SWIMMING ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 15

SWIMMING ITEMS.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS.

G. BRIDSON'S FINE RECORD. PROMISING TALENT IN OTAGO. Although the Auckland representative team succeeded in winning again the Yaldhuvst Shield at the Dominion championships at Greymouth it only partly achieved its object, for it failed to retain tho War Memorial Shield, which is competed for by intermediate and junior swimmers. Notwithstanding the fact that it successfully defended the senior trophy tho team's showing was far from being satisfactory from tho viewpoint of the success of individuals. Apart from the five free style titles annexed by G. Bridson, who was directly responsible for 25 of Au«kland's total of 41 points, only a first, a second and a third were secured by other swimmers. Auckland failed badly in the ladies' free style championships, in which one representative gained a third place. Such a low record of successes has probably no parallel. Honours of the 1930 championships go to G. Bridson for his outstanding success in the men's free style events, in which he annexed the 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards and one-mile titles. His feat of winning tho five championships has been accomplished only by M. E. Champion, who gained the distinction in 1901, 1908, 1912,. 1913 and 1914. Bridson's times were not so good as expected, as ho lowered only one of D. P. Lindsay's records, reducing the 880 yards figures of 11m 44 3-5s by live seconds. Miss Miller's Achievement.

To win the 220 yards and 440 yards ladies' championships for the fourth successive year, is tho lino achievement of Miss Kathleen Miller, of Wellington. Sho proved herself the premier lady swimmer in tho Dominion by also winning the 100 yards event. Her times, however, were not outstanding, being much slower than her best.

The poor form displayed by Misses M. Farquhar "and P. Robertson in the Auckland championship was not improved upon at Greymoulh. Both failed t£» gain a place in the 220 yards championship, although Miss Farquhar was third in the 440 yards event. In the 100 yards champpionship, which Miss Miller won in the slow time of 70 1-ss, Miss Farquhar finished second and Mias Robertson third, but they were disqualified for not touching the top of the bath. Miss Robertson's second defeat at the hands of Miss Farquhar makes the loss of her last season's brilliant form all the more surprising. Perhaps she has had too much strenuous swimming and a rest from competition may be all she requires. The only Auckland lady to win a title at the meeting was Miss G. Pidgeon, who scored in the, 220 yards breaststroke championship in the good time of 3m 41 2-ss, which is 6s slower than her New Zealand record for the distance. Miss Pidgeon, who recently made a successful return to competition, has. now won this championship on five occasions, her previous successes being from 1925 to 1928. She did not compete in last year's championship. Jmprovem«»nt on her Auckland championship display was shown by Miss J. Thomson, who filled second place. Rules of Water Polo. The drawn game played by Auckland and Canterbury in the final of the water polo championship was not a satisfactory result as the question of superiority was not settled. In future the New Zealand Council will have to allow for such a contingency by altering the rules of the contest to provide for a definite decision being reached. The Auckland team fared better than expected. It was not a fully representative combination, being coinposed mainly of players who made the trip at their own expense. However, it achieved the distinction of being the first team which has not been defeated.

After a couple of seasons of indifferent swimming a return to her best form was made by Miss M. Jepson, who was run-ner-up to Miss Miller in every championship. Her showing occasioned some surprise in Duriedin as she was not included in the official Otago representative team. Otago, which won the War Memorial Shield, has a wealth of promising talent, and the time is not far distant when its claims will have to be considered seriously in the Yaldhurst Shield contest. A featuro in connection with the success of its representatives is that they do not specialise in one particular style but aro equally proficient at both free style and breaststroke. Miss M. Mathicson is the most promising girl Otago has unearthed since Miss K. Miller. .She carried all before her in the intermediate girls' division, winning the breaststroke as well as the free stylo championships. Although her times in the free style events were not outstanding she is capable of reducing them by wide margins. In the breaststroke championship she covered 75yds in 64 2-ss, which was an improvement- of 2-5s oil her own New Zealand record. Good Intermediates. Canterbury has two fine intermediates in E. MeConvillc and J. Hatterslcy. The former retained his 100 yds, 220 yds and 440 yds titles in fast times. In the 100 yds event he surprised by turning the tables on Hatterslcy, who iiad defeated him in the Canterbury championship. In addition to being second in this event, Hatterslcy was also second and third in the 220 yds and 440vds championships respectively. I{. Geddes was in a class by himself in the junior boys' division, winning from his team-mate", W. Jarvis in the lOO.yds and 220 yds free style and 75yds breaststroke championships. In the latter event lie recorded 59 3-ss, which clipped 2-5s off his own New Zealand record for the distance. Considering he is only 12 years age Jarvis can be safely ranked as the finest boy swimmer of his age ever produced in the Dominion. Jarvis has, indeed, a bright fnture before him, but it is hoped he is not asked lo do too much strenuous swimming which may mean the ond of his meteoric career. BOXING RING. TED MORGAN OUTSTANDING. The Northern Boxing Association has no match in view at present. Tommy Donovan has offered his services to Auckland this month, while he is on his annual leave, hut tho Northern Association is not doing anything. Certainly Sarron and Leckie are tied up with other associations, but there are still featherweights in Australia who could bo induced to make the trip.

Ted Morgan has proved himself to bo the best welter-weight in New Zealand to-day, although ho did not secure Hay's title last Thursday. One report of the fight says:—"Hay was thrashed to a standstill and was out-boxed, out-fought and completely mastered." It appears that Morgan was over-anxious and did not allow Hay sufficient time to gain his feet. Tho referee was sure of this and consequently had no option but lo award the verdict on a foul.

Hay was down for eight and six in the third round, two and eight in the fourth and eight in the fifth. Morgan had to bo held in his corner by his manager and seconds and tried lo break loose immediately after the referee gave his decision.

Morgan fought south-paw and was tho stronger and moro effective fighter, a cleaner, crisper and swifted boxer, a harder hitter and altogether cleverer than Hay."-