SWIMMING NEW ZEALAND TITLES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27592, 24 February 1955, Page 14

SWIMMING NEW ZEALAND TITLES

/Opening Day Of Meeting

MISS W. GRIFFIN BREAKS RECORD

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Feb. 23. Miss W. Griffin (Auckland) and Miss M. Roe (Waikato) provided the closest race of the evening at the national swimming championships at the Riddiford baths. Lower Hutt, tonight. This was the 220 yards freestyle, which was won by Miss Griffin in record time. The two swimmers were together for most of the last half of the race. Miss Griffin beating her Empire Games team-mate in 2min 30.4 sec to break her own national record of 2min 32.25ec. Miss Griffin has a time of 2min 28sec waiting ratification for this event. Miss Roe, who has been swimming close to world figures in the 100 yards freestyle, was the 220 yards title-holder. Her time was 2min 30.8 sec.

In the first event of the evening, the 43-vear-old J. Davies (Wellington) won thet 100 yards men's butterfly breaststroke championship in 66,45ec. Davies was the first to touch after the first length, was well ahead on the second, and won by three yards.

The 100 yax*ds freestyle was in doubt all the way. M. Amos and D. Ramsay (both of Auckland) raced neck and neck before Amos spurted over the last 10 yards to win by ah arm’s length in sS.Bsec, with O. Snoep (Canterbury) third. After an indifferent start, D. Knight (Southland) upset predictions by beating the Southland title-holder, N. Hamilton, in the 440 yards men’s backstroke. Hamilton set out as though he were going to establish fresh figures for the event, but Knight and Irvine (Waikato) wore l him down, and Knight won in smin 37sec: The 220 yards Empire Games breaststroke champion, J. Dorns (Waikato) left no doubts of his ability at this distance. He won with comparative ease. The record and title-holder in the

women’s 100 yards breaststroke, Miss H. Currie (Otago) was strongly challenged by Miss L., Orbell (Southland) over the last length, but won by a touch in 83.1 sec —2.2 sec outside her own record—with Miss K. Bunt (/uckland) third. Points scored for the Yaldhurst shield are: Otago 3, Auckland 2, Southland 1, Waikato 1. Wellington 1.

Abbreviations used in the results are: 0., Otago; W„ Wellington; A., Auckland; Wai., Waikato; S., Southland; C., Canterbury; H. 8., Hawke’s Bay; T., Taranaki; 8.P., Bay of Plenty; .and Wang., Wanganui. Results were:—

100 Yards Men’s Butterfly (title-holder, T. Logan; New Zealand record, J. Shanahan, 65.6sec).—First heat: B. Trotter (W.) 1, F. Dodd (A.) 2, S. Paris (O.) 3. Time, 72.1 sec. Second heat: J. Davies (W.) 1, C. Hilt (A) 2, M. Fenton (S.) 3. Time, 68.3 sec. Final: Davies 1, Hilt 2, Dodd 3.

100 Yards Women’s Breaststroke (titleholder, Miss R. Currie; New Zealand record. Miss R. Currie, 80.9sec).—First heat: Miss L. Orbell (S.) 1, Miss K. Burt (A.) 2, Miss J. Dutliie 4Q.) 3. Time, 83.4 sec. Second heat: Mim «. Currie (O.) 1, Miss G. Leather (A.) z, Miss G. Jopson (O.) 3. Time, 82.1 sec. Final: Miss Currie 1, Miss Orbell 2, Miss Burt 3. Time, 83.1 sec.

100 Yards Men’s Breaststroke (titleholder, J. Dorns; New Zealand record, J. Shanahan, 70sec).—First heat: J. Dorns (Wai.) 1, D. Sosgrove (A.) 2, J. Marks (O.) 3. Time, 72.55ec. Second heat: G. Martlew (W.) 1, A. Peters (C.) 2. D. Dowse (W.) 3. Time. 73.45ec. Final: Dorns 1, Martlew 2, Dowse 3. Time, 71.9 sec.

100 Yards Men’s Freestyle (title-holder, J. Blackwood; New Zealand record P. Hanan, 53.8sec).—First heat: T. D. Stanley (Wai.) 1, F. Sonntag (D.) 2, C. Billing (W.) 3. Time, 58.2 sec. Second heat: O. Snoep (C.) 1, J. Cole (W.) 2, A. Waterson (W.) 3. Time, 57.25ec. Third heat: D. Ramsay (A.) 1, J. Jarvis (O.) 2, C. Clare (Wai,) 3. Time, 56.1 sec. Fourth heat: N. Amos (A.) 1, J. Blackwood (Wai.) 2, D. McLean (H. 8. 3. Ti 55.45ec. Fi; ' ‘ “

_ Inal: Amos 1, Ramsey 2, Snoen 3. Time, 55.65ec. , 1650 Yards Men’s Freestyle (titleholder, J. Hamilton). —First. heat: A. E. Cotterill (W.) 1, J. Flynn (S.) 2, P. R. Garratt (C.) 3. Time, 20min 37.8 sec. Second heat: J. Jarvis (O.) 1, C. Billing (W.) 2, R. McDonald (Wai.) 3. Time, 20min 38.7 sec. Final: Jarvis 1, Garratt 2, Woodall (Auckland) 3. Time, 20min 47sec.

100 Yards Women’s Backstroke (titleholder, Miss J. Stewart; New Zealand record, Miss J. Stewart).—First heat: Miss F. Tremaine (O.) 1, Miss D. Storer (W.) 2, Miss N. Jennings (S.) 3. Time, 75.95ec. Second heat: Miss V. Von Zalinski (A.) 1, Miss M. Wilson (O.) 2, Miss M. Rae (S.) 3. Time, 75.55ec. Final: Miss Wilson 1, Miss Tremaine 2, Miss Von Zalinski 3. 200 Yards Women’s Freestyle.—Miss W. Griffin (A.) 1, Miss M. Roe (Wai.) 2, Miss L. Godfrey (O.) 3. Time, 2min 30.4 sec. 400 Yards Men’s Backstroke.—R. Knight (S.) 1, Irvine (Wai.) 2, W. Hamilton (S.). 3. Time, smin 37sec. *

100 Yards Men’s Consolation Race.—C. Clare (Wai.) 1, A. Waterson (W.) 2, G. Leach (Wai.) and C. F. Sonntag (O.) (equal) 3. Time, 58sec.