OLYMPIC GAMES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 201, 8 August 1928, Page 5

OLYMPIC GAMES

PEARCE’S EASY WIN IN SCULLS 400 METRES SWIMMING FINAL, TAKAISHI DEFEATS CHARLTON. [United Press Association—By Cable— Copyright.) [Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) (Received 8, 11.25 a.m.) Amsterdam, Aug. 7. In the 2000 metres Olympic sculls Pearce, on the third successive occasion. did the fastest heat and had the easiest victory. He won comfortably by 20 lengths, paddling the greater part of the journey. Saurin, a slightly built, handsome Frenchman, made a tremendous effort at the start in an endeavour to hold Pearce but the Australian was ahead from the first stroke, striking 42 strokes in the first minute and thereafter settling down to 36, but reducing considerably when victory was assured. Pearce thus entered the semi-finals together with the Dutchman, Gunther, the Englishman, Collett, and the American. Meyers. Nothing short of a miracle or an accident can prevent the Australian winning if he shows anything approaching his present form. Collett will probably be the strongest competitor left. Meyers is good but in no way as strong as Pearce, whose electrifying speed off the mark alone is a big asset. CHARLTON AGAIN SECOND.

Charlton registered his fourth successive second alacing, when Takaishi

won his heat by a touch. The race was slow but interesting. Takai. shi, Costoli and Cha r 11 on were practically level throughout. The Japanese led Charlton by a touch. Costoli was i m m e diately behind for a couple of hundred metres and maintained

the lead until 350 metres, when he and Charlton turned together. But Takaishi won by a fifth of a second with Costoli five yards behind. Tellez and Gordon each were more than a lap behind. Borg, who has never been headed at the present Olympiad, won his heat dashingly by 20 yards. Crabbe also had the easiest victory within a fraction of the Swede’s time. Zorilla easily won Dave Lindsay’s heat. The New Zealander did not ?ualify. He swam well but failed to ast out the distance. MORE RECORDS SMASHED. In the 100 metres backstroke swim, Boast’s heat was among the slowest of the day’s events, but the American, Laufer, broke Kealoha’s Olvmpic record 1 , while his compatriot. Wyatt, and the German Kubber, each came within four-fifths of a second thereof.

Incidentally, the German, Miss Sorader, clipped off a second froji the world’s record in the women’s 200 metres breaststroke, while the Japanese, Tsuruta, bettered the world's breaststroke by one-fifth of a second. These times are interesting in view of experts’ opinions of the slowness of the water.

In the water polo semi-final, Germany beat Britain by 8 goals to 5. A Britisher was ordered from the water and thereafter the Germans were successful in a desperate rally amid great flag waving and war cries. Results :— SWIMMING. 400 Metres Free Style, final.— Takaishi (Japan) 1. “Boy” Charlton (Australia) 2. Costoli (Italy) 3. The swimmers were practically level for the 300 metres, after which Takaishi and Charlton drew away. Takaishi’s time was smin. 22 4-ssec., Charlton taking smin. 23sec. In the fifth heat, the Japanese, Takaishi, beat “Boy” Charlton (Australian) by two feet Charlton, however, qualified for the final.

Sixth heat—Zorilla (Argentine) 1, Hatfield (Britain) 2. Lindsay (New Zealand) did not qualify Women’s Breaststroke, 200 metres. —Thu fourth heat was won by Miss Van Nordem (Holland) The Australian, Miss D. Thompson, was third and failed to qualify. The winner’s time was 3.27 1-5. SINGLE SCULLS. The semi-finalists in the single sculls are Pearce, Collett, Gunther and Meyers. 2000 Metres Quarter-finals.—Pearce (Australia) beat Saurin (France); time, 7.42 4-5; Gunther bent Straka; time,-7 57 3-5. Collett (Britain) beat Wright (Canada) by three lengths; time, 7.52. Meyers beat Candevau; time, 8.5 3-5. Meyers was not pressed. Eights; Canada, Britain and the United States won tho quarter finals. Britain drew a bye in the semi-final.

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS TO STAND. [Australian Press Assn.—United Service.; (Received 8, 1.45 p.m.) Amsterdam, Aug. 7. The International Amateur Athletic Federation by 16 votes to 6 rejected a proposal to elminate women’s track and field events from the Olympic programme, but rejected by 14 votes to 8 a proposal to extend the list of events. The meeting sanctioned the 100 metres, 400 metres relay, high jump, discus and javelin throw, and 80 metres hurdles, but rejected the 800 metres, long jump, shot putting, and 200 metres. Canada led the opposition to women’s further participation and Britain and Ireland supported Canada. Frau Dr Bergman, examining physician to the German women athlete's, said that decades of tests in Germany proved that competitions were not haimful. She said that Frau Radke, the world champion, cooked, sewed and did housekeeping like any other hausfrau. Competitions did net affect her system, SOUTH AFRICAN TRIP OFF. Wellington, August 7. A special meeting of the New Zealand Olympic Council to-night decided that in view of a letter from the manager of the team (Mr H. Amos), which stated that ho required additional money, “at least £5OO, particularly if we go to South Africa,” they could not send a team.