MAORI PLACED THIRD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 13 October 1941, Page 8

MAORI PLACED THIRD

EGYPTIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) Cairo, Sept. 23. H. Ratema, the Rotorua Maori swimmer, was defeated by the Egyptian champion, Khadri Mahmoud, in the 100 metres free style event at the Egyptian swimming championships held on Saturday. Ratema. who finished third to Mahmoud and Ali Bagdabi, appears to find the 100 metres too far. He swam well in second place over the greater uart of the distance, but could not hold on and was beaten for second by Bagdabi with about four metres to go. The winner's time was 62 2-ssecs, and Ratema’s time was 65 3-ssecs. The Maori boy’s time was almost a j second slower than that in which he t won his heat the previous week. On i that occasion he covered the 100 metres in 64 4-ssecs. Ratema holds the record i for the baths at the New Zealand base j camp where he won the 100 yards freej style recently. He swam the distance ! in 59 3-ssecs. beating the previous record of 60 l-ssecs held by Noel Crump, j the New Zealand champion. Ratema’s j best time for 100 yards in the Dominion i was 56secs. In all his recent swims he i has led over the first length or two. I but has then appeared to tire. The i extra eight odd yards in the 100 metres championship seemed to make all the difference to him, for at the 100 yards ’[ mark lv* was swimming a good second. The finals of the Egyptian chairin'onships were held in the presence of | His Majesty King Farouk, who piei sented trophies to the winners.