DOMINION TEAM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22958, 9 February 1938, Page 24

DOMINION TEAM

EMPIRE GAMES EVENTS MISS LEYDON'S PROSPECTS FINAL OF 440 YARDS TO-NIGHT LADIES' DIVING CONTEST The New Zealand swimmers at the British Empire Games have been outclassed with the exception of Miss Mona Leydon, who was the only one to qualify for a final. She swam second in a heat of the 440 yards ladies' freestyle event, the final of which will be decided to-night. Miss Leydon inspires confidence as the one at least who will gain a victory for New Zealand. Another hope is Miss Gwen J?ix (Otngo), who will take part in the ladies' diving event to-day. Miss Leydon has performances in her favour, for as recently as last month she recorded 5m 36s for 440 yards, compared with the heat winners' times of sin 43s and 5m 43 l-ss. In the desperate struggle inevitable to-night her unsurpassed determination may yet be the deciding factor in her success.

In the 440 yards men's free-style event N. Crump, Auckland, and L. Newell, Christchurch, were hardly equipped to keep pace with their rivals, and were unplaced in their respective heats. Newell was much below his usual form and was last of the six competitors in the first heat, which was won by R. Leivers, England, in 4m 57 9-10s. This great effort of the Englishman was 5 l-10s better than the Empire Games record of 5m 3s held by N. Kyan, of Australia. R. Biddulph, A\istralia, who was second to Leivers, also broke the record, taking 5m ljs. Newell drew the harder heat, but if he had been in anything like his best form he would have qualified for the final. R. Hooper, Canada, who was fourth in the New Zealander's heat and qualified for the final, registered 5m 13 3-ss, which is 3 l-5s slower than Newell's best time. Newell retired well beaten with six laps to go in the 1650 yds. event Crump was not prominent in hia heat and tailed the field for more than half the distance, eventually finishing fifth. However, he was not suited by the distance, which was too far for him. 'The heat was won by N. Wainwright, England, in 5m 5 7-10s, G. Devlin, Canada, being second in sra 12 l-ss. The former record-holder, Ryan, was a poor third, and his time, 5m 19s, illustrates by how much his speed has depreciated. The New Plymouth swimmer, J. C. W. Davies, finished last in a heat of the 220 yards men's breaststroke, in which there were four starters. The race was won by Hobbs, Australia, in 3m 4 9-10s. Davies did not qualify for the final because his time, 3m 10 2-ss, was the slower of the two fourth placegetters. Davies' time was much slower than his best effort in New Zealand, 3m 1 2-ss, but apparently the conditions affected the times of all of the breaststroke swimmers, which were below their usual standard. The competition in the heats of the 110 yds. men's free-style event was too intense for the Aucklanders, P. Hanan and N. Crump, and they did not qualify for the final. The Otago champion, Miss W. Dunn, finished last in the field of five ladies that contested the 220 yards breaststroke event. Her prospects of even gaining a place were only mildly favoured. In the race she dropped back in the early stages and was quite outclassed. The winner was Miss D. Storey, England, who was much superior to her opponents. As it was the first occasion on which the event had been over a distance of 220 yards, instead of 200 yards, her time of 3m 6 3-5s will form the basis as a record. A great achievement, her time was 6 l-5s faster than that of the New Zealander, J. C. W. Davies, in the men's event. The 15-year-old Canadian, Miss J. Langdon, who was third, employed the '|butterflv" method of breaststroke, being the first woman to exploit the style successfully at the British Empire Games. The youngest member of the New Zealand team, Miss J. Macdonald, Otago, failed to qualify for the final of the 110 yards ladies' backstroke event. She kept with the field fairly well in the initial stages, but she tired and finished out of a place. She did not swim up to form, as her time, lm 28 3-ss, was 3 2-5s slower than her best. She was expected to improve in Sydney, and it was a pity that her form did not at least equal the standard she is capable of as it would have enabled her to have taken part in the final. However, enthusiasts will not be disappointed by her lapse of form ; One of the reasons that prompted her inclusion in the team was to enablo her to gain experience. Plentv of competition will be provided for local swimmers during the next few weeks. The North Shore Club will decide several harbour races at Stanlev Bav next Saturday, and on Tuesdav evening the Ponsonb.v Club will hold p, carnival at the Tepid Baths. It is probable that the Canadian Empire Games Rwimmers will appear at a carnival in Auckland on February 21.