SWIMMING CHAMPIONS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 19 February 1931, Page 3

SWIMMING CHAMPIONS

—« s TARANAKI CENTRE TITLES BANNER TO HAWERA BIG AIARGIN OF POINTS Seven records were eclipsed at the annual championships of the Taranaki Swimming Centre held at the Kawaroa baths, New Plymouth, last evening before a good attendance drawn from various parts of the province. The Hawera Amateur Swimming Club sent a strong team of 35 competitors, who accounted for ten first placings, eight runner-up positions and seven third placings out, of the IS events in competition and took the points championship by an overwhelming margin, their tally of 81 points exceeding the combined total of the other clubs repre-> seated. | A,si a championship points trophy, a| handsome banner presented by the New Plymouth and Fitzroy Clubs was. placed in competition for the first time. Points counting live, three and one for respective first second and third placings were registered as follow for the banner : —. Points. Hawera 81 New Plymouth 28 N.P. Boys’ High School ... 15 Fitzroy 13 Stratford 10 1 nglewood 5 Fast End 1 The Hawera Club thus becomes the first winner of the banner which', aftei formal presentation to the centre by Mr J. W. Moorhead, secretary of the Fitzroy Club at a dance which followed the snorts programme, was presented uv Air \V. Ft. Moyes, president of the centre, t-o the Hawera Olub Captain Air S Anderson, who received it on behalf of the club. The banner, which is attractively fashioned in black and gold was designed bv Miss Harper, of the New Plymouth Club. At the dance the certificates were also presented to the individual championship winners and runners-up by Air Moyes. NEW RECORDS SET.

In the junior girls’ -30 yards freestyle event Miss E. Ivelseii eclipsed her own record of 38sec set Jast year by a second and three-filths, and took the title for the third successive season. The junior boys’ 50 yards tree-style record of 35 l-osec, esfeaJ>l-ish©d| Ja.st season by J. Campbell (New Plymouth), was lowered to 33 l-ssec b.\ B. Hager (Stratford), who returned that time in hist heat as well as in the final last evening. The lady champion, Aliss 1). Fowler, now of the Inglewood Club, who has held the IQQ yards free-style title title since 1928, when she represented Waitara, won the event last evening in lmin. 17 4-ssec, and clipped two seconds and three-fifths from her own record of lmin. 20 2-ssec, established in a paced swim at last season’s championships. The men’s 50 yards tree-style record of 28 3-ssec. set by S. Anderson (Hawera) and H. St. George (Waitara), last- season was shattered last evening when Anderson won his heat in 27 4-5 sec. In the next -heat 1. McHardy, of Wellington, covered the distance in 28scc, to also beat the record, while the record was equalled by Anderson in winning the final. The ICti yards men’s free-style champion, H. St. George, won the event in lmin 4 2-ssec, thus beating by a fifth of a second his own record of lmin. 4 3-ssee set last year.

The biggest margin in record breaking achievements was that of A. Ryan (Hawera), who, though not extended, won the 440 yards men’s title in 6min. 29 3-ssec, and l sliced 23 seconds' and four-fifths oir the record of 6min 53 2-ssee, standing to the credit of 0., Plumtree' (Fitzroy) since 1927. Another outstanding achievement was that of P. O. Veale (Hawera), who annexed the 159 yards men’s hackstroke title by winning in 2min 27 2-5 sec, and lowered by six seconds and two fifths tin* record of 2iuin 33 4-ssec set by J. Stronge (Opunake) in 1928, when the event was first contested at the centre championships. Besides the Hawera swimmers, good support was afforded by residents of the district, a, total of over GO making the journey to New Plymouth. Arrangements tor conveyance of the team were supervised by the manager, Air D. C. Ryan, while the Hawera Club president-, Air A. D, Lawn, was also in attendance.

The committee, me infers combining; ivitii the secretary, Mr M. D. Clarke, ami lii.s assistant. Miss B. Gay ton, are> to be congratulated on the successful organisation through which the programme was completed in one session. l Mr W. H. Moyes 'officiated auj starter, Messrs H. V. Griffiths, T. Lindsay, C. Brown and A. \V. Luavh wcr© judges of racing events, anil; Mrs 13. Higgs together with Messrs W. A. Spragg, C, I'd. Jago and ( . Brown judged the diving events. The timekeepers were Messrs C. If. Stephenson, V. Dalgleisli, and J. Bennett.

