SURF LIFE-SAVING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 17

SURF LIFE-SAVING

WEST COAST TITLES

WELLINGTON'S CLEAN SWEEP

Teams from Taranaki, Wanganui, and Wellington made strong fields for the West Coast (North Island) surf lifesaving championships, held at Castlecliff, Wanganui, during the weekend. Of the six championship events, four went to Maranui arid two to Lyall Bay. In most cases, the second position was also filled by a Wellington team.

The weather was calm and warm, with a light surf. Since the competitions were last held, the beach has noticeably changed, and is now very deep close inshore. A large attendance watched the championships, and a record sum of £72 9s was collected on the beach.

The results of the contests are as follows:~

Hackshaw-Searle Shield (six-man rescue, and resuscitation title).—ln the first heat, the Paekakariki team went very well to beat Castlecliff and V.M.C.A. (Wellington), having in the water a. good 25sec advantage over the home team. The second heat saw Maranui A defeat Lyall Bay A and Opawe. Maranui, with a water time of 3min !57sec, was 33sec ahead of Lyall Bay, who were separated by another 35sec from Opawe. Though defeated in the water by 20sec, Maranui B proved superior to Island Bay in the third heat. Patea were the third team. The final proved a :close contest between Paekakariki andvMaranui A and

B. Maranui A turned in fastest time (4min 9sec), with Maranui B 4min 25sec and Paekakariki 4min 36sec. The verdict went to Maranui A, with Paekakariki second and Maranui B third.

Gibson Cup (four-man alarm event). —This event as usual provided a thrilling spectacle. The teams to reach the final were Lyall Bay A and B, Maranui B, and Opawe. All four, teams were even in land work, and the final decision depended on beltmen's times. In the race to the buoy, the Lyall Bay B beltman, N. Stokes, beat the Maranui man by 6 sec, his time being lmin 55sec. Lyall Bay A returned a time of 2min 9sec, and Opawe's time was 2min 25sec. The verdict went to Lyall Bay B, with Maranui B second and Lyall Bay A third. ■ .

Hoare Cup (junior six-man rescue and resuscitation).—This contest again proved a great battle between Maranui and Lyall Bay, with Castlecliff and East End (Taranaki) filling the minor positions. Superior water work gave the Maranui juniors the advantage. March Past.—Though the steep beach made the march past rather more difficult than usual for the competitors, it was nevertheless an impressive spectacle. Lyall Bay repeated their success in the New Zealand championship by winning the title, with Maranui second and Opawe (Hawera) third. Senior Surf Teams Race.—This was a brilliant struggle from start to finish, and easily the most exciting event of the day. J. T. Clark (Maranui), winner of the Dominion surf and beltman's titles, took the lead early, but was closely followed by the New Zealand swimming representative, P. E. Mathieson, now of Auckland. The ex-St. Clair man stayed close to Clark, and in the last few yards drew level. They ran up the beach together in the first dead-heat to be recorded in a New Zealand surf race. The time was 3min 20sec. D. K. Evans, P. Malthus, E. A. Raven, and H. C. Downs, all of Maranui, came in within the next . few seconds, and clinched

the title for Maranui, Castlecliff were secondhand V.M.C.A. third. Junior Surf. Teams Race.—This event was also very close, as regards individual placings: It was won narrowly by J: McDonald (Lyall Bay) from A. Pritchard (Maranui). Maranui. had the first team back on the beach, and took the. title with Lyall Bay second.