SWIMMING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11014, 29 January 1926, Page 6

SWIMMING

NOTES ON THE, CONTESTS A SENSATIONAL EVENT . GIRLS’ INTERMEDIATE CROWN. (Special to the Times.) . NAPIER, Jan. 27. Of six competitors in the 880 yards championship, Enwright was theflrst to turn at the end of the first Jap and touched two yards in advance on the first hundred, with Cunnold and liarr close up. At two hundred yards Emvright had increased lead o four lengths from Cunnold and Baircl who were swimming level a vard ahead of Lindsay At 250 yards AVestonf who was well behind, pulled out. At 400 yards Baird commenced to close on Enwright and at 450 y ds was in front, with Lindsay third, two yards hack and Cunnold a yard behind, Hill bringing up the rear foilyards behind Cunnold. Before the 700 yards was reached Baird was three yards ahead of Lindsay, with EuwrVght a yard 'behind Cunnold, twelve vards behind and Hill a yard behind fifth. At 800 hundred yards, Baird touched two yards ahead of Lindsay, with. Enwnght two yards behind! The last fifty yards were covered by Baird in a sensational sprint and he won by five yards from Lindsay, with Enwright three yards behind' third. At 200 yards. Baird showed a stroke similar to Charlton; s, with a plane which carries him through the water in a continuous movement. The most sensational race ot the evening, was the 220 yards girls’ intermediate championship. At the end of the first length, Miss Simmons touched a yard ahead of Miss Miller but, before'the 100 yards was readied Miss Miller was in charge from Miss Jepson. At 150 yards Miss Champion moved up near Miss Miller and these two put up a sensational race, swimming neck to neck. Over the last length of the final cl' twenty yards both swimmers were all out and only when practically on the tape could Miss Miller secure the decision on the touch. Miss Jepson being throe yards behind. The time 2.57 2-5 which establishes a New Zealand record. Miss Miller is, undoubtedly, the most promising girl swimmer since Miss Gwitha Shand, especially as she has yet two years to go in the intermediate class and should, without doubt, even heat her own record. Miss Champion, who is a daughter of Malcolm Champion, put up a wonderful fight over the last hundred. The performances of both winner and second were greeted with prolonged applause. Of the five competitors in the 220 yards junior hoys’ championship, Old secured a lead in the first length and was never headed despite a good challenge by Cade and, without being pressed, won by six yards, with House third two yards behind Cade. There were only four starters in the 100 yards junior girls’ race and. from the time of leaving the plank, the result was never in doubt, Mis 3 Hanlon improving the lead at every length and winning by four yards. Miss Harvey made a good effort to catch the leader, but it was no use and Miss Harlan won by five yards. Miss Malcolm was third, a yard behind. A good start in the 100 yards breast stroke championship saw four competitors in line for only one length. Then Bolton and Heard moved up and soon opened up a gap from McKenzie. Bolton pushed E. Heard over the first hundred and fifty yards, but then Heard came away and, improving the lead each length, won by eight yards, McKenzie "'being third, ten yards back. An unusual position arise in the 220 yards ladies’ breaststroke championship. The present holder, Miss Pigeon, had to swim on her own. Her time was 3.41, being only fourfifths of a second over the New Zealand record. Six competitors started in the 100 yards intermediate hoys’ breaststroke championship. Boyd soon established a lead on the field but, at the end of the second length. Cameron touched with the leader. The final length saw a great race hut in the last 15 yards Cameron overhauled Boyd. The diving championship created much interest but it was palpably noticeable that the standard given by little girls in the first stage this evening was much higher than that of the men. Hicks was outclassed though his execution of the one and a-half somersaults off both the high and low board was almost perfect. He failed badly in the plain header off the high board and in the plain pike. Hicks, of whom much was expected. did not appear to be in his usual form.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. NEXT CHAMPIONSHIPS AT AUCKLAND. NAI’IEK, Jan. 27. The annual conference of delegates from various swimming centres ot New Zealand was held here this afternoon. Mr W. E. D. Bishop, the president, .referred, in his opening remarks, to the improvement taking place in swimming in the Dominion, as: indicated by the fresh records established, it was resolved that- the Council be requested to arrange a visit from an overseas swimmer or swimmers. A remit was carried that, where the facilities exist, swimming and life saving be compulsory in primary and secondary schools and that the Government be asked to include swimming and life saving as an official subject ui teachers’ training syllabus. Next year’s championships will he ‘held at Auckland. A suggestion that they should he divided between two centres was thrown out.—R.A.

THE KELLERMAX CUP RACE. McKE AGUE’S BAD LUCK. TIDE .CARRIES HIM OUT OF HIS COURSE. 'but hr registers second FASTEST TIME. (Special to the Times). NAPIER, Jan. 28. One of the principal events of the swimming year, the Annette Kellcrr,:an Cup race, was the chief item on to-day’s programme of the national swimming championship carnival. The race is over a tluec-miie course in the inner harbor. A triangular course had been marked out, there being three stages to the mile and each competitor having to pass the starter’s post twice and finish there on th° i- ird t ine round. There were ten competitors, including one lady swimmer, Riqrdan, Baird and Lindsay _uob starting. The day was gloriously fine and there was hardly a ripple on the surface. There was a very large attendance on the seashore, wharf and jetty, and the surface of the water was dotted with yachts, launches and seaboats. At a quarter to .three the limit competitor, Miss Edser (29min), plunged off the wharf and the others were despatched at due intervals, the last to enter being Jack Enwright, holder of the title. At the end of the first mile, there was no great alteration in the positions, except that Morpeth (29min) had wrested the lead from Miss Edser and Hill (21min) and Enwright had closed the gap between themselves and McKeague (64min). After four hundred yards of the second mile had been covered, McKeague, who in common with all other competitors, had a rowing hoot and a crew a lew yards in front guiding him, swam too near, to the buoy marking the course and, the tide errrying him over, lie had to cover extra ground in getting into his proper course again. Tins accounts for his second mile taking the longest time. As a consequence, at the end of the second mile, he had been passed by Hill and Enwright. Morpeth was. still in the lead two hundred yards ahead of Bolam. followed by Plumtrec and Ryan. Then "Table. "Hill, Enwright, r . McKeague, Miss Edser 'and.Tooiney. UyhpUy-y

In the third mile Ryan and Russell pulled- out owing to cramp, and Toomey, who was a lone way behind, also gave up further effort. -When over half the second mile had been covered, Bolam was leading Morpeth by two hundred yards and Enwnght was forty yards ahead of Hill ano McKeague,.. who were swimming level. At this stage Hill swam too far out of his course —at one time forty yards out from the buoy. McKeague, profiting by experience, swnn close in with, the consequence that on starting out on the last leg (one-third of a mile) lie was thirty yards behind Enwright and had beaten Hill by over a dozen yards. Enwright cracked on the pace and McKeague followed. Half-way down the straight Enwright overhauled Morpeth,, but could not reach Bolam who won by a hundred and twenty yards, Morpeth beino- twelve vards behind Enwright and ° McKeague twenty-five yards back. Hill finished fifteen hundred yards behind McKeague, followed later by Plumtreo and Miss Edser. Enwright secured the gold medal for the fastest time, covering the distance in 92min 20sec., McKeague bein" second fastest 99.42 and Hill third fastest 100.38. The winner’s swimming time was 101.23 2-5. Enwright showed remarkable consistency his three miles being clocked as 30.53, 30.32 and 30.55. McKeague put up the fastest mile of the day, that, astonishing to relate, being his third mile, which was covered in 29.33. McKeague’s first mile took 32.58 and his second mile 37.11.