DIVING CHAMPIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22039, 20 February 1935, Page 14

DIVING CHAMPIONS

FINAL STAGE DECIDED TITLE-HOLDERS SUCCESSFUL HASSAN AND MISS PRICE The final stago of the men's and ladies' diving championships of Now Zealand was decided at the Mount Eden Baths yesterday morning, and, after points had been computed, it was announced last evening that W. Hassan, of Auckland,, and Miss M. Price, Wellington, had retained their titles. The first stage was taken at the Tepid Baths last Saturday evening from the low board, and all the dives yesterday were from the high board, each contestant doing eight. The men's championship resulted: — W. Hassan (Auckland), 107.72 points 1 A. W. Wesney (Southland), 107.41 points 2 D. Ewert (South Auckland), 90.1G points . . 3 Ladies' Championship Miss M. Price (Wellington), 64.13 points . . 1 Miss G. l?ix (Otago), 55.44 points 2 Mrs. E. C. Isaacs (Otago), 48.03 points 3 Wesney was runner-up for the men's title last year also. The diving yesterday was an improvement on that of Saturday, and Hassan and Wesney performed consistently better than their opponents.. However, according to the senior judge, Mr. L. Annand, of Christchurch, the general standard was lower this year. Ewert and Miss Rix distinguished themselves as likely to attain eventually a high degree of skill. The firstnamed is 15 years of age and Miss Rix 16 years. Neither has had much experience. FINAL NIGHT'S EVENTS QUARTER-MILE CONTEST SPRINT TITLE FOR LADIES Further thrilling competition should bo witnessed at the concluding session of the" New Zealand swimming championship meeting in the Tepid Baths this evening. Four titles are to be decided, the 440 yds. men's free-style, 100 yds. ladies' free-style, 220 yds. ladies' breaststroke, and 500 yds. flying squadron relay. Two 50yds. scratch races will also be swum, one for men and the other for ladies. The 440 yds. men's free-style should result in a thrilling struggle, especially between J. D. O'Driscoll, Otago, J. Neville, Taranaki, D. H. Symes, Canterbury, and W. Johnson and N. Crump, Auckland. Crump has easily the fastest time to his credit, and, although defeated in the furlong on Monday evening, he must be given a bright chance of gaining this title for Auckland. The New Zealand record, 5m 13 2-ss, is held by G. Bridson, Auckland.

Tho talented Southland girl Miss Nancy Basstian will make a bid for the 100 yds. ladies' title, and there is not likely to be much separating her and the Aucklanders Misses Mona Leydon/Sylvia Grange and Edna Rainey. Each man in the flying squadron relay will swim 100 yds., and the contest between the strong Auckland and South Auckland teams is eagerly awaited.

The 50yds. men's scratch race should be particularly interesting, as one of the competitors will be the new national sprint champion, W. J. Jarvis, whose record, 23 l-ss, is threefifths of a second slower than Duke Kahananoku's fastest time for the world. Jarvis is expected to break 23s at least. Possession of the Yaldhurst Shield, at present held by Auckland, will depend upon the results of the championship contests. Points have so far been scored as follows:—Auckland, 35; Otago, 25; Southland, 9; Wellington, 8; Wanganui, Hawke's Bay, 5; South Auckland, Canterbury, 4; Taranaki, 1. Following is the draw for the heats of the 440 yds. men's and 100 yds. ladies' free-style, at 10 o'clock this morning:— , IOOYds Ladies.—First heat: Misses M. Leydon, S. Grange, N. Ludlow, V. Colthurst (.Auckland 1 ), P. Sporle (Manawatu). Second heat: Misses N. Basstian (Southland), N. Hughes (Canterbury), L. Gordon (Taranaki). E. Rainey (Auckland). 440 Yds Men's.—First heat: R. B. Frankham, R. Thomas (Auckland), R. Simon (South Auckland), J. Neville (Taranaki), D. H. Symes (Canterbury), C. Cliff (Canterbury). Second heat: N. Crump (Auckland), R. Watkins (Hawke's Bay). P. McRae (South Auckland), J. IX O'Driscoll (Otago), P. H. McGrath (Southland), W. Johnson (Auckland). First and second in the men's contest will qualify for tho final, and first, second and third in the ladies'.

The nominations for the invitation scratch races aro as follows: 50Yds Ladies'.—Misses P. Sporlo (Manawatu), N. Hughes (Canterbury), L. Gordon (Taranaki), N. Basstian (Southland), S. Grange (Auckland). 50Yds Men's.—W. Jarvis (Otago). D. Symes (Canterbury), N. Crump (Auckland), P. H. McGrath (Southland), W. Whareaitu (South Auckland). 66 2-SYds Handicap.—P. Harinan, J. H. Neville. J. Harp, E. Stephens, A. Kronfeld, D. O'Connor, scr; L. Allen, A. Kay, L. E. Adams, D. Webster, Is; J. Coote, D. Jury, R. White, R. Skinner, M. Cleary, A. Valentine, A. R. Marshall, L. • Yates. 2s; D. Kr.ock. K. Spry, L. Cordes, C. Billiard. 3f: W. O'Keefe, R. McHardy. R. Carson. R. Williams, R. C. Gibbons, L. Thompson. H. Terry, G. Guilford. G. Wallace, W. Stone, D. L. Milne, H. Warburton, 4s ; L. Natighton, L. Cameron, R. C. Blackman, W. F. Gunn, J. Allen, R. Charters. ss; G. Mnson, L. H. Millener, 7s; M. Vautier, A. Mosedale, 8s; W. Gibbons, 9s; G. Usher, lis.