SWIMMING ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 24 April 1929, Page 18

SWIMMING ITEMS.

UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIPS IMPROVEMENT ON RECORDS. v ■■■■....:■'. ' COMING MILITARY CARNIVAL. Swimming is sure to play a prominent part among the sports indulged in at the Auckland University College, which has its own club affiliated to the Auckland Centre. Last Thursday the club held its second annual championship carnival at the Tepid Baths, and the fixture was an unqualified success. It has been said swimming will be instituted next year as a competitive sport in the annual interuniversity tournament to bo held in Auckland. If such proves, the case Auckland should be able to field a strong team, and in one branch of sport at least should triumph over Southern opponents. Several good performances were put up at last week's meeting, while the times generally were satisfactory. The attendance of students was not particularly large, but this was no doubt due to the fact many had to attend lectures. The Auckland sprint champion, J. P. Farrell. was the outstanding male com petitor. - In again capturing the 50yds and. 100 yds. championships he reduced his own university records of 27 l-5s and 65 l-5s to 26 2-5s and 62 4-5s respectively. Although he has much faster times than his new records to his credit his form was quite good for so late in the season He also won the 33 l-3yds. scratch race in the smart time of 17s, and was third in the 220 yds. event. Title-holder Defeated.

The 220 yds. championship was earned off by the prominent Wellington, swimmer, G. Rix-Trott, who narrowly defeated the title-holder, D. Hyauiason. RixTrott's time, 2m 50 2-ss, was only fair, and one which he is capable of reducing by a considerable margin when at his best. He also finished second to Farrell in the two sprint championships. The most successful lady swimmer was Miss E. Steel, who set new records of 20 3-ss, 34 l-5s and 81 l-5s for 33 l-3yds., 50yds. and 100 yds. respectively. These are creditable performances. In quest of new figures to replace her own 100 yds. and 100 metres New Zealand backstroke records of 77 4-5s and 85s respectively, Miss E. Stockley made a successful attack on tho former mark, but failed to improve on the other record Tho time for the 100 yds. was 76 2-ss, which was an improvement of 1 2-5s on the previous record. Since times constituted for this distance were recognised as records this season Miss Stockley i has greatly improved. In January she annexed the title at the Auckland championships in 78 2-ss, and a week or so later she captured the national title in 77 4-ss. Her latest time thus marks an improvement of two seconds over her initial effort. A mishap in negotiating the final turn cost Miss Stockley a new record for the 100 metres distance, as the time she returned was 85 2-ss. Miss Grant's Poor Form. In her. unsuccessful attempt to lower the 220 yds. free-style record of 2m 475, which stands to tho credit of Miss G, Shand, of Christchurch, Miss D. Grant had the misfortuflc to be out of form, for she registered only 3m 0 4-ss. This time was far from being a reproduction of her best effort. The young Ponsonby Club sprinter, A. Raper, displayed notable improvement in winriing the 100 yds invitation handicap. His time was announced as 61 3-ss, which was a splendid effort. On previous occasions he has shown flashes of speed, so that his capabilities were not unknown. His latest form rates him as the most promising sprinter to come to light this season, and if ho continues to improve he will be able to hold his own with the top-notchers next season. A good victory was scored by the consistent Miss M. Farquhar in the 66 2-3 yds ladies' handicap over the scratch ladies, Misses P. Robertson and E. Stockley. Miss Robertson displayed plenty of dash, which demonstrated that she has recovered from the lapse of form she showed at the previous carnival at which she competed.

The Auckland Military Sports Association will hold its second annual championship meeting at the TepfH Batlis 011 May 1. In order to encourage team spirit entries will be limited to one per «svenfc from each unit. No competitor will be allowed to compete in more than one event, with the exception of the diving competition and the relay races. Most of the local competitive swimmers will take part.