Pascoe Gets Flying Start

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 16, 20 January 1939, Page 13

Pascoe Gets Flying Start

But Hanan Beats Him. RECORDS TO PETER MATHIESON AND MISSES J. MACDONALD AND W. DUNN. The triumphs of the two Peters—Peter Mathieson, who smashed his own Australian and New Zealand backstroke record for 400 metres, and Peter Hanan, who sped to a thrilling victory in the 100 yards men's free style—stirred the greatest enthusiasm at the Tepid Baths last night, when the Auckland swimming championship meeting was concluded. It was another carnival of first-rate swimming and of exciting competition, mingled with uninteresting, one-swimmer fields.

Xo matter how much the record swims added to the interest of the carnival, it is the men's 100 yards free-style race that will be the longest remembered by those present. It was notable for Hunan's victory when defeat seemed likely, for Alan I'ascoe's thrilling bid for the sprint honours when he is recognised as a distance swimmer, and for the failure of the national record-holder, Xoel Crump, who tilled third place. There was a quickening of interest when these three sprinters with A. C. Bagnall as fourth starter, took their places behind the starting board. Pascoe and Crump were in outside lines, Hanan and Bagnall being between them, with Hunan alongside Crump. Tho start was supposed to be from a flat-footed start, but Pascoe gained a flying start at the plunge. Once out in front, he did not spare himself in his effort to stay there until the finish. He led Hanan by two feet at the first turn after a third of the distance had been left behind, and as they spun themselves into the second lap, it was noticeable that Crump was within a foot of Hanan. Pascoe would not be deprived of his lead in the second lap, even although the other two were striving desperately to overtake him. He entered the final lap, leading Hanan by a foot. Crump still followed closely, and for a few more seconds it appeared as though Pascoe might hold on long enough to win, but suddenly at about the 80-yard mark Hanan caught him at last, and crept into the lead. There was pandemonium as the three sprinters disputed the remaining few yards with one another, and a great cheer as Hanan's arm flashed against the end of the pool, a fraction of a second before Pascoe's hand touched it. Crump was less than a second later in finishing. Hanan was clocked at 54 4-ss. It was an unusually fine sprint by Pascoe, but Hanan and Crump have each bettered their times. While losing the title, Crump may console himself with his record of 545. Of Hanan it may be said that he rose to the occasion in grand fashion, and in winning the ti|;le back again, deserves recognition as a champion of championg. Pascoe was in good form. He showed it. not only in this race, but also in the 440 yards championship event. He remains the quarter-mile champion, and his time was 5.16 1-5. It was not much outside L. Xewell's record of 5.10 2-5. Pascoe had a splendid swim against Mathieson, who led for most of the journey, and was not headed until about 40 yards from the rope. It was his fastest quarter, too. Just Missed Record. With the slightest more effort. Kathleen Grey would have become the possessor of another record. In the 220 yards ladies' free-style, she swam alone and covered the distance in 2.40 1-s—just one-fifth of a second slower than the Xew Zealand record of Islay Purdie. of Dunedin. However. Miss Grev eclipsed Monu Levdon's Auckland record of 2.45 4-5. but this does not represent the peak of the lutter's ability. Everyone enjoyed watching Miss Grey's graceful, yet. serviceable. action. She collected a fourth title by gaining the decision over Rita Stackpole in (he 100 yards ladies' backstroke championship. It was always a tussle on equal terms, but Miss Grey finally won on the touch in 77 3-ss. Miss Stackpole gained the intermediate girls' furlong free-style title. To augment the nine records established last Tuesday night three more records were accomplished. First and foremost there was Mathieson's performance. The other national record-breakers were Joyce Macdonald and Winnie Dunn, who were both again successful in special efforts to lower existing marks. Mathieson set out resolutely to make new record figures, and succeeded in a manner befitting his skill and determination. His time was 5.25 3-5. It shaded

