SWIMMING Two New Zealand Records Broken

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1947, Page 4

SWIMMING Two New Zealand Records Broken

(P.A.) NELSON, Feb. 19. Two national records were broken on the first night of the New Zealand senior swimming championships at the municipal baths. Miss N. Lane (Otago), fresh from her successes in Australia, retained her title when she won the 100 yards women’s backstroke championship in Imip 12sec, breaking her own record established at Napier last year by one second. J. Shanahan (Auckland) established a new record of Imin 12 l-ssec for the 100 yards men’s breaststroke, breaking' his own record of Imin 13sec, made at Auckland in 1945, and retaining the title for that event.

Miss B. Casey (Wellington) kept her title for the 100 yards women’s freestyle, after a hard tussle with Miss J. Fraser (Otago) who finished only two feet behind.

The 100 yards men’s freestyle championship produced a fine race between R. Hatchwell (Canterbury) and N. Barry (Nelson), only a touch separating them at the finish. Hatchwell retained his title, swimming the distance in 55 3-ssec. One of the high-lights of the evening was a keen contest between C. Chambers (Canterbury) and P. Blomfield (Auckland) in the men’s mile championship. With half the distance covered, the 18-year-old Auckland swimmer had opened up a lead of half a length of the baths. Swimming a well-judged race, Chambers gradually reduced the gap to four yards with 150 yards to go, and then there was a great battle and the pair turned almost together for the final length. Chambers retained his title when he finished only four feet ahead. Results: —

100 Yards Women’s Freestyle.—B. Casey (Wellington) 1, J. Fraser (Otago) 2, O. Hobson (Canterbury) 3. Time, Imin 7sec. 440 Yards Men’s Backstroke. —C. Cliff (Canterbury) 1, T. Wilson (Otago) 2. P. Mathieson (Auckland) 3. Time, smin 46 4-ssec. 220 Yards Women’s Breaststroke. — N. Shaw (Auckland) 1, M. Hughes (Otago) 2, H. Smith (Wellington) 3. Time, 3min 29 2-5. 100 Yards Men’s Freestyle.—R. Hatchwell (Canterbury) 1, L. Barry (Nelson) 2, C. Sell (Otago) 3. Time, 55 3-ssec.

100 Yards Women’s Backstroke. — N. Lane (Otago) 1, N. Gibbs (Nelson) 2, E. Britain (Canterbury) 3. Time, Imin 12sec.

100 Yards Men’s Breaststroke. —J. Shanahan (Auckland) 1, D. Dowse (Wellington) 2, B. McNeilage (Canterbury) 3. Time, Imin 12 l-ssec. One Mile Men’s Freestyle.—C. Chambers (Canterbury) 1, P. Blomfield (Auckland) 2, C. Kidd (Southland) 3. Time. 23min 21sec. Women’s Dive.—Miss M. Reid (Otago) 67.58 points, 1; Miss J. Carpenter (Nelson) 54.29, 2; Miss M. Nesbit (Nelson) 47.77, 3. Yaldhurst Shield Points.—Otago 20, Canterbury 18. Auckland 14, Nelson 10, Wellington 9, Southland 1. Challenge for John Burns Cup The Greymouth Swimming Club has .challenged the Reefton Club for the John Burns Cup, which it won and successfully defended last season. Teams from the two clubs will meet next Tuesday evening. The Grey Club held a meeting at the municipal baths last evening, the events resulting as follows: — 100yds Freestyle Handicap.—L. Wotton (20), 1; R. Parmenter (14), 2; B. Priestly (6), 3. Time, 84sec.’ 100yds Breaststroke Handicap.—D. Sheldon (scr), 1; J. McNulty (2), 2; C. Ackland (10), 3. Time, 87 4-ssec. Women’s 100yds Freestyle.—Miss M. O’Leary (9), 1; Miss A. Zampese iscr), 2. Time, lOlsec. Won by a touch . Women’s 33 l-3yds Breaststroke.— Miss A. Zampese, 1; Miss M. O’Leary, 2. __________