LIFE SAVING

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26971, 21 February 1953, Page 8

LIFE SAVING

N.Z. SURF TITLES AT GISBORNE HEAVY SEAS LIMIT PROGRAMME (New Zealand Press Association) GISBORNE, February 20. Heavy seas prevented the holding, of water events on the opening day of the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Association’s national championships at Waikanae, Gisborne, today. The only events in the moaning were the resuscitation section of the junior and senior four-man alarm events. In the afternoon, the beach sprint and beach relays were run. Two mark£r buoys attached to a straddle line with six anchors carried away shortly after midday, and three members of the Waikanae Club went about 100 yards offshore and retrieved the buoys. The men said that the sea was a very difficult one in which to work. Auckland clubs took the honours in the first two finals decided—the 100 yards beach sprint championship event and the beach championship relay. Both events were run on grass in the camping area, as the beach surface was not suitable. R. Hammond (North Piha) won the sprint event, and retained the title he won last year. Hammond won his heat in the second fastest time of the day—lo 4-ssec—-and in the final he improved on this time by l-ssec. Eastern United had a handy win in the first heat of the beach championship relay. A Wellington club, Worser Bay, was disqualified in the second heat, and first place was awarded to New Brighton. Waihi won the third heat, but was disqualified for breaking in the final. Eastern United was never in trouble in the final, and from an early lead had a comfortable win from North Piha and New Brighton. Results were:— 100 Yards Beach Championship (holder, R. Hammond, Piha North).—First heat: M. Hesse (Waitemata) 1, P. Bevin (North Piha) 2. Time, llsec. Second heat: J. Watt (Lyall Bay) 1, R. Phillips (Eastern United) 2. Time, 10 4-ssec. Third heat: R. Hammond (North Piha) 1, R. Cole (Lyall Bay) 2. Time, 10 4-ssec. Fourth heat: T. Barnard (Island Bay) 1, B. Sinclair (Maranui) 2. Time. 10 4-ssec. Fifth heat: M. Cooper (Piha) 1, R. Jones (Worser Bay) 2. Time, 10 3-ssec., Sixth heat: R. Oliver (Maranui) 1, J. Brown (New Brighton) 2. Time, 11 l-ssec. Final: R. Hammond (North Piha) 1, M. Hesse (Waitemata) 2, M. Cooper (Piha) 3. Time, 10 3-ssec. Beach Relay.—First heat: Eastern United 1, North Piha 2, Island Bay 3. Time, 43 3- Second heat: New Brighton 1, St. Clair 2, Palmerston North 3. Time, 42 4- Third heat: Waihi 1, East End 2, Lyall Bay 3. Time, 43 3-ssec. Final: Eastern United 1, North Piha 2, New Brighton 3. Time, 42 3-ssec.