SWIMMING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19696, 25 January 1926, Page 10

SWIMMING.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS NOTABLE PERFORMANCES. 100 YARDS RECORD BROKEN. (From Our Own Correspondent.') NAPIER, January 24. The New Zoafcuid swimming championships of 1926 will bo written down in history as the most notable of any meeting yet held under the auspices- of the Amateur Swimming Association, m that the opening day of the big competitions now being held at Napier was marked by the of one minute for the 100 yards. At the New Zealand championship meeting, year after year, Dominion speed swimmers have attempted to accomplish the task but failure has been recorded. Patterson, of Wellington, for several years held the record of 60sec, gained at the Auckland competitions. Then Kronfeld lowered that time to 69sec, and only a few weeks ago Adamson (Auckland) reduced the time still further to hl< 4-sscc All the previous times _ were established in Auckland, which indicated that Auckland’s tepid salt water was the fastest in the Dominion. Now, a greater than Adamson has arisen—Norman Dowsett AVanganuii, who proved hansel supreme in New Zealand’s natatorial classic event, while Napier maintains that it can now justifiably claim to possess filtered sea water that, tor speeding, is unsurpassed anywhere else. The 100 Yards Championship last night ■was really wonderful,, and never in the history of swimming in the Dominion has such a held of fast finalists been presented. In the morning the heats were taken. The first heat comprised Adamson, Enwnght, Fairgray, C. Glaridge (Wellington), Lindsay (Canterbury), and Rose (Hawke’s Bay). This was a fine race, Adamson winning in 59 l-ssec, with Lindsay second, and Fairgray third. The second heat consisted of Dowsett (Wanganui), Lambio and Lound (Hawke’s Bay), Cameron (Wellington), and Sutherland (Canterbury). Dowsett made the pace, and won in 59 2-ssec, Sutherland being second, and Lound third. As Enwright was the fastest fourth place filled ho qualified for the final. When the actual race came on the huge crowd present was on tiptoe with excitement. The water was inviting, and the sky was clear. Bnwright seemed anxious to get away. He broke and fell into the water. Finally, the field was sent well away altogether. Enwright commenced making the pace. Ho led for a short distance, but Adamson, Dowsett, Fairgray, and Liindsay settled down to it, and it was evident to all that the competitors were making the pace a cracker. Traversing the first length of the pool, the competitors were abreast, and formed almost a straight line across the bath. Approaching the first turn, Dowsett and Adamson were level, but the former appeared to get round into his stroke first, with Adamson less than half a yard away. Over the second length the competitors travelled most spectacularly, Dowsett and Adamson turning for home almost simultaneously. It was then a question of which competitor had the greatest staying power. The Aucklanders were relying on Adamson’s wonderful sprinting powers over the last lap to carry the blue-and-white colours to victory. Dowsett, however, stuck tenaciously to his task of bringing the honours to Wanganui, and did his job well. When half the final lap had been covered, Dowsett was a shade in the lead from Adamson, with Fairgray, Lindsay, and Enwright almost in line. Dowsett, with plenty of life and kick left, raced to the finishing post at a great pace, with Adamson straining every nerve to get on equal terms. The Wanganui boy, amidst a scene of the wildest excitement, gained the verdict by half a yard. When the announcement was made that a New Zealand record of 58 3-ssec had been established, thereby lowering by l-ssec Adamson’s wonderful time, the crowd broke into cheers. At the finish there was not more than one yard separating the winner from the fifth man, and three competitors broke the minute. Fairgray was third, Enwright, who swam the distance in 60sec, was fourth, and Lindsay fifth, a touch behind. Adamson seemed to be hardly at his best form. He had been very anxious, worried, and nervy before the race. This may have • affected him slightly, nevertheless, he registered his fastest time yet proving conclusively that he is entitled to rank as one of the test sprinters in Australia or New Zealand. The Napier Centre has constructed the take off 'board two feet higher than the concrete and this is the first time such a high starting board has been used in the Dominion. The competitors maintained that this was largely responsible for the fast times put up in the big event thus placing the men more on a par with the conditions at the Domain Baths in Sydney. Dowsett’s, Adamson’s and Fairgray’s times show that the standard of swimming in New Zealand is improving, and is now not far short of the Aust; alian standard 'The next big event on the programme was the 100 ladies’ championship. Miss Ena, Stookly (Auckland) the title holder was expected to win, and she did so, without being extended, Miss Jean Bell and Miss Piri Page (Auckland) filling second and third places, respectively. From a good start Miss Stockley asserted herself and beaded