Swimming Another N.Z. Record Broken By Miss S. Nicholson

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29724, 18 January 1962, Page 15

Swimming Another N.Z. Record Broken By Miss S. Nicholson

Girl competitors were outstanding at the fourth session of the Canterbury swimming championships in the Centennial Pool last night. The brilliant New Zealand representative, Miss S. A. Nicholson (Spreydon), bettered her own national record for the senior 440 yards freestyle by almost two seconds; Miss S. Pitama (110 yards senior backstroke) and Miss B. Poulsen (55 yards freestyle, girls under 13) both broke provincial records; and Miss L. Cox (Spreydon) established herself as the best Canterbury butterfly prospect for many years with an inspired effort of Imin 22.45ec over 110 yards.

Miss Cox’s time not only smashed the Canterbury junior record by 10.2 sec but also came within o.7sec of Miss Nicholson’s senior record, set the previous night. Though slightly built, Miss Cox has great stamina, and the required time for a New Zealand junior record, imin 21sec. should soon be within her grasp. As proof of her versatility, Miss Cox also won the junior 110 yards backstroke championship last night, her time of Imin 24.45ec being only four-fifths of a second outside the Canterbury record There was a gap of 12 yards between her and the second place-getter; had she met with stouter opposition the record might well have been hers.

The New Zealand record swim by Miss Nicholson was her second of the championships. She swam a wellbalanced race, passing the half-way mark in about 2min 33sec. and steadily drew clear of Misses J. Clark and L. Harrow to win comfortably in smin 10.3 sec. A new national record was a possibility throughout the race and Miss Nicholson made certain of the achievement by a fine tumble turn at the start of the last lap and a splendid sprint to the end of the pool. Her previous New Zealand record was smin 12.2 sec, and her Canterbury record was smin 13.2 sec. It was expeeled that the breaking of Miss W. Dale’s national junior 220 yards freestyle record by Miss G Dennis (Waikato) in Auckland on Tuesday night would spur Miss Dale last night The Spreydon club girl did indeed start the 220 yards event as though she intended to win back the record, for she covered the first 110 yards in about Imin 14sec. but this effort told on her in the last two laps and her time was 2min 39 Bsec. well outside her own Canterbury record and the new national time.

The Hay brothers (Elmwood) enjoyed a good night’s swimming. Michael. the winning the senior 220 yards breaststroke title after a close race with G Johnson. the 110 vards chamoion Hay’s time of 2min 57 isec was three-tenths of a second slower than the Canterbury record he set while swimming against the Japanese on Saturdav night. J Hay won the junior 110 yards breaststroke title after 5 thrilling race with W Pearce—there was little more

than a foot between them throughout the race—and P. Hay was beaten by a touch for first place in the 110 yards breaststroke for boys under 13, only to be disqualified. The senior 220 yards freestyle was robbed of much of its interest through the absence of the record-holder. R. Blair, who is touring with the New Zealand team, and of the race favourite, G. Stringer, through illness. W G. Andrew, the 1650 yards champion, won the title after a good tussle with G. Le Cren, who had beaten him in a heat. These two left the other competitors well behind. Andrew winning by three yards in the good time of 2min 193 sec. A. Harrow, who set a national under-14 boys' 220 yards backstroke record late last month, won the junior boys’ title over the same distance in a time only I.ssec outside the Canterbury record and 1 9sec outside the New Zealand record. With another full season ahead as a junior, Harrow should, in time, better both figures. Abbreviations used in the results are:—B-. Beckenham; C.. Christchurch: E. Elmwood; F. Fendalton; L. Linwood; P., Papanui; Rga., Rangiora; R. Riccarton; St.A.. St. Albans; S.. Spreydon; W . Wharenui. Results were:— Men 220 Yards Breaststroke —M. Hay (E l 1. G. Johnson (F.) 2. A MacDonald (S.) 3. Time. 2:57 1. 220 Yards Freestyle.—Heat 1: L. Mclntosh (B.) 1. D. Johnston IF.) 2, A Hunter (S.) 3. Time. 2:31.2. Heat 2: G. Le Cren (C.» 1. W. G. Andrew (S.) 2. B Campbell (St.A.) 3. Time. 2:22 2 Heat 3. A Harris (E.) 1. M Wyatt IS.) 2 M Yorston (St.A.) 3. Time. 2:37.3. Final: Andrew 1. Le Cren 2, Campbell 3. Time, 2:19.3. Women 110 Yards Backstroke —Miss S Pitama (S.) I. Miss S. Nicholson (S.) 2. Miss H Broughton (St. A.) 3. Time, 1:21.3 (a Canterbury record). 440 Yards Freestyle.—Miss S. A. Nicholson <S » 1. Miss J. Clark (S.) 2. Miss L. Harrow (S.l 3. Time. 5:10.3 (a Canterbury and New Zealand record) Junior Boys 220 Yards Backstroke.—A. Harrow (S.) 1. J. Robinson (S.) 2. I. Donaldson (L.) 3. Time. 2:48.2. 110 Yards Breaststroke—Heat 1: W. Pearce IS) 1. I. Johnson IF.) 2. A. McKenzie (E.) 3 Time, 1:33.5, Heat 2: J. Hay lE. 1. R. Bliss IS.) 2. A. Bliss (S.j3. Time. 137 1. Final: Hav I. Pearce 2. R. Bliss 3. Time. 137.1. 55 Yards Freestyle.—Heat 1: M. Davies IS.) I. J. Robinson IS.) 2. I Donaldson (L.) 3 Time. 32 5. Heat 2: R. Genet IS,) 1. G. Wild (W.) 2. R Ettrick iS ) 3. Time 33 6 Heat 3: M. Gould <StA > 1 P. Carpenter iW.i 2 R. Weatherhead IF. 3 Time. 31 1. Heat 4: D Mitchell (S.) 1, R. Brodie (S.)

2. I. Johnson (F.) 3. Time. 34.4 Final: Gould 1, Carpenter 2, Davies 3. Time. 31.7. Junior Girls

220 Yards Freestyle.-Mlss W. Dale IS.) 1. Miss F. Moir <S ) 2. Miss M. Marston IE.) 3. Time. 2:39.8.

110 Yards Backstroke.—Miss L. Cox (S.) 1. Miss F. Pearce iS ) 2. Miss E. Holland (S ) 3. Time. 1:24.4.

110 Yards Butterfly.—Miss L» Cox (S.) 1. Miss C. Johnson (F t 2. Time, 1:22.4 (a Canterbury record).

Boys Under 13 220 Yards Backstroke —R. Random (F.) 1. Time. 3:22 6. 110 Yards Breaststroke—L. Harris (E.) 1. R. McKee IS.) 2. Time. 1:48.3. Girls Under 13 220 Yards Backstroke.—Miss F. Pearce (S.) 1. Miss R. George (S.) 2. Miss K. Donaldson (L.) 3. Time, 3:145.

55 Yards Freestyle—Heat 1: Miss B Poulsen IS.) 1, Miss N Clarke (E.) 2, Miss J. Baigent IP.) 3. Time, 34 6 (a Canterbury record). Heat 2: Miss J. Reid lE.) 1. Miss K. Donaldson IL.) 2. Miss K. Steele (W.) 3. Time. 361. Feat 3’ Miss R. George (S.) 1. Miss E. Spear (St.A.) 2. Miss L Marshall iSt A.) 3. Time. 36 9. Final: Miss Poulsen 1. Miss Clarke 2. Miss Reid 3. Time. 35 2.

Boys Under 11 55 Yards Breaststroke —P Hav lE.) 1. R. Wilson (L.) 2. Time, 50.4.