his own record, which he put up in the name pool two years ago. by 9 2-ss. From the Australian record, held by Empire champion l'ercy Oliver, of Perth, he chopped 22 2-ss. Oliver put up this time at the end of 1935, when commencing his climb to Australian championship rank. Muthieson's stamina makes him an outstanding backstroke swimmer at middle distances. In Christchurcb there is a backstroke exponent named Cliff, who is expected to give Mathieson the race of his life at the national senior championship meeting in Invercargill next month. Mathieson has ijow demonstrated that Cliff's task is considerably more difficult. In the sphere of record-breaking swims it is a far cry back to 1921), when Ena Stockley set the 100 metres backstroke j record for ladies with the time of 1.24 2-5, and for ten years her record stood unbeaten and unequalled until Invercargill's Joyce Macdo'nald, completing; a fine sprint last night, removed it from the lists with an effort of 1,22. The performance | gave more lustre to the career of the youthful, gifted Southlunder, who last season took his Stockley's 400 yards record from her. It was expected that Winnie Dunn, of Dunedin, would smash Gladys Pidgeon's long-standing record for 400 metres breaststroke, her time, 7.11, being 45 l-5s below the record. In the results which follow clubs are denoted by the following abbreviations :— Kuikohe (Kai..), Eastern Suburbs (E.S.). Potisonby (IVm.). l , urnell (I'ar.). Waiteniata (Wni.), North Shore (X.S.), Otaliuhu (Ot.), Mount Eden (Mt.E.) :—- SENIOR TITLES. Men'* Freestyle, 100 yards.—Auckland and New Zealand record, 545, N. Crump (VS.) ; holder of title, X. Crump (X.S.) — I*. Hanan (Mt. E.) 1, A. Pascoe (Wai.) 2, N. Crump (N\S.) 3. Won by a foot, lift between second and third. Time, 54 4 ss. Men's Freestyle, 440 yards.—New Zealand record, 5.10 2-5. L. Newell (Canterbury) ; Auckland record, 3.13 2-5, G. Brid son : holder of title, A. I'ascoe (Wai.) —A. Pascoe (Wai.) 1. P. E. Mathieson (Wai.) 2, V. Cupper (Wai.) 3. Won by two feet. Capper was beaten by Mathieson by 15 yards. Time. 5.16 1-5. Men's Backstroke. 400 metreg.—Auckland and New Zealand record, 5.35, P. E. Mathieson—P. E. Mathieson (Wai.) 1. f! Hall (Ot.) did not finish the distance. Tune, 5.25 3-s—a New Zealand record. Men's BreaststroKe. 100 yards.—Holder of title, P. Khanahan (Wai.)—M. Clearv > J - F - Taylor (Wai.) 2, T. Jones (Wai.) .1. deary was the leader for the whole distance, and. although Taylor gained on him over the last lap, he won bv a foot. Ai^ ard _separated Taylor and Jones. Time, Women's Freestyle. 220 yards.—New Zealand record. 2.40. I. Purdie (Otago) ; Auckland record, 2.4.i 4-,», M. 1 .eydon ; holder of title. M. Leydon—K. Grev (Ot ) the only starter, 1. Time, 2.40 1-s—an Auckland record. Women's Backstroke, 100 vards—New Zealand record, 1.1« 1-5, J." Macdonald (Invercargill); Auckland record, l.lis 2-5 E. Stockley ; holder of title. K. Stackpole—K. (Jrey (Ot.) 1, K. Stackpole (I'ar.) 2. Won by a touch. Time, 1.17 3-5. Women's Breaststroke. 100 vards.—Holder or title, D. Jones (Wai.) —D. Lewis (X.S.) 1. Time. 1.40 1-5. The other starters, G. Hill (Ot.) and 1,. Collins (Wai.), were disqualified for not swimming the regulation style. THE INTERMEDIATES. Boys' Freestyle, 'J2O yards.—First heat: X. Williams (X.S.) 1, J. Enwright (Wai.) 2. C. Brown (I'ar.) 3. Time. 2.52 3-5. Second heat: I>. (ioodhue (Kai.) 1 K Crunch (Mt.E.) 2. J. C. Neftleton (X.S.) 8. Time. 2.44 3-5. Final: Williams 1. Crunch Nettleton 3. Williams led all the wav and won by four yards. Crunch defeated Xettlefim by 12 yards. Time. 2.42 Boys' Breaststroke. 100 yards.—Xew Zealand record. 73 3-5. R. Oeddes : holder of title. I. Jones (Wai.) —W. I.otnas (Poll.), the only starter. 1. Time, ] ,*J7 8-5 Oirls' Freestyle. 22<» yards.—New Zealand record. 2.48 4-5. K. Grev (Ot ) • holder of title. K. Grey—R. Stackpole X ' (Kai.) 2. M. Black (Wai.) .1. Won by 2} yards, a touch between second and third. Time, 2.57 3-5 Girls' Breaststroke. 75 yards.—Auckland and New Zealand record. 50 4-5s J Web ster (Auckland) : holder of title, Ci. Priestley (Mt.E.)—T>. Jones (Wai.), the onlv starter. 1. Time, f>B l-ss.