SWIMMING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 274, 18 November 1936, Page 19

SWIMMING.

CENTRE CARNIVAL. : * i OPENING OF THE SEASON. POPULAR VICTORIES BY K. GREY, G. USHER AND M. BELL. Considering its postponement from the previous Tuesday, and a rather blustery evening, the opening swimming carnival last night can be claimed to have fairly launched the season. It was run by the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, all city and suburban clubs combining for the purpose. Secretary J. R. Miller had everything working in smooth order, and with an extra and many close finishes the public had no possible cause for complaint. Among the spectators were Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Francis, formerly of Hobart, who recently came from Australia on the Monterey's trip, and hope to settle in Auckland. "Skipper" Francis was for

many years manager of the City Batlis, Hobart, also instructor. He holds the record? for two superlative pre-war swimming performances in the Old Country. In 1912 he covered 15 miles in Bristol Channel in 4hrs. 32min., and in 1011 went eleven miles in the River Usk (Wales) in 3hrs. 2min. In passing, it may be mentioned that "Skipper" is also the author of that popular Southern Hemisphere ditty, "Australia Will be There." © The outstanding performer last night was the young Otahuhu swimmer, Kathleen Grey, Auckland provincial furlong intermediate champion, who won the sprint in her own class, then proceeded off a short handicap to conquer all opponents in her heat and final of the open hundred. Two other popular victories were those of the diminutive Mark Bell, who succeeded in his initial race in open backstroke company, and Gordon Usher, the

well-known harbour swimmer. Competing at Hobson Street for years for the sake of the sport alone, and ever cheerful despite his physical disability, Gordon's effort in winning the final of the open hundred was a fine example of courage in adversity, and its significance not lost ur>on the crowd. Equals New Zealand Record. Bob Frank ham clocked the fast time of 54 3-5s in finishing second in his heat of the 100 yds, but lie could not secure a place in the final, in which his club mates, Walden Johnson and H. Colmore-Williams (the former Dargaville and North Shore member) were second and third to Usher. Frankham's time equalled the New Zealand record established by the same Bwimmer last year. Jim Magee, a former Auckland breaststroke champion, showed a glimpse of his best form in winning the final of the 100 yds open breaststroke handicap from scratch, his time for both heat and final being 76 4-ss.

In the following results, the abbreviations for the various clubs are : —Eastern Suburbs (E S ), Mount Eden (Mt. E.), North bhore (N S.),'Otahuhu (O.), Ponsonby (I.). P'ir nell (Par.), Waitemata (W.). SCRATCH RACES. 1331 Yards Tiny Tote' Inter-club Relay Phnmiiionship. —Otahuhu (IX Arnold. H. Johnson, J. Way, B. Owens), 1. Ihe only Intermediate-Junior Inter-club Relay Championship (teams of six. ages 17 years and under) .—Waitemata (B. Coinyay Tom Jones. A. Pascoe. K. Buchanan. Misses 1 Mulvihill, M. Black). 1; Ponsonby 2. The other entrant. Parnell. was disqualified. "00 Yards Business Houses Relay Championship (teams of six). —Milne and Choyce, T fmited (G Smith, R. Mansell. D. Freakes, A Pascoe Misses M. Chittenden. E. Wood i, Hospital Board, 2 ; Rendells, Limited, 3. Time.' >- • j , . t WOMEN'S HANDICAPS. Yards (girls).—J. Way (O.), 2Ss, 1; D. Arnold (O.). 255. 2; M. Stoddart (N.S.), 97c. 3. Time, 26 2-ss. GGS Yards (girls).—First heat: N. Robertson (W.), 475, 1; D. Jones (W.). 495, 2 - R Stackpole (Par.), 475, 3. Time. 455. Second heat: M. Webb (N.S.). 475. 1: K Cleave (Par.), 51s. 2; S. Jones (W.), 50s, o Time 46 3-ss. Final: Norma Robertson, 1° R. Stackpole, 2 ; M. Webh, 3. Time, 45 fi6»' JS Yards Intermediate. — Kathleen Grev (O.), 445, 1; J. Wright (N.S.). 465, 2; P King (O.), 545, 3. Time, 43 4-se. ! 100 Yards Open.—First heat: M. Leydon i f'.p ) 6SS. 1; N. Barton (W.),-70s, 2; H. Morris (W.). 735, 3. T.me. 70 l-ss. Second heat: K. Ore/ <o.>. 72b, 1; N.- Ludlow

