Mervyn Matthew 2. Dan Keane 3. Time, 26 l-ss. Second semi-final : Louie Beck 1, Bill Gunn 2. Ross Sellnrs 3. Time. 20 2-os. Final: ,W. Gnnn 1. M. M. Matthew 2, L. Reek 3. Time. 27 2-ss.

Of! 2-3 Yards (novice).—F. Howe (Phf.V ss. 1:■ D. Webster (Mt. F,.), 7s. 2. Time. 42 3-ss. Second heat: E. Guzzwell <C). ss. 1: C. Billiard (Bar.l. 4s. 2. Time. 4.65. Third heat: F. Wells (U.S.). ss. 1 ; A. S. Itronfeld (Pon.l. 3s. 2. Time, 435. Final: Frank Howe 1. Doug. Webster 2, Fred Wells 3. Time, 41 l-ss.

RELAYS AND MISCELLANEOUS. 133 1-3 Yards Special Match Relay.— South British Insurance (C. Lound, R. Wilson, D. Chins. W. Macindoe. ,T. Robinson) 1. Bank of New Zealand 2. Time. 1.31. lGfl 2-3 Yards Inter-house Relay.—Macky, Logan, Caldwell, Ltd. (Stan Grant, Anna Woods, Dan E. Mackay, Sheila Whitley, Bob Frankhnm) 1, Milne and Chovce 2, Geo. Court's, Ltd., 3. Time, 1.35 2-5. 200 Yards Inter-sports Relay.—Ponsonby Swimming Club (W. F. Smith, W. G. Smith, A. Kay, B. Mldgley, W. Clarkson, A. Raper) 1. North Shore Swimming Club 2. Time, 1.46 2-5. 200 Yards Reswim of Inter-honse Relay from previous carnival.-—Geo. Court and Sons. Ltd. (Tom Kean, Maurice Chittenden, Roley Gillett, Mick Finlayson, Gordon Smith, Jack Gamble) 1. Milne and Choyce, Ltd. 2. Time. 1.50 1-5. Diving.—Mervyn Matthew (Mt. E.) 1, Irene Long (Mt. E.) 2. Water Polo. —Ponsonby A 4 (Gordon Smith 2, Frank Smith 1, Bert Raper 1), beat Grammar A 2 (Jim Steer scored both j goals). Dr. Harold PetUt -was refers*. J