NEW ZEALAND TITLES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 56, 18 February 1935, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND TITLES

Swimming Championships WATKINS WINS MILE OPEN Some Thrilling Finishes By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 17. Inspiring enthusiasm was manifested during the contests for titles at the ppeuiug session of the New Zealand swimming championship meeting in the tepid baths on Saturday evening. Even j the mile, generally a monotonous race, gripped the interest during the whole of its progress, and ended in a thrilling struggle. The 220 yards men’s breaststroae might not have held the crowd in susl>ense, the outcome having been obvious from slightly more than half the distance, but it offered compensation by being the only contest in which a New Zeaiand record was established. The winner, L. Smith, Wanganui, lowered his own record from 3 mins. 4 sees, to 3 mins. 1 2-5 secs. W. J. Jarvis, Otago, scored brilliantly in the 100 yards men’s free style. Miss Mona Leydon. Auckland, won the 220 yards ladies’ free style in simitar fashion, and Watkins, Hawke’s bay, the mile. Watkins’s time was much outside the record. By registering 55 2-5 secs and 2 wins. 46 2-5 sees respectively Jarvis and Misg Leydou each failed to equal the records by two-fifths of a second. Th: swimmers from whom titles were wrested were N. Crump, Auckland, in the sprint, and Miss Nancy l.udiow, Auckland, in the ladies’ furlong. The mile was not defended by D. P- Lindsay, Manawatu. The great interest in the meeting was illustrated by the fact that all unreserved accommodation was taxed to capacity three-quarters of an hour before the start of the carnival. Further more, it was estimated that a greater ■umber of people than the 1800 within the building were unable t» gam »'• Biiltance. At present Auckland, the holder, leads for the Vnldhurst Shield. Point' •I, ..-I.red as follow--

land, 13; Otago, fl; Hawke’s Bay and Wanganui, 5; Southland, 3; Canterbury, 1. The heats of the mile were swum on Friday evening, and those Of the 100 yards men’s and 220 yards ladies’ on Saturday morning. Results:— 100 yards men’s free style.—First heat: N. Crump (Auckland) 1, D. H. Symes (Canterbury) 2, R. Simon (South Auckland) 3. Time, 56 2-5 secs. Second heat: R. B. Frankhani (Auckland) and W. Whareaitu (South Auckland) dead heat, 1. O. Chamberlain (Taranaki) 3. Time, 56 secs. Third heat: W. J. Jarvis (Otago) 1, N. 11. McGrath (Southland) 2, A. Somervell (Wellington) 3* Time, 55 3-5 secs. Final: Jarvis 1, Crump 2, Symes 3. Also started: Frankham (Auckland), Whareaitu (South Auckland), McGrath (Southland). 'lime, 55 2-5 secs. Won by one and a half yards. Except for McGrath, the others finished within fifths of a second of Crump. 220 yards ladies’ free style.—First heat: Miss Sylvia Grange (Auckland) 1, Miss Mena Leydon (Auckland) 2, Miss Ngaire Hughes (Canterbury) 3. Time, 2 mins. 50 1-5 secs. Second heat: Miss Nancy Basstian (Southland) 1, Miss Naney Ludlow (Auckland) 2, Miss F.dna Rainey (Auckland) 3. Time, 2 mins. 48 secs. Final: Miss , Levdon 1, Miss Basstian 2, Miss Grange 3. Also started: Misses Ludlow (Auckland), Hughes (Canterbury), ‘ Rainey (Auckland). Time, 2 mins. 46 2-5 sees. Miss Basstian shot away from the rest of the field and led Misg Ludlow by two yards at 100 yards. Miss Leydon came into the picture in the sixth lap, and amid frantic excitement Misses Basstian and Leydon turned to- ' gether for the final 20-yard sprint. The I former gained on the turn, but Miss Leydon responded with all her might i and enught Miss Basstian eight yards : from the finishing line and won by two i feet. Miss Grange, who had moved up well, was three yards short of Miss Bantian. , 220 yards men’s breaststroke.—L. Smith (Wanganui) 1, K. Spry (Wellington) 2, J. Magee (Auckland) 3. Also started: B. Hawarth (Wanganui). H. Mackintosh (Auckland). Time, 3 mins. 12 5 sees. —a Dominion record. / For the seventh successive year Smith ( has won this championship. He finish- s id six yards ahead of Spry. One mile free style. First heat: J. Neville (Taranaki) I, J. Malkins (Hawke’s Bay) 2. N. Crump (Auck- 0 land) 3. Time. 23 mins- 56 1-5 sees. «'

Second heat: W. Johnson (Auckland) 1, J. D. O’Driscoll (Otago) 2, C. R. Buchanan (Auckland) 3. Time, 23 mins. 56 1-5 sees. Final: Watkins 1, Johnson 2, O Driscoll 3. Ako started: Buchanan (Auckland), Neville (Tara’ naki). Time, 23 mins. 38 4-5 sees. The competitors settled down to their long swim at a sound pace, the first 100 yards being covered in 70 seconds. Over the later stages Johnson and Watkins drew ahead and swam on even terms throughout. They made the last turn together. Twenty-five yards were left, and both threw their remaining strength into a desperate bid for the laurels. Watkins made the stronger spurt, nnd won by two yards. O’Driscoll was 20 yards back.