CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1924, Page 4

CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING

\ — SATURDAY'S EVENTS AT WANGANUI PERFORMANCES DESCRIBED. WANGANUI, 26th January. The seventy-fifth national swimming championships wore commenced at Wanganui to-day, in glorious weather, and under ideal swimming conditions. The racing was up to standard, but the slow water was not conducive to fast times, although one record was broken, when Miss Coutts, of Auckland, lowered the junior girls' SO yards record by l-ssec. Other events were all keenly contested, and although no successes came the way of the Wellington performers, they made as good a showing as was expected. The 100 yds Senior Championship was contested in three heats and, a final. _ The heats were decided. in the morning, and although the first heat was a comfortable win for Fairgray, the other two were exciting contests. The second heat included Claridge and Murrellj whose most serious opponent was' Smith, on whom the Auckland supporters were pinning their, faith. ■ From a good start, Claridge immediately- took s the lead, and at the first turn (25 yards) was slightly in front of Smith, who was two feet in front of Murrell. Claridge gained slightly on the next lap, kwhich lead he maintained to the third tfrn on the home stretch. There was some desperate swimming, and although Smith was ,finishing strongly he just failed to catch Claridge. Murrell' was travelling fast over the final lap, but could not catch the leaders, who went very fast over the first stretch. In, the third heat all eyeß were, focussed on Batchelor and Enwright, who, it was expected, would "paddle along" for first and second places. But they had reckoned without Paterson, who swam a great race. The start was a good one, and,. at the. first "turn Enwright was slightly in front of Batchelor and Pater^pn. Over the next'stretch Paterson travelled fast, and'- led- Enwright and. Batchelor. Racing to the 75 yards mark Enwright had regained the lead from Paterson and Batchelor, who turned together just behind him. The race to the post was a great struggle, and Enwright, faltering, enabled Batchelor to get up and win by a touch, with Paterson two feet away. This was' the fastest heat, and Paterson was decidedly unlucky in being eliminated from the final, as his time was actually faster than' those o! any\ of the other place-getters of the previous heats. With all respect to. the winner, Paterson must be given credit for a fine swim. The filial gave promise of being an excellent race, and so it proved to be. Reid did not start; leaving I five to swim. % Enwright got away smartly, and immediately forged to the front, turning first just ahead of Claridge and Smith. Racing to the 50 yards mark, Enwright had increased his lead to a .foot, Claridge and Smith still being next. .This portion was covered .in 27 l-ssec. Over the third stretch Enwright was still leading, but Batch-' elor was making a forward 'move, while Claridge lost his position through swimming a very erratic . course. It now ldoked to bo Enwright's race, and although Batchelor and Smith put in great efforts, they could not catch the champion, who' nearly 'nliSßed the- big' honours by a faulty finishing touch. Claridge was last, and could not reproduce the swim 'of his heat. The; final was swum in 4 : ssec slower time than the-winner's heat. It was a true racej and Enwright won on his merits.

Miss Shand had no difficulty in winning the 100 yds Ladies' Championship, and although all the field were practically together at the three-quarter way ( mark, the brilliant Canterbury ■ representative left the others standing over; the final lap, an(3 won easily by threu yards. . \ The mile drew forth six starters^ and was- a better race than usual! The fii.'st hundred, which was covered in 75 seconds, saw all the competitsrs together, but at the 220 yards marks AtkirifAm, Cunnold, and Bradley were in front; of WilsoitfrHill, andjtfurrell.' With a quarter of the dis'tance^gone, Atkinson wa,s in the lead, and Hill'had made a forward move, up to second place from Cunnold, while Wilson had dropped back to last. Passing 600 yards, the positions 'were trie same, with Miirrell and Bradley slowly gaining on Curihold and Wilson. When the half-mile-was reached, Atkinson was ten yards in front ol Hill, arid had covered this portion in 12min 44f,ec, Cuhilold, Murrell, and Bradley were twelve yards further" back, together, while Wilson was tailed off. Atkinson was going (exceptionally well at the thousand 'yards, and had the racein hand, .while Murrell- had gone iuto third place, and Cunnold. had dropped out. The leader was almost a length of the baths in front of jrlill at the three-quarter 'distance, and Murrell was holding Hill, with 'Bradley hanging on well. From this on, Atkinson had no serious opposition, but a fine .race ensued for second place between Hill and Murrell, the latter gradually gaining on his older rival; but, despite a good filial sprint by Murrell, he was beaten for. -second place by two'yards. Bradley and Wilson completed the course. Atkinson's win was 'a good one, and he slwuld be in the half-mile on Wednesday, _

Fitch, o! Wellington, had qualified in the morning for the final of the 100 yards junior ' boys' championship, and, although suffering from a cold, he swam well in his heat. In the' final all got away smartly, Cameron, going straight to the front from TMdsonj Malcolmson, dnd Fitch, -This order jyas maintained to the three-quarter Way mark, where Bridson was reducjig Cameron's lead; but the latter swam strongly, and maintained hi? advantage-to the post, beating the exAVellingtoii boy by a foot, with Fitch a yard away third. _ MissFarrall swain' in the 75-yards intermediate girls' 'breaststroke, but could not go the pace of the three placegetters, who gave a- fine exposition of this style of swimming, and all' broke standard time. A fresh record was established in this race. N ~-