In a, poio match, which concluded the evening programme, a. Taranaki representative side defeated “The Best” hy two goals to one. Details cf the chain pionsh hi events were :

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 59 Y A BIDS GIBBS’ F BEE-STYLE. 'Title-holder. Miss Id. Kelsen (H), 38 sec; record (fresh waterl, dSscc. Miss Kelsen, J GAO. Miss K. Kelson (II) I Miss .J. Da\idsou (I') 2 Miss- T. Caiin (11) 3 Also started: Miss K Carter (NP). 'Taking the' title for the third successive season. Miss Kelson Avon; by a. yard and a-luvlr, with three yards between second and third, and the fourth swimmer •only a yard* hack. The time, dd! 2-d.see, clipped a second and threefilths off the same winner's record. 50 YARD.-d JUNIOR. BOYS’ FREESTYLE. Title-holder, ,T. Campbell (NP), 3d 1-5 see; record (fre-sli water), dd 1-dsee, j. tViinj hell, 1980. First heal: J. Henderson (NPBITS) I, I). Guyton (.YP) 2, 'f. Yillers; (S) d; the. only starters; won h\- two 1 yards with four yards .between second and third ; tune, 37sec. Second heat : B. Eager (S) 1, L. Charters CYPRUS) 2, L. Spragg (H) d; also started. .J. Blair (NP.) ; won by hall-a-yard, with four yards between second and third : the time, 33 1-dsee, lowered' the. record by two seconds. Final. B. Eager (S) 1 L. "Charters iNPBHS) 2 1 J. Henderson (NPBHS) 3

Also started : D. Gay ton (NP). Eager led from the start to win easily bv three yards, with the third boy a yard back. His time, 33 l-ssec, repeated the record breaking performance- of his heat. BO'YS’ DIVING. Title-holder, R. Eager (S). T. Villers (S), 1611/ points 1 H. Watson (NP), 158 points ... 2 D. Gay ton (N|P), 146 points ... 3 Also competed: B. Eager (S). INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIPS 50 YARDS GIRLS’ FREE-STYLE. Title-holder, Aliss N. Duckworth (H), 35sec ; record (fresh water), 35sec, Aliss Duckworth, 1930. First beat: Miss P. Robertson (H), 1. Aliss J. Murray (H) 2, Miss Rl. Pepperell (NP) 3; also started, Aliss J. Oliver (H) ; won by a yard, with half-a-yard between second and third; time, 3Ssec.

Second, heat: Aliss K. Donald (NP) 1, Aliss J. Thomas (H) 2, Aliss P. Murray (H) 3; also started. Aliss A. Blair (NP) ; won by three yards, with a touch between second and third ; time, 36 1-5 see. Final. Aliss Iv. Donald (NP) 1 Miss J. Murray (H) 2 Aliss J. Thomas (H) 3 Also started : Aliss P. Robertson- (H). Won by a yard with two yards between second and third. Time, 36 2-5 sec. 50 YARDS GIRLS’ BREASTSTROKE Title-holder, Aliss S. Seaver (H), 4-1 3-ssec; record (salt water), 4-3 2-c see, Aliss Seaver, 1.929. Aliss P. Robertson (H) 1 Aliss J. Oliver (H) - The onlv starters. Tlie pair were together till making the turn, when Aliss Robertson obtained the advantage. In an exciting finish only halt a yard separated the two at the finishing line. Time, 49 3-ssee. 100 YARDS BOYS’ FREE-STYLE. I Title-holder, I. Jobson (H), lmin. 8 15scc; record, (fresh water), lmin. S 4-ssee, I. Jobson, 1930. J. Rvan (NPBHS) 1 J. Campbell (NPBHS) 2 R. Clarke (H) 3 Also started: Iv. AlcGlashan (H), —. Davis (S). Campbell made the pace till 15 yards from home, when Rlyaii, who had previously been in fourth place, drew up with the leader. In a strenuous. finish Ryan took the title with a margin of only half a yard. Two yards separated second and third with Btavis in fourth place only half a yard hack. The victory of Ryan, who has to swim without the use of one of his legs, was the most popular of the evening. Time,. lmin 17sec. 100 YARDS BOYS’ BREASTSTROKE. Title-holder, R. Gay ton (NP), lmin. 35 l-ssec; record (fresh water), 1 min 25sec, B. D. Rawson (H), 1928. F. Cllarke. (H) 1 E. Tarrant (H) 2 The only starters. The pair kept together for the first lap, but at the second turn Clarke held a margin of two yards. Finishing strongly ho won by six yards. Time, 1.29 4-5. SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 50 YARDS LADIES’ BREASTSTROKE. Title holder, Aliss S'. Seaver (H), 46 ■secs.; record (salt water) 43 2-5 secs, Aliss Seaver, 1929. I Aliss B. Gay ton (NP) 1 j Aliss V. Ryan (H) 2 The only starters. The race to the turn left nothing to chose. Miss Gayton gained the advantage in the turn, but in a well contested finish the winning margin was only a little more than a yard. Time 47 4-ssec.

