SWIMMING ITEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21470, 19 April 1933, Page 17

SWIMMING ITEMS

INTER7CLUB COMPETIT! ON FINAL FOR LOWE SHIELD PONSONBY'S FAST SPRINTERS A carnival to conclude activities this feeason among Auckland swimming clubs was held in tho Tepid Baths last Week by the North Shoro Club. Tlio club wished to decide tho final interclub relay raco for tho Lowe Memorial Shield. This trophy was offered for competition by tho club in memory of its late secretary and one of its founders, Mr. T. S. Lowe, who died last June. Until the race last week, two events, a medley relay over 200 yards, and a freo-stvlo relay over 300 yards, had already been decided and in them North Shore and Waitemata had each scored three points, Grammar and Mount Etfcn had each scored two, and ponsonby one. The third and last raco was for teams comprising 20 men each and the distance was GGG 2-3 yards. Ponsonby, North Shoro and Grammar More the only clubs to compete. North Shore led in tho early stages, but it was eventually passed by Ponsonby, which gained an easy victory. Grammar filled third place about 12 yards behind North Shore, but tho- disqualification of the latter club because 0110 of its representatives had swum out of his lane gave Grammar second honours. Grammar and Ponsonby increased their score to four points each and thus became joint holders of the shield until next season. Tho former club was extremely lucky, because it was assisted by the disqualification of North Shoro in the race under review and by tlio disqualification of Ponsonby and Waitemata in tho second race. Grammar was the only club to go through tho series without being disqualified. I Shield Position Ponsonby's right to the shield is unaisputable. This club, although small in comparison with other local clubs, has as members a number of fast sprinters. They form the nucleus for strong teams at' any distance and, consequently, Ponsonby has won more relay races than any other club. A unique race was a 50 yards novice handicap/for ladies. This was won by a little-known swimmer. Miss M. Gillies, in'32s. The time was highly meritorious and Miss Gillies should be. very successful next season. D. jMiles, who did well at the primary schools' championships recently, was a close second. She v.as also runner-up in the 100 yards ladies' handicap and in the 50 yards junior girls' handicap and has blight prospects for the future. Miss Mona. Lcydon, holder of the national furlong and quarter-mile titles, is a consistent performer in handicap races and in these she has enjoyed, much success. The 100 yards ladies' handicap found her too fast for her opponents, although she gaie them starts. The time, 69 3-ss, while nearly two seconds slower than her best, was good. Miss Edna Rainev. the New Zealand intermediate champion, was on the 4s mark and was third. She is very inconsistent nnd'.has not swum well since she won the Auckland intermediate title three months ago in 6<s. University Championships Times that compared favourably with Rational standards were registered by winners of New Zealand Unnersity championships on Monday evening. lowers of the sport were interested in the carnival mainly because D. H. Symes, a representative of Canterbury at the national championship meeting Ttrentlv, and D. P. Lindsay, national champion at 410 yds., 880 yds. and one mile, were among the competitors. Symes, who was swimming for Otago University College, is essentially a sprinter. He was in fine form and won tho lOOvcfs. championship comfortably from Lindsay in the fast time of 5; 4-ss. Symes has developed his speed by constant racing with fast sprinters. At home he races against E. McConville, A. T. F. Stokes and Lindsay, and when in Dunedin attending university he is frequently matched against tlio Otago champions, W. Jarvis and R. Geddcs. Although Lindsay set an easy pace he won the 220 yds. and 4-10 yds. championships by wide margins. His times, 2m 33 3-os and 5m 37 3-ss, were records. Lindsay has a long-reaching action but, while apparently serviceable for distance swimming, it is spoiled by Btiffness and is therefore less attractive than the strokes of leading Auckland like R. Frankham, R. Ihomas and N. Crump. In the 220 yds. and 410 yds. free-style contests the representatives of the Auckland college, W. I. Gunn and J. Allen, were outclassed both in speed and stroke technique. C. J. Mathieson gained third place in the 100 yds. championship and Gunn was rnnner-np to jW. Platts, Otago, in the 100 yds. breaststroke championship. Platts is a strong exponent of breast-stroke and his time, 1m 235, a record, was good. Two of the three ladies' races were "U'on by representatives of the Auckland college in times much below national standards. Miss E. Steele and .J. Thomson had a stirring duel in the 100 yds. championship, the first named gaining the decision by a mere touch in 74 1-ps and so avenging her defeat by Miss Thomson in tho race for the title of the Auckland college a fortnight ago. Miss Y. Lcvvy, Canterbury, swam well in winning tho 50yds. championship in 31 3-os. This was tho best performance by a lady.