SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 22252, 1 February 1936, Page 10

SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

O'DRISCOLL WINS AGAIN FOURTH TITLE TO MISS MATHIESOH [Winning'the Otago men’s free style one-mile championship at the Dunedin Club’s hour at the Municipal Baths last night after swimming half the distance on his own, J. D. O’Driscoll, the New Zealand half-mile champion, who will not be 19 until next month,, put up the unprecedented performance of winning every Otago free style title from 100yds to one mile, and the lifesaving title as well, during the past week. His effort last night was more m the nature of a “ swim-over,” nevertheless, he completed the distance in 24min 34 3-ssec, only 9sec outside his Otago record, established two years ago. , ■■ ' Mjss M. Mathieson won her fourth title by- finishing an easy first in the Otago ladies’ 440yds free style championship in the very good time of 6min 9 3-ssec, which was only l-ssec outside the Otago record established by Miss K. Miller in winning the National championship in 1928. Miss Mathieson was in fine form, and _ by ■ the time the New Zealand championships are decided she should be capable of improving on her time materially. Results:— ONE MILE OTAGO MEN’S FREE STYLE. New Zealand record: 22min 57 4-ssec, D. P. Lindsay (Canterbury), 1932. Titleholder: J. D. O’Driscoll (Dunedin), 24min 25sec. J. D. O’Driscoll (Dunedin 1 Also started: E. Toase (Dunedin). O’Driscoll and Toase swam together over the first 100yds, at the end of which O’Driscoll led by half a yard in 70 2-ssec. O’Driscoll again maintained his regular stroke-marking, never varying from 22 strokes to 24 strokes for a length. He opened up a slight gap at the end of 200yds, done in 2min 30sec, and further increased his advantage at the end of 300yds, which was covered in 3min 51sec. O’Driscoll •led by 10yds at the 400yds mark in smin 12 3-ssec, and from that stage onwards he drew away from Toase, who retired at the half-way mark, being then a couple of laps behind O’Driscoll. The New Zealand champion’s lap times were: 500yds, Cmin 37sec; 600yds, Bmin 1 2-ssec, 700yds, 9min 28 4-ssec; 800yds, lOmin 52sec ; 880yds, llmin 59 3-.ssec; 900yds, 12min 17 l-ssec; I,oooyds, 13min 44sec; I,looyds, 15min 9sec: I,2ooyds, 16min 36sec; I,3ooyds, 18mm 2sec; 1,400 yds, 19min 28 2-ssec; I,sooyds. 21min 56sec; I,6ooyds, 22min 20sec; l,’7ooyds/23min 45see, O’Driscoll finished very easily in 24min 34 4-ssec. 440 YARDS OTAGO LADIES’ FREE STYLE. New Zealand record: omin 52 2-ssec, Miss M. Leydon (Auckland), 1935. Titleholder: Miss M. Mathieson (Dunedin). Miss M. Mathieson (Dunedin) ... 1 Miss P. Sporle (Dunedin) ...‘ ... 2 Miss P. Duncan (Dunedin) 3 Only starters. Miss .Mathieson opened up a lead of five yards in the first 100yds in 74 2-ssec, and increased this to 10yds at the end of' 200yds, done in 2min 40sec, Miss Duncan being, another 25yds back. Miss Mathieson drew further away, and left the 300yds behind in 4miii 8 4-ssec, and the 400yds in smin 36 2-ssec, going on to win by lo.yds from Miss Sporle, Miss Duncan being another two laps back. ; Time, 6inin 9 3-ssec. CANTERBURY'S POLO TEAM PLAYERS FOR DUNEDIN The Canterbury team to take part in the New Zealand water polo championship at Dunedin, commencing on February 15, was selected on Thursday night, and is as follows: —MaoKenzie (2), M. Rattray, L. Moorhouse, L. Newell, A. T. F. Stokes, and a goalkeeper yet to be chosen. The side includes some well-known swimmers. Stokes is the former National free style champion. L. J. Moorhouse may justly- he regarded as .“ the father of back stroke swimming ” in New Zealand—he has been many times champion, and has represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games and at the Tailteann Games—and L. Newell, who is expected to do well in the 100 yards and 200 yards Canterbury free style championships next week. Although no championships entries lave yet been received from the West Coast Centre, a number of entries have been received from the Westport Club for other events. The first nomination for the Annette Kellerman Cup harbour swim has come from this club, this _ being C. M. Robertson. W. Keesing, formerly New Zealand men’s div)ng champion—he used to represent Otago, but won the title for Canterbury in 1925—has entered for the open plain scratchy dive, which is virtually the plain diving championship of New Zealand, though not actually a title event, and other handicap entries have also been forwarded. Advice has been received that South (Auckland is sending probably four swimmers, and Taranaki has also intimated its intention of being represented. The Taranaki championships are to bo held on Thursday, and special (permission has been given to that centre to forward its entries a day late as a result. The Auckland team will leave for Dunedin on February 11. The Canterbury team is being quartered at the Criterion Hotel, and the Southland [team at the Prince of Wales Hotel. 1. GOLF “ | SANTA CATALINA TOURNAMENT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright CATALINA ISLAND, January 30. Longworth and Morrison tied for first place in the Santa Catalina open tournament with a score of 60, followed by Hagen 61, Bolger, Cohen, and Kirkwood 68, Kelly 70, George Naismith 71, Ted Naismitb 76.