SWIMMING TITLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22933, 11 January 1938, Page 12

SWIMMING TITLES

TWO RECORDS LOWERED MISS M. LEYDON'S SUCCESS AUCKLANDERS PROMINENT [by telegraph—press association] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday Swimmers' ambition to represent New Zealand at the British Empire Games at Sydney next month again had its effect to-night, when two national records and other good times were registered at the second session of the New Zealand senior swimming championship meeting. One recordbreaker was Miss Mona Ley don, of Auckland, 440 yards ladies' free style, and the other was L. Newell, of Canterbury, half-mile men's free style. Auckland is now certain to regain the Yaldhurst Shield, the team having scored <lB points. The next highest total is Otago's, 14. Four titles were won by Aucklanders to-night, victors besides Miss Leydon being P. Hanan and P. E. Mathieson, and Auckland also won the interprovincial relay, which is not a championship event. 11l establishing a record of 5m 36 3-5s for the 440 yards, Miss Leydon surpassed her brilliance at Auckland on December 14, when she won the Empire Games trial in 5m 39 l-ss. It was fortunate that she was again successful, because, according to Mr. B. O'Neill, secretary of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, she would not, be credited with the time at Auckland as a record. Her time to-night was .9 4-5s better than her own Australian and New Zealand record and 4 3-5s slower than the fastest recorded Empire time by Miss Phyllis Dewar, of Canada. Miss Leydon, winner of the title for the fourth vear, had already competed in the 100 yards backstroke previously. There was no pressure from the Southland girl, Miss Moira McGrath, who was beaten by about 30 yards. Exciting Event The 220 yards men's free style, won bv P. Hanan, of Auckland, with his team mate, A. Pascoe, second, aroused much excitement. The title-holder, D. H. Symes, of Canterbury, was first in front, but the lead was taken by Pascoe in the second lap, closely followed by Hanan and Symes together. Approaching the 100 yards turn, Hanan moved up. but Pascoe was there first in 61 3-os.

In the fourth Jap Haiian proved equal to Pascoe's challenge and they turned together into the fifth lap. From then onward Hanan obviously was invincible, reaching the finishing rope first by about four yards. Hanun's time, 2m -•"> 4-ss, was not as fast as anticipated, being 3 4-.">s above Crump's record. However, Hanan, winner of the 100 yds. on Saturday, consolidated his position as the Dominion's premier sprint swimmer. Pascoe's bid for the championship was exceedingly creditable. The youngest contestant, he was the principal pacemaker and sheer grit kept him in second position.

Half-Mile Record The margin by which Newell reduced the record of G. Bridson, of Auckland, for the half-mile was 7 l-ss, the time being 10m 53 3-ss. He "was too strong for Pascoe and defeated him by 50 yards. Meritorious though it was, Newell's time, in view of his arresting mile swiin on Saturday, was somewhat disappointing. He is said to be a swimmer who must be extended to have the best brought out. „ The backstroke champion, P. E. Mathieson, was never nearer defeat than he was in the 100 yds. men's backstroke, when he was pressed the full distance by A. Thomas, of Otago. They were together at the first turn, where Mathieson lost ground. He soon drew level again in the next lap and at the end of this it was Thomas who failed at the turn, hitting the side of the bath hard, the mistake costing him a yard. Undeterred, ho persisted in ehnsijig Mathieson, who was able to match his speed, winning by a yard and a-lialf. The time, 68 2-ss, was not .Mathieson's best, particularly as he has covered 100 metres in 72 2-ss. Miss Ley don won the 100 yds. ladies' backstroke in 85 l-ss, which was 8 4-5s outside Miss Ena Stockley's national record, but Miss Leydon did not exert herself unduly. She repeated her success at Christchurcli in 1934, and was the only swimmer attending the meeting to win titles in both free-style and backstroke. In spite of a great display by Pascoe, Auckland was defeated at water polo this morning by Canterbury by four goals to two. Details of the Results Results were as follows: — 220 Yds., Men. —First heat: D. Svmes (Canterbury), R. B. Frankham (Auckland), 2; ?*. Crump (Auckland), 3. Time, 2m 31s. Second heat: P. Hanan (Auckland), 1; F Pennington (Wellington). 2; A. W. Paseoo (Auckland), 3. Time, 2m 295. Filial: Hanan, 1; Pascoe, 2; Symes, 3. Timet, 2m 25 4-ss. IOOYds. Women's Backstroke.—Miss 31. Leydon (Auckland), 1; Miss P. Hudson (Hawke's Bay), 2. Time, lm 25 l-ss. IOOYds. , Men's Backstroke.—P. E. Mathieson (Auckland), 1; A. Thomas (Otago), 2; W. R. Iyloyd (Taranaki). 3. Time, 68 2-ss. 880 Yds., Men.—L. Newell (Canterbury), 1; A. W. Pascoe (Auckland), 2. Time, 10m 53 3-ss—a New Zealand record. 410 Yds., Women.—Miss 31. Leydon (Auckland), 1; Miss M. McGrath (Southland), 2. Time, 5m 36 3-ss—a New Zealand record. 133 Yds. Inter-provincial Scratch Be-lay.-—Auckland, 1; Otago. 2; Taranaki, 3. Time, 63 3-ss. Auckland was slightly in the lead throughout. Otago caught up in the last length, but Auckland won by a touch. Taranaki being about three yards behind. Water Polo—Taranaki. 7. boat Canterbury, 3. Points for the Yaldhurst Shield are Auckland. 53; Otago, 12; Canterbury. 11; larflnaki. 6; Southland, 3; Wanganui, 3; Hawke's Bay, 3. VENUES TOR NEXT YEAR ONE FIXTURE AT ROTORUA [BY TELEGRAPH —PRKSS ASSOCIATION] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday Tho delegates at the annual conference of centres of tho New Zealand Swimming Association decided on the venues of the 1939 national championships as follows: —Senior, Southland centre; junior and intermediate, Bay of Plenty centre; Maori, Otago centre. The Bay of Plenty delegate announced the venue of the junior and intermediate championships as the Blue Baths at Rotorua.