SWIMMING ITEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23266, 8 February 1939, Page 20

SWIMMING ITEMS

THE YALDHIJKST SHIELD PROSPECTS OF AUCKLANDERS HANAN FAVOURITE IN SPRINTS Although they comprise one of the smallest swimming teams ever to represent Auckland at a New Zealand senior championship meeting. P. Hanan, A. Paseoe, X. Crump, P. E. Mathieson and Miss K. Grey should almost certainly be capable of retaining the Yaldhurst Shield.

Two titles, the 100 yards and 220 yards men's free-style, should he retained by Hanan, while Paseoe and Crump are likely to be his foremost opponents, as nowhere in the south are there sprinters of their calibre. It is probable that, on this occasion, Crump will defeat Paseoe, who beat him for second place to Hanan in the Auckland championship race. Another possibility, although i;ow remote, is that Crump will beat Hanan, Paseoe is considered the most likely runner-up to Hanan over the furlong.

I'a.scoe has e.very prospect of returning as national champion for 440 yards, BSO yards and one mile. The holder of these titles, L. Newell, of Canterbury, since resuming swimming after undergoing an operation for hernia early this season, has been 1 far below top form, principally owing to having his training interrupted. In fact, Newell has been medically advised not to swim, and it is doubtful whether he will go to Jnvercargill. If he should-be in form, he will defeat Paseoe,. but not so decisively as he did at New Plymouth last season. Otherwise, it will be Paseoe who will force the pace. The greatest test of Mathieson's career faces him when he engages C. Cliff, of Canterbury, in the 100 yards and 400 metres men's backstroke events. The sterling performance put up by Mathieson recently _for 400 metres —bis time was 5m 25 _ 3-ss—-makes it inconceivably that Cliff will capture his ■ title for this distance, although Christoburch enthusiasts have hopes of the latter's doing so. 'I he pair will be better matched over 100 yards. It is at this distance that Cliff has his strongest opportunity of being Mathieson's vanquisher. New records are to be expected from their clashes. Points should also be scored for Auckland by Matliiejon in the 440 yards, 880 yards and one mile free-

style events, ft is not unlikely that- he will he winner or runner-up, particularly over the mile. A strenuous task awaits Miss Grey, but she should measure up to it in typically brilliant fashion. The ladies' events for which she had been nominated are the 100 yards, 220 yards and 440 yards free-style, and 100 yards and 200 metres backstroke. As she is to be the fifth member of the flying squadron relay team, it will, no doubt, be impracticable for her to compete in all these, nor would it be wise for her, a developing swimmer, to do so. Jn the 100 yards event, especially, she has strong opponents, including the present champion, Miss S. Gotlieb, of Wellington, and Misses C. Garvin and 1. Purdie, of Otago, but her achievement at Auckland recently, when she put up the New Zealand record of 6!) 3-ss, suggests that she will be the winner. Her greatest rival will be Miss Garvin, the Dominion intermediate champion, who has covered 100 yards in 645. Judging by the Otago girl's performance of 2m 45 l-ss, she will trouble Miss Grey over the furlong, too. Miss Grey's fastest time in salt water is 2m 40 l-ss, only one-filth of a second slower than Miss Purdie's record. Little evidence is available of their capabilities over 440 yards.

If Miss Grey swims in the backstroke events, she should he nmner-up to Miss J. MacdonaJd, of Southland. Miss Grey is a fine exponent of backstroke, but such is M iss Macdonald's skill that, provided she is in form, she seems a certain winner.