The 220 yards intermediate boys' race was a splendid contest between Dousett and Lindsay, and, although Dousett took the lead from the start, and was three yards in front at the hundred -mark, the latter was going strong. Dousett kept his lead to the 150 hiai-kj but from' her© on Lindsay put in his effort, and in a slashing finish he just won on the touch. ' Watson did not qualify for the final. Miss Breeh made a good showing in the junior girls' race, and qualified for the final, but the Auckland representatives were well above the average. Wellington met Canterbury in the first round of the polo, and, although the team was a scratch one, they put up a good fight. Canterbury scored first, but by a piece of good play Patterson equalled with a tricky shot. Play was of an even character, first one side and then the other having an advantage, and from a good combined movement Cam terbury gained the lead. The second spett was of a. similar nature, and, after Murrell had evened up the' score?, play became, exciting. Each side had several diets, but the goalies "-eve making very : s<?pd_fi^y|Bi aa£ aj^p^gh' .Wellington

were pressing hard. \hey could not secure the extra goal necessary to win. Murrell, Edwards, Beasley, aud Paterson played well. ■, /following are details :— Men's 100 yds New Zealand Champion-slup.-First Heat : U I^airgay (Auckland), 1; V. Held (\Viuigaiiui), X; M. C. Stockley (Auckland), i. Time, 64 3-ssec'. Second hat: C. Claridge (Wellington), I;'W. F. Smith (Auckland), 2 ; i). Aiurrell (Wellington), 3. Also started:!'. M'Xenzie (Hawkes Bay). Time, 64 3-ssec. Third heat : N. C. Batchelor (Canterbury), 1; J. Enwright (Auckland)y '£; E. Patterson (Wellington), 3. Also started: A. Adamson (Mawkes Bay), J. .Tope (Wa-' nganui. Time, 61 4-ssec. Final: Enwright, 1; Batchelor, 2; Smith. 3. Time, 62 3-ssec. . 1 220 yds Intermediate Boys' 'dharnpionship.—First heat: ',&. Lindiiay (South Canterbury), 1; V. M'Tiguu (Canterbury), 2; H. BarkeV (Auckland), 3. Alsa started: M. Ellingham (Hawkes . Bay). Time, 2min 46 2-ssec. Second heat :N. Dowsett (Wanganui), 1; A. Stokes (Canterbury), 2; H. Rose (Hawkes Bay), 3. Also started: W. Watson (Wellington). Time, 2min. 51 4-ssec. Kiial: Lindsay, 1; Dowsett, 2; M'Tigue, 3. Time, 2min 43sec. " Ladies' 100 yds Championship.—G. Shand (Canterbury), 1; E. Stockley (Auckland), 2; L. Freeman (Hawkes Bay), 3. Also started: .t). Welsh (Canterbury). Time, 69 2-ssec. The winner couldjiave clipped something off the time if she had desired. 100 yds Junior Boys' Championship.— First heat: A. Bridson (Auckland), 1; A. Malcolmson (Oaiiteroury), 2; J. North (Canterbury), 3. Time, 77sec. Second lieat: \V. Cameron (Canterbury). 1; L. Filch (Wellington), 2; It: Gilberd (Wanganui), 3, Tim*, 74 1-Ssec. Final: Cameron, 1.; Bridson, 2; Filch, 3. Time, lmin 14 l-ssec. 75yds Intermedtate Girls' Breaststroke Championship.—V. Scotten (Otago), 1; E. Hannan (Canterbury), 2; P. Svenson (Wanganui), 3. Time, 67 4-ssec, a New Zealand record. 50yds Junior Ciirls' Championship.— First heat: L. Coutts (Auckland), 1; M. H; Fadrey (Hawkes Bay), 2; L. Broadhead (Wanganui), -3. Time, 34 - 3-sec. Second heat :D. Magee (Auckland), 1; S. Breen (Wellington), 2; J. Clarkson, 3. Time, 34sec, a. New Zealand record. Final: Coutts, 1; Magee, 2; Fair'ey, 3. Time, 34sec. Mile Men's New Zealand Championship.—C. Atkinson (Canterbury), 1; L. Hill (Canterbury), 2; D. Munell (Wellington), 3. Also started: S. Bradley (Auckland), • retired; E. V. Cunnold (Auckland), C; Wilson (Auckland). Time, 25mim 55sec. Diving Championship.—The firs.t stage was commended, and the final will be got off on Monday night. New Zealand Water Polo Cliampion-i ship.—First round: Canterbury drew* with Wellington, two goals each. . 50Yds Inter-Club, Handicap.—Final: H. D. Hawkins (Wanganui), 1; A. L. Herdman , (Wellingon), v 2 ; W. P. Sutherland (Canterbury), 3. Time, 31 2-ssec. Open liiving.—W. Keesing (Otago), 1; H. Walker (Otago), 2; Miss 11. foote (Otago), 3. Fourteen competitors.