the field down the first turn, where she had a lead of fully three or four yards from Miss Bell who, in turn, was about a yard ahead of Miss Page. Miss Stockley then clapped on the pace and drew away from Miss Page, the pair leaving a big gap of water between them and the rest of the field. In the last lap, however, Miss Bell shot forward and reduced the distance separating her from the leader, while Miss Stockley was either taking it too easy or was getting tired. Miss Bell steadily reduced the intervening gap, though she had no chance of overtaking Miss Stockley, who had fully three and a-half yards to spare at the finish. The time was 67 seconds, being the fastest yet put up by ladies at a Now, Zealand championship meeting, though Miss Stockley has bettered that tine by 1 l-ssec. Her rcten. tion of the title was received on all hands with satisfaction and pleasure. The next championship event was 75yds intermediate girls’ breaststroke. Wanganui had this all on its own, Jean Whymaa winning easily with Lucie Broadhead second and E. Anderson third). The time was 67seo which lowers the previous record of 67 1-Ssea, established by Miss Y. Scotten (Otago). Mies K. Miller was the only other starter. The quartet struck the water together and almost immediately Miss Whyman drew to the front and at the turn she was leading Misses Broadhead and Anderson by a yard, Miss Miller being a similar distance behind. The second lap saw Miss Broadhead gain a little bat not sufficient to trouble the leader, who finished strongly with two yards to spare, a yard separating second and third. Tli© 220yds intermediate boys’ championship was, after the morning heats, a foregone conclusion for Bridson, of Auckland. Expectations were quite fulfilled. This fine young powerful swimmer pushed to the front from the start and maintained his lead all the way. Cameron (Wellington) gave promise, in the early stages, of putting up a big fight; for close on 200yds ho followed the loader at a fairly close distance but then showed signs of tirinsr. Fitch (Canterbury), with great staying capahilitiee, came along in good style and beat Cameron for second place. Bviclson’s time was 2min 383-Ssoc, which is three-fifths of a, second outside the record established by E. V. Ounnold, at Auckland in 1922. Bridsofi could easily have created now figures had lie desired to do so. Fitch swam the" distance in 2min 47 2-ssoo and Cameron in 2m in 503 sec. Auckland supplied all the winners in the 50 yards junior girls’ championship. Miss B. Hanlon being first. Miss S Brown second, and Miss O. Harvey third. The time was 34 4-ssec, which is 22-6 sec outside Miss L. Ooutts’s record, made at Auckland in 1924. Tho ICO yards junior boys’ championship provided a good race. T. Cade (Wanganui) won all tho way from a field of five. L. Olds (Otago) and S. Rose (Hawke’s Bay) filled second and third places, respectively, with W. Hockley (Auckland) close up. The boys took the racing easily in the first lap. Cade turning first a yard ahead of Olds, 'the order was tho same to the finish, Cade winning by three yards is 75 2-ssoc, which was not brilliant time. Tho mile championships afforded spectators a sample of endurance swimming. A field of eight was sent away by the starter, but only three finished, a wonderful race ensuing between A. E. Baird (Auckland), who won- and L. Hill (Canterbury). Eixwright set tho pace and had the load over tho first 200 yards. Gradually one after another of the competitors pulled out until only Enwright, Cnnnold, Hill. Baird, and M'Koaguo were loft in the race. Enwright retired at the 500 yards’ mark. Ounnold was seized wifi cramp after travelling three-quarters of a mile, and had to retire. MTvoagne was a bad. but game, third. II ill and Baird fought out the dis-

tance practically together. The latter gave a swimming demonstration over practically the whole distance. He would let Hill assume the lead, and would then sprint up at each turn. At times he gave the impression that he was playing with Hill, and not letting himself go. The two leaders travelled up and down without any change, until the last two laps. Then Baird gave a sample of his capabilities. With a fine sprint he drew away from Hill, who had swrnn a splendid race, but was outclassed, and won by about 10 yards in 25min 19 l-ssee. It was announced that the winner's time for the event was second only to that of Malcolm Champion, whose record was 2-imin 39sec. The first stage of the intermediate boys' diving championship saw D. Mulvet|ill (Auckland) diving particularly well. The diving was of a very high grade, the Taranaki and Hawke's Bay representatives giving splendid performances. Other results were:— Teams' Kace (one lady, two men). —Waltemata No. 1 Team. 66 2-3 Yards Open Handicap.—Lambie (Napier) 1, Blewden (Te Awa) 2, Con Welson (Auckland) 3. Time, 51sec. 33 1-3 Yards Ladies' Handicap.—lS. AndersonCVVangauui) 1, K. Miller (Otago) 2, I;. Copplestoue (Canterbury) 3. The points at the end of the first day's competitions were as follows: Yaldhurst Shield. —Auckland IS points, Wanganui 5 points, Canterbury 3 points, Hawke's Ray 1 point. War Memorial Shield.—Wanganui 2 points, Auckland 2 points.