SWIMMING TITLES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 123, 18 February 1935, Page 11

SWIMMING TITLES

N.Z. Championships at Auckland NEW 220 YDS. RECORD Crump Loses Sprint To Otago Rival (By Telegraph.—l’ress Association.) Auckland, February 17. Inspiring enthusiasm was shown during the contests for the titles at the opening session of the New Zealand swimming championship meeting at the tepid batns on Saturday evening. Even the mile, which is generally a monotonous race, gripped the interest during the whole of its progress, and ended in a thrilling struggle. The 220yds. men’s breaststroke event might not have held the crowd iu suspense, the outcome having been obvious from slightly more than half the distance, but it offered compensation by being the only contest in which a New Zealand record was established. The winner, L. Smith (Wanganui) lowered his own standard from 3.4 to 3.1 2-5. W. J. Jarvis (Otago) scored brilliantly in the 100yds men’s free style. Miss Mona Leydon (Auckland) won the 220yds. women’s free style in similar fashion, and Watkins (Hawke’s Bay) the mile. Watkins’s time was much outside the record, but by registering 55 2-5 and 2.46 2-5 respectively, Jarvis and Miss Leydon each failed to equal the records by two-fifths of a second. The swimmers from whom tlie titles were wrested were N. Crump (Auckland) in the sprint, aud Miss Nancy Ludlow (Auckland) in the women’s furlong. The mile was not defended by D. B. Lindsay (Mauawatu). . • The great interest in the meeting was illustrated by the fact that all unreserved accommodation was taxed to capacity three-quarters of an hour before the start of the carnival. Furthermore, it was estimated that, a greater number of people than the 1800 within the building were unable to gain admittance. At present Auckland, the holder, leads for the Yaldhurst Shield. Points have been scored as follow: 13: Otago, 6; Hawke’s Bay and Wnngnnui. 5; Southland. 3: Canterbury, 1. The heats of the mile were swum on Friday evening, and those of the 100 vards men’s and 220 yards women’s on Saturday morning. Results were: — 100 Yards Men’s Free Style. First heat: N. Crump (Auckland), 1; D. 11. Symes (Canterbury), 2; 11. Simon (South Auckland). 3. Time, 56 2-5. Second heat: It. B. Frankham (Auckland) and W. Wharcaitu (South Auckland), dead-heat, 1; G. Chamberlain (Taranaki), 3. Time, 56. Third heat: W. ,T. Jarvis (Otago), 1; N. IL McGrath (Southland), 2; A. Somervell (Wellington), 3. Time, 55 3-5. Final. Jarvis 1 Crump 2 Symes 3 Also started: Frankham (Auckland), Wharealtu (South Auckland). McGrath (Southland). Time, 55 2-5. Won by one yard ami a half. Except for McGrath the others finished within fifths of a second of Crump. 220 Yards Women’s Free Style. First heat: Miss Sylvia Grange (Auckland), 1; Miss Mona Leydon (Auckland), 2; Miss Ngaire Hughes (Canterbury), 3. Time, 2.50 1-5. Second heat: Miss Nancy Basstian (Southland), 1; Miss Nancy Ludlow (Auckland), 2; Miss Edna Rainey (Auckland), 3. Time, 2148. Final. Miss Leydon 1 Miss Basstian ' 2 Miss Grange 3 Also started: Misses Ludlow (Auckland), Hughes (Canterbury), Rainey (Auckland). Time, 2.4(1 2-5. Miss Basstian shot away from the rest of tlie field and led Miss Ludlow by two yards at tlie 100 yards. Miss Leydon came into the picture in the sixth lap. Amid frantic excitement Misses Basstian and Leydon turned together for the final 20-yard sprint. The former gained on the turn, but Miss Leydon responded with all her might and caught Miss Basstian eight yards from the finishing line and won by two feet. Miss Grange, who had moved up well, was three yards short of Miss Basstian. 220 Yards lien’s Breaststroke. L. Smith (Wanganui) 1 K. Spry (Wellington) 2 J. Magee (Auckland) 3 Also started: B. Haworth (Wanganui), H. Mackintosh (Auckland). Time, 3.1 2-5., a Dominion record. For the seventh successive year Smith has won tills championship. lie finished six yards ahead of Spry. One Milo Free Style. First heat: J. Neville (Taranaki), 1; J. Watkins (Hawke's Bay). 2; N. Crump (Auckland), 3. Time, 23.56 1-5. Second heat: W. Johnson (Auckland), 1; J. D. O'Driscoll (Otago), 2; C. R. Buchanan (Auckland), 3. Time, 23.56 1-5. Final. Watkins 1 Johnson 2 O’Driscoll 3 Also started: Buchanan (Auckland), Neville (Tarannki). Time, 23.38 4-5. The competitors settled dowq to their long swim at a sound pace, the first hundred yards being covered in 70 seconds. Over the later stages Johnson and Watkins drew ahead and swam on even terms throughout. They made the last turn together. Twenty-five yards were left, and both threw their remaining strength into a desperate bid for tlie laurels. Watkins made the stronger spurt and won by two yards. O'Driscoll being 20 yards back. “Speedo” suits—chosen by champions. Unequalled for swimming, surf, i ng, sun bath i ng.—Ad vt.