100 YARDS' LADIES’ FREESTYLE. Title’ holder 1928, Miss D. Fowler (W) lrnin. 24 4-dsecs,’; rieciord (fresh water) lrnin. 20 2-ssec., Miss Fowler, 1930. Miss D. Fowler (I) 1 Miss B. Gayton (NP) 2 Miss O. Weston (NT?) 3 Also started: Miss M. Allen (NP). The Misses Fowler and Gayton made the first turn together about two yards ahead of the others, but over the remaining distance the champion drew away to win by five yards with eight yard® betAveen second and third and the fourth SAvimmer close up. Time 1.17 4-5, this being two seconds and three-fifths faster than Miss Fowler’s oavii record! established in a paced SAVim last year Avhen, for the iseciond suecessii'e season, she held the tittle unchallenged. LADIES’ DIVING. Title holder, Miss J. Murray (H). Miss M. Jackson (H) 194pts. 1 Miss T. Cann (ID. 191pts 2 Miss J. Murray (H), 180ptis. ... d Also competed : Misses Z. Spragg (H), J. Oliver (H), F. Murray (H), I’. Murray (H), N. Spragg (H), C. March (F). E. Kelsen (II). The standard in this competition Avas remarkably good in all phases and the presentation of each successive dive was folloAved bv applause from the gallery. Miss Cann, Avho took second .honours, and Miss Kelsen. Avere nominees for (he junior girls’ dive, hut entered the senior division in tli© lack of competition in the former. 50 YARDS MEN’S FREESTYLE. TitMe holders. 8. Anderson (H) and H. St. George (W) 28 3-ssee.; record, [ same (iresh Avatev) 1930. j . First heat: S. Anderson (H) 1, A. I Spragg (H) 2, A,. Vebb (W) 3; also started, 11. Pemvavden (EE); Avon by a vard Avith two vardis between second and third; the time, 27 4-ssecs„ was I four fifths .of a .second faster than the Second heat: I. McHardv (Wellington) 1. B. Bassett (H.) 2, F. Galbraith (F) 3 • the only starters; Avon by halt a vard with two yards between second and third; the time. 28se:s, also eclipsed the record. Final. j S. Anderson (H) I ! B. Bassett (H) 2 A. Spragg (H) 3 The only starters. Anderson was quickest off the mark and, with a slight margin at the turn, went on to win by a yard and a half with only half a yard separating the other two. The. time, 28 3-ssec., equalled the record set by Anderson and St. George in their dead heat at Hawera last year.

