AUCKLAND SUCCESSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20174, 7 February 1929, Page 12

AUCKLAND SUCCESSES.

BRIDSON AT HIS BEST.

MISS ROBERTSON'S EASY WIN.

POINTS FOR THE SHIELDS.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. Tho Auckland representatives had another successful day at tho New Zealand national swimming championship meeting this afternoon. Four more titles were won and one second place was secured. Auckland is now certain to win both tho Yaldhurst and War Memorial Shields, tho points for which aro as followsYaldhurst (seniors): Auckland, 28; Wellington, 21; Canterbury, 21; Wanganui, 9; Otago, 1; Ashburton, 1. War Memorial (intermediates and juniors): Auckland, 7; Otago, 3; South Canterbury, 2; Canterbury, 1. The Auckland distance champion, G. Bridson, swam tho raco of his career in winning tho 880 yds. men's championship from A. Stokes (Canterbury), tho 220 yds and ono mile champion. Tho holder of tho tillo, D. P. Lindsay, did not compete, as he has returned to Auckland. Tho stago was set for a southern victory, as Stokes was generally expected to annex tho title with Lindsay absent. At tho 400 yds. mark Stokes had a slight lead over Bridson, but tho Auckland champion then overtook Stokes, and, swimminng confidently, the gap at every length. Ho ultimately won by about 15 yards.

Shock For Canterbury. Tho result was a shock for tho Canterbury supporters, but it did not como as a great surprise to Aucklandcrs. Bridson has been swimming excellently at the meeting and although ho was only third in both tho 220 yds. and ono milo championships, ho performed well enough to leavo a strong impression that he would be a dangerous opponent to Stokes. Bridson swam a well-judged race and did not make the mistake of setting an exceptional pace at the start as in the 220 yds. event on Monday. His time, 11m 31 3-ss, was splendid, being only six seconds outside Lindsay's New Zealand salt-water rocord. Judging by his form to-day Bridson seems assured of winning tho 440 yds. championship on Saturday.

Stokes swam as well as ever, but was defeated by a better swimmer. Third place was filled by H. Gowan, a promising young swimmer from Wanganui, who was last year's intermediate boy champion. The veteran Aucklander, J. Enwright, who was fourth, did really well to beat C. Claridgo and G. RixTrott, of Wellington. More Titles For Auckland. Miss Ena Stockloy's victory in the 100 yds. ladies' backstroke championship, the first event of this style to bo included in the national championship programme, was a foregone conclusion. The Auckland lady outclassed Misses K. Miller (Wellington) and L. Copplestone (Ashburton) and returned the excellent time of 77 4-ss, which is an improvement of 1 2-5s on her Auckland championship time. Miss Stocklev's time will be accepted as the New Zealand record. As was expected. Miss Peggy Robertson, the 100 yds. champion, easily won tho 220 yds. intermediate girls' championship. Sho has been in a class by herself in this division, and shows more promise than any other young swimmer. Her time, 3m 1 3-ss, although several seconds outside Miss E. Champion's New Zealand record of 2m 52 2-ss, was quite good, being an improvement of 1 2-5s on her Auckland championship time. Two Auckland representatives in the 100 yds. intermediate boys' championship, R. Pidgeon and L. Smytho, were not fast enough and were unplaced. N. K. Sylow (Auckland) was not, at hand to defend his 220 yds. men's breaststroke title, as he is on holiday in Australia. As was anticipated the contest resulted in a victory for L. Smith (Wanganui). The time, 3m 7 2-ss, was three seconds slower than Sylow's New Zealand salt-wator record. After the closo raco Misses S. Grange and M. Ehvorth bad in the 50yds. junior girls' championship last Saturday, when the former won, it oid not come as a surprise when Miss Ehvorth defeated her team mate in tho 100 yds. event this afternoon. Both the girls were superior to the other competitors. Miss Ehvorth swam a fine raco and her time, 77 2-ss, waa excellent, being only one second outside the New Zealand record. In tho heats of the 220vds. junior boys' championship, A. Walker and J. Strong, both of Auckland, were eliminated. Walker, the Aucklann champion, was not in the best of' health, and consequently did not swim .up to his Auckland championship form. Another Auckland boy, S. Gardiner, was second in the other heat, and thus qualified for tho final. However, ho was not of tho same standard as tho placed boys, and was outclassed.