(W.), 60s, 2. Time, 73 1-os. Final: Kathleen Grey, 1; Nancy Ludlow, — > Mona 1j don, 3. Time, 72 4-ss. MEN'S HANDICAPS. 33 1-3 Yards Boys. —R. Johnston (N.S.), 31s, 1; V. Hills (P.), 31s, _2; P. Murray (M.S.), 245, 3. Time. 27 l-ss. 06 2-3 yards Boys.—First beat ■ K. Rogers (Mt. E.), 475, 1; L. Waters (N.S.), 48s, 2; E. Enwright (W.), 40s, 3; C. Nettleton (X.S.), 47-3, 4. Time, 445. Second lieat: P. Carroll (\Y. j, 4S:s ( 1; T. Ambridge (P.), 48s, 2; D. Menzies (P.), 50s, 3. Time, 45 3-ss. Pinal : Waters 1, Enwright 2, Nettleton 2. Time, 47 4-5«. 00 2-3 Yards Intermediate. —First heat: G. Walker (,\V\), 435, 1; A. Wiles (Mt. E.), 30s, 2; P. Krause (E.S.), 425, 3. Time, 43 l-ss. Second heat: N. Ru'sll (P.), 425, 1; G. Sellars (P.), 425, 2; It. A. Martin (O.), 30s, 3. Time, 425. Final: Walter 1, Sellars 2, Martin 3. Time, 41 3-os. 00 2-3 Yards Novice.—First heat: J. Short (Mt. E-), 40s, 1; W. Macindoe (P.), 575, 2; G. Simpson (W.), 30s, 3. Time, 40s. Second heat: W. F. Gunn (P.), 325, 1; D. Freakes (N.S.), 30s, 2; H. Boys (P.), 41s, 3. Time, 40 2-ss. Final: Short 1, Freakes 2, Simpson 3. Time, 30 4-us. 100 Yards Open.—First heat: G. Usher (N.S.), 75 s, 1; T. Loom (O.), 735. 2; D. Elliott (Mt. E.), 725, 3. 'Time, 73 2-ss. Second heat: G. Simpson (\V.), 08s, 1; H. C. Williams (Alt. E.), 00s, 2; It. Alartin (O.), 07s, 3. Time, 00 3-ss. Third heat: W. Johnson (Alt. E.), 00s, 1 ; A. Pascoe (\V.), 50s, 2; N. Crump (N.S.), 50s, 3. Time, 58 2-ss. Fourth lieat: Warwick Warren (E.S.), 08s, 1; It. B. Frankliam (Ait. E.), 555, 2; (J. Oakley (Par.), 07s, 3. Time, 57 2-ss. Filial: Usher 1, Johnson 2, Williams 3. Time, 735. MISCELLANEOUS. GO 2-3 Yards Open Backstroke, Alen'6 and Ladies'.—First heat: K. Buchanan (W.), 7s, 1; Itaper (P.), Is, 2; Airs. W. K. Stockley (E.S.), 4s, 3. Time, 52 2-ss. Second heat: Bob Buchanan (W.), scr, 1; AI. Bell (E.S.), 17s, 2: Nancy Barton (W.), 6s, 3. Time, 44 2-us. Final: Bell 1, It. Buchanan 2, Raper 3. Time, 01 3-ss. 100 Yards Open Breast-stroke.—First heat: J. Magee (W.), 753, 1; P. Shanahan (W.), 78s, 2; W. Macindoe (P.), 84s, .3. Time, 70 4-ss. Second heat: F. S. Taylor (W.), 7Ss, 1; T. Jones (W.), 83s, 2; June Alelhose (N.S.), 02s, 3. Time. 81 3-ss. Final: Magee 1, Jones 2, Shanahan 3. Time, 70 4-ss. Taylor was disqualified. Intermediate-Junior Diving.—c. Cowley (Alt. E.), 1. Water Polo. —Mount Eden 3 (Los. Cordes, D. Keunc and Alt'. Forrest) beat Ponsonby B 1 (W. Gibbons). Air. W. J. Stevens referee. The Auckland Water Polo Control Board has drawn North Shore to play Ponsonby A -at the Waitemata Amateur Swimming Club s carnival next Tuesday night.