SWIMMING

Grey River Argus, 11 February 1938, Page 5

SWIMMING

Coast Championships LARGE GATHERING AT REEFTON I Special to “Argus.”J REEFTON, February 10. The West Coast amateur swimming championships, controlled by the Reefton Swimming Club, were held at the Reefton public baths last evening in fine cool weather, and before probably the largest attendance that a swimming gathering has ever drawn here, including many visitors from Westport and Greymouth and the surrounding district. The arrangements and conduct of the championships were all that could be desired and reflected great credit on the officials of the Reefton Club, headed by the secretary, Mr. J. Dellaca, and assisted by members of the West Coast Swimming Centre.

Quite a number of records were broken and in particular P. Foote, the Westport boy, showed himself a fine swimmer, who should do even greater things in future. C. Davison in winning the 50 yards junior championship established a new Coast record for the distance in his class. In winning the 100 yards championship, P. Foote lowered the record by three seconds. The 220 yards championship was also won by him, and in this he lowered the record by no less than eleven and four-fifth seconds. Had this swimmer been in the 50 yards championship, he almost certainly would have won three titles, as he swam the first half of the 100 yards championship even in faster time than the winner of the 50 yards title took for the distance. Colin Foote, his brother, also of Westport, who won the 100 yards backstroke championship cut down the previous record time, set by himself to tne extent of five and three-fifth seconds. H. Schou, the Reefton swimmer, won two championships the 50 yards and 100 yards breast-stroke. The Greymouth girl Miss N. Hughes, formerly of Canterbury, easily won both of the ladies’ championships, beating the exchamp. Miss J. Walls of Westport, in the 50 yards (in which she lowered the record by a fifth of a second) and in the 100 yards (in which she clipped one and two-fifths seconds off the record). The large attendance is indicated by the fact that the “gate” was «worth £4l.

The officials were:—Referee, Mr G. Walters; Swimming Judges, Messrs E. McDonnell, F. W. Baillie, G. Lockington, F. W. Archer, Dr. Foote; Diving Judges, Messrs J. Crossman, W. Keesing, IJr. Foote; Timekeepers, Messrs D. Hanrahan, F. Keating, W. H. Morris; Handicapper, Mr J. Crossman; Rope Stewards, Messrs W. Lockington, L. Masters; Starter, Mr W. Gieseking; Starter’s Steward, Mr B. J. Kilpatrick; CheckStarter, Mr F. Kivell; Stewards, Messrs L. McKane, G. August, C. Coxall; Call Stewards (men)/, Messrs A. F. Ellis, W. August; (ladies), Mesdames Lawry, Eklund, Miss Henry; Megaphone Steward, Mr F. S. Hayes; Press Steward, Mr C. J. Lawn; CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. Senior Men’s 50 Yards. H. Schou (Reefton) 1 W. O’Leary (Greymouth) 2 Time 29 secs. O’Leary finished first, but failed to touch before Schou, bringing his arm up above the top of the baths. (Record, A. Vincent, 27 2-5 secs). Senior Men’s 100 Yards. P. Foote (Westport) 1 C. Foote (Westport) 2 Only competitors. Won by five yards. Time 61 secs. (Record 64 2-5). Senior Men’s 220 Yards. P. Foote (Westport) 1 D. Robertson (Westport) .... 2 H. Schou (Reefton) 3 Only competitors. Won by 10 yards' Time 2.39 1-5. (Previous record. W. O’Leary, 2.51). Men’s 100 Yards Backstroke. C. Foote (Westport) 1 IT Schou (Reefton) 2 Won by one yard, after Foote’S good lead had been overhauled. Schou was eventually disqualified Time 76 2-5. (Record 82 secs, C. Foote). Men’s 100 Yards Breaststroke. H. Schou (Reefton) 1 W. Payne (Greymouth) 2 P. Geddes (Cobden) 3 Time 82 2-5 secs. Won easily. Ladies’ Dive (all ages). J. Osborne (Peefton) 79 pts 1 W. Hughes (Grey) 74 pts. ... 2 J. Watson (Westport) 65 pts. 3 Men's Dive. W. Honey (Reefton) 96 pts. . 1 w’ Payne (Grey) 90 pts 2 G. August (Reefton) 85 pts. . 3 Payne was the previous holder. Six competed, and all gave outstanding exhibitions, the winner’s diving being consistently good. Senior Ladies’ 50 Yards. Miss W. Hughes (Grey) 1 Miss J. Walls (Westport) ... 2 Time 33 secs. (Record 33 secs, Miss J. Walls) Won by a touch. Senior Ladies’ 100 Yards. Miss W. Hughes (Grey) 1 Miss J. Walls (Westport) ... 2 Time 75 3-5 secs. Won by one yard. (Record 71 secs). 50 Yards Boy’s Intermediate. ■> J. Osborne (Reefton) 1 R. Ferguson (Hokitika) 2 Won by a touch. Time 31 1-5. (Record 28 secs, C. Coxall). 100 Yards Boy’s Intermediate. R. Ferguson (Hokitika) and W. Todd (Westport), a dead heat 1 Time 70 secs. In the swim-off, W. Todd won comfortably in 69 3-5 secs (Record 65 4-5 secs, D. Rose, Grey). Boy’s Intermediate Dive. C. Strachan (Wes’pt.) 83 pts. 1 J. Eklund (Reefton) 82 pts. . 2 R. Hindmarsh (Reefton) 77pt. 3 Ten competed. 50 Yards Girls’ intermediate. Miss J. Watson (Westport) . 1 Miss I. Tnorp (Hokitika) 2 Won by a touch. Time 36 secs. (Record 34 2-5 secs, Miss 'J. Robertson, Westport). 100 Yards Girls’ Intermediate. Miss I. Thorpe (Hokitika) .. 1 Miss J Watson (Westport) .. 2 Won easily. Time 85 secs.

Junior Boy’s 50 Yards. S. Dawson (Westport) 1 T. McDonald (Westport) .... 2 G. Bennington (Greymouth) . 3 Won by a touch. Time 34 2-5 secs, (Record 37 secs.-, L. Beban, Greymouth). Dawson recorded 34 secs in winning his heat, the fastest time for the event. Junior Boy’s 100 Yards. F. Dawson (Westport) 1 T. McDonald (Westport) .... 2 Won by a touch. Time 1.23 3-5 secs. Junior Girls’ 50 Yards Miss M. Coll (Marist) 1 Miss J. Cleaver (Reefton) ... 2 Won easily. Time 39 secs. 100 Yards Inter-Club Championship Relay. Westport (C. Foote, P. Foote), D. Robertson, W. Keesing) . . 1 Reefton. 2 Cobden 3 Won easily. Men’s 50 Yards Handicap. A. Crerar (Cobden) • 1 D. Roberts (Reefton) ... ... 2 Time 29 secs. Won ,by a touch. Boys’ 25 Yards Handicap. B. Daly (Greymouth) 1 J. Osborne and J. Eklund (dead heat) 2 Time 15 2-5 secs. Boys’ Inter-Club Relay. Marist 1 Reefton 2 Girls’ 50 Yards Handicap. Miss J. Cleaver (Reefton) ... 1 Miss M. Roselli (Westport) . . 2 Time 40 secs. Girls’ 25 Yards Handicap. Miss J. Cleaver (Reefton) ... 1 Miss J. Watson (Reefton) ... 2 Won by a touch. Time 19 1-5 secs. At the conclusion of the carnival, the visitors were hospitably entertained at a dance in the Band Hall.