100 YARDS MEN’S FREESTYLE

Title hdlder, H. St. George (W), lmin. 4 3-ssee.; record (fresh water). 1 min. 4S-ssec., H. St. George, 1930. H. St. George (F) 1 A. Sprang (H) 2 B. Bennett (H) t A. Dowdle (H) t The only starters. The title. holder was the early pacemaker but Bassett was level with him at the end of the first 33 and a third yards. At the end of the next length St. George was two yards clear of Bassett with the other two doming dp another three yards back. Bassett redheed the gap temporarily, but was unable to sustain the finishing pace and St. George gamed the decision by two yards from Spragg with a break of three yards to Bassett and Dowdle who made a dead heat for third place. Time lmin. 4 2-ssec., this breaking the record by a fifth of a second. 220 YARDS AIEX’S FREESTYLE. Title holder, H. St. George (W) 2niin. 54 3-sseo.; record (salt water) min 54 2455ec., H. J. Thomas (F) 1926. H. St. George (F) \ A Ryan (H) 2 The only starters. St. George opened a ‘lead of two yards to the first turn, and held command for the remainder of the journey to win by 12 yards. Time 2.56 3-5. 440 YARDS MEN’S FREESTYLE. Title holder, 1928, €. Plumtree (F), 6min. 57 l-ssee.; record .. (salt water), Griiiti. 53 2-ssfcC, G. Plumtree, 4'927. A. Ryan (H) Also started: T- Jobson (H), C. Plunitree (F). The three kept together for the first five lengths of the journey of 14 lengths. Completing the sixth, Ryan held an advantage of a yard from Jobson, with Plumtree four yards back. Jobson drew level with the leader in the next length and the pair made the eighth turn on even terms,, while Plum, tree, then 12 yards behind, retired. Jobson increased the pace to take the load of a yard over the ninth and tenth laps, but Ryan appeared to have plenty in reserve and drew level again at the twelfth turn. (Swimming easily over the length he was four yards to the good at tlie last turn, but one. After making the turn Jobson retired and Ryan covered the remaining 40 yards with an easy stroke to finish alone in Gmin. 29 3-ssee. 400 YARDS MEN’S BREASTSTROKE Title holder, AV. Alundy (H), lmin. 24 see'.; record (fresh water), lnnn. 24sec, W. Munday, 1930. P. 0. Veale (H) \ R. Gavton (N.P.) •• | W. Rimmington (E.E.) .... 3

Also started: J. Tarrant (H). . . 'Completing the first length, Veale had a lead of a yard front- Tarrant, with the. others close up. Tlie leader was not seriously afl though Gavton made a good finishing effort, Veale took the verdict by a yard ami a-lialf, with tlie third man two yards hack and only a yard clear of Tarrant. Time, 1.29 3-5. 150 YARDS MEN’S BACKSTROKE. Title holder, 1928, J. Stronge (Opunake), 2min. 33 4-ssec; record, same. P. 0. Yeale (H) 1 J. Stronge (N.P) - Also started: W. Rimmington. (E.E.). Making the second turn, A r eale went to the front and was three yards clear of Stronge at the IGO yards mark, with a gap to Rimmington, who retired. Alcaic’s double arm stroke was more powerful than the single arm action of Stronge, and though the latter made a o-ood spurt, from the.last turn Yealo had a lead of two ad a-half yards at. the finishing line. The time, 2min. 27 2-5 sec was six seconds and two-fifths faster than the previous best. MEN’S diving. Title holder, J. Oliver (H). J. Oliver (H), 191 points 1 R. Charters (F), 176 points .... - J. F. H. ‘Harper (N.P.), 1754 points 3 Also competed: 'L. Bennett (N.P.8.5.), R. Clarke (H), Af. Nelson (H) T. AfcGintv (F), H. J. Thomas (F). " . .

The winner Avas one of the youngest competitors, but he won the title for the third successive season. FLYING SQUADRON. 133 1-3 Yards. Title holders, Hawera (V. Spragg, S. Anderson, A. Spragg-'L. S. Poison), gin in. 0 2-oscc for 200 yards. IlaAvera A (B. Bassett, A. Spragg, I. Jobson, S. Anderson) 1 New Plymouth A (R. Gayton H. Watkins, C. iShaw, J. Campbell) - IlaAvera B (P. O. Yeale, M. Good, G. A toy rick, V. Spragg) 3 Also started: New Plymouth B (Guzavcll, A. illertlierington, A. 'Petty, D. llctlieriiigton). [ Gayton gave 'Ncav Plymouth A a short lead from Hawera A in the first length, but A. 'Spragg made up the leeAvay and put Ilawera A a yard to the good from New Plymouth A, closely followed by Hawera B at the completion of the second length. Hawera B moved up to second place behind HaAvera A in the third length. With three yards in hand at the plunge Anderson made no race of the last length and Avon by six yards. V. Spragg, the HaAvora B last man, was finishing second Avhen lie fouled the lane tape and second place wont to New Plymouth A by a touch. Time, lmin. 13 2-nsec.