SWIMMING TITLES

Evening Star, Issue 23500, 14 February 1940, Page 3

SWIMMING TITLES

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS ANOTHER RECORD BROKEN AUCKLAND LEADS FOR SHIELD [Per Ukited Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 13. The New Zealand swimming championships were continued at the Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, to-night. The weather was fine and the water temperature moderate. In the men’s 220yds breast stroke championship K. Shaw (Southland) lowered the New Zealand record by 4-sseo. The points for the Yaldhurst Shield after to-night’s events are:— Auckland 31 Otago 23 Canterbury 21 Southland 12 Bay of Plenty 8 Wellington C Nelson 3 Results:— WOMEN’S 220 YARDS FREE STYLE. Miss C. Garvin (Bay of Plenty) ... 1 Miss I. Purdio (Otago) 2 Miss S. Gotlieb (Wellington) ..; ... 3 Won by a touch, with syds_ between second and third. Time, 2rain 40sec. MEN’S 100 YARDS FREE STYLE. P. Hanan (Auckland) . 1 R. Hatchwell (Wellington) 2 J. Whiti (Bay of Plenty) 3 Hatchwell lost the title by a touch in a thrilling race. Time, 55 2-ssec. MEN’S 220 YARDS BREAST STROKE. K. Shaw (Southland) 1 W, H. Dyson (Otago) 2 S. Thomson (Hawke’s Bay) 3 Time, 2min 58 3-ssec, which breaks the New Zealand record by 4-ssec. Shaw made a great plunge to beat Dyson by a touch. MEN’S 400 METRES BREAST STROKE. C. Cliff (Canterbury) 1 P, Mathieson (Auckland) 2 A. Thomas (Otago) 3 Won by 2yds. Tiifie, smiu 35 2-ssec. MEN’S ONE-MILE FREE STYLE. L. N. Newell (Canterbury) 1 P. Mathieson (Auckland) 2 F. Pennington (Wellington) 3 Won by 2yds. Time, 1 23min 32 l-ssec. WATER POLO. Wellington A 6, Hawke’s. Bay 4. Otago 3, Wellington B 2. Wellington A 3, Canterbury 2. CLOSE FINISHES AND FAST TIMES (Special to the • Star,'] WELLINGTON, February 13. The women’s 220yds free style provided a great race between Miss Purdie and Miss Garvin. Miss Gotlieb took the lead, but lost it at the end of the second lap. Miss Purdie covered the first 100 in 69seo, and the race was split into two divisions, with Miss Purdie and Miss Garvin contesting first place and Miss Grey and Miss Gotlieb third place. Miss Garvin beat Miss Purdio by a touch only, in time 2seo slower than last year and 6sec outside Miss Purdio’s record.

The men’s 220yds breast stroke saw Shaw and Dyson both break the record. Shaw led early in the race, and at 100yds was four feet ahead of Dyson. Shaw held the lead by a yard until the last turn, when Dyson came up. The latter continued to gain ground, and at a few feet before the finish appeared to be a shade in front, but Shaw’s long arms shot out and he ■ touched first. The record was broken by 4-ssee. Alathieson chased Cliff all through the 400 metres men’s back stroke, but did not succeed. Cliff was a yard ahead at 100yds, a length at 166yds, and 3yds at 200yds. At the last turn Mathieson was a yard behind, but Cliff inrproved on the turn. , Thomas was third, about 25yds back. The men’s 100.vds free style was another touch decision between Hanan and Hatchwell. The latter led until Hanan challenged at 50yds, but was still a yard ahead at the turn. The Aucklander cut down the distance, and at the finish only the judges could separate the two.

Although he had already swum in the 400 metres back stroke Alathieson gave Newell a good race for the mile title. The swim was a most remarkable one, in that Mathieson applied pressure to the champion several times and was only a length away at the finish. Pennington, Newell, and Mathieson stayed together for the first quarter-mile. At 700yds Newell was well ahead, the first three being separated by lengths at the half-mile. Newell was two lengths ahead at 900yds. Alathieson was a yard behind at 1,100, and level at 1,166. At 1,333yds Mathieson was a length ahead, but Newell was level again at 1,400, and despite a fast finish by Mathieson was a length ahead at the finish.

Otago was lucky to heat Wellington B at polo. The teams were all square when Taylor caught Sommervell out of position and O’Driscoll goaled.