SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22807, 17 February 1936, Page 7

SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

NATIONAL SENIOR TITLES TAKES THE HUNDRED LADIES’ FURLONG TO MISS LEYDON It ie doubtful if, since the Dunedin Municipal Batihs were opened, the accommodation has been go completely taxed as was the case on Saturday, when the New Zealand national senior swimming championship meeting—the largest of its kind ever to be held in Dunedin —was commenced. Heats only were decided in the afternoon*, and the finals swum off in the evening, but encouragingly large crowds witnessed the swimming at both sessions, and in the evening, especially, even standing room was at a premium. Although times were not so fast as might have been expected, the racing lacked nothing on the score of keenness, and several of the finishes were spectacular enough to raise the crowd to a high pitch of excitement. The meeting was declared open by the Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox), ■ndio expressed the hope that the next time the New Zealand swimming champdonships were held in Dunedin that they would be held in a building that would house 2000 people in comfort, and also contain the finest pool in the southern hemisphere. THE HEATS. The racing in the afternoon was divested of a certain amount of interest by the fact that in some of the heats there were only three starters, and in that the competitors, sure of qualifying, did not take matters very seriously. The first heat of the Men’s Hundred saw the title-holder, W. J. Jarvis, and the Auckland crack, R. B. Frankham, opposed to one another, but both of them were content to take it fairly easily until a few yards from the line,-where Frankham sprinted. He was a good four yards ahead of P. Pennington, the Wellington swimmer, but he touched under-water, instead of finishing properly, ’and was placed third. He finally did: toush above water, but before doing so he foolishly took two steps, and rendered himself liable to disqualification. . The’second heat was more interesting, and there was little between the three placed men, P. Hanan and Noel Crump, the Aucklanders, and the Canterbury representative, D. Symes. At one stage Symes did not appear to he hurrying, but ie speeded up" over the final few yards and was just a touch behind Hanan when they finished. Crump being a similar distance back. E. B. Toase, Otago’s second string, swam a fine race, and after being with the field all the way, he was only a touch behind (Crump in fourth place. More than usual interest centred in the first heat of the 220 Yards Ladies’ Championship, which. marked the .first appearance in Dunedin of the brilliant Auckland girl, Miss Mona Leydon. With four in the heat, the swimmers had to keep moving to qualify, but Miss Leydon. after 100 yards had been covered, began to show out, and at the 150 yards’ mark was leading Miss P. Sporle, of Otago, by three yards. Miss Sporle hung on gamely, but the Auckland swimmer continued to draw away, and had six yards in hand when she touched. Miss Hughes was another two yards back. The Hawke’s Bay representative, Miss Edna Eaiuey, was fourth. Throughout the second heat the issue lay between Miss N Basstian, of Southland, and Miss Maxine Mathiesnn (Otago), the former winning by a touch, with-another Auckland girl,. Mias N. Ludlow, three yards back in third place. The time, 2min -59 2-ssec. was five seconds slower that that registered by Miss Leydon in the first heat... , As was anticipated, the doughty Wanganui'. breaststroker, L. Smith, had matters all his own way in the first heat of the 220 Yards Men's Breaststroke event, which he won with ease by five yards from F. Taylor, of Auckland. Otago supporters were particularly interested in the performance of H. Callender in this event, and while the St. Clair lad could, not do better than swim into third place, he made a good showing, and was m second position for a great part of the journey. D. Shanahan faded towards the finish, A Taranaki swimmer, J. Davies, scored a win in the second heat, Reg. Geddas, the Otago champion, just missing the decision by a touch, w-hile C. W. Elliott, who took things very easily, was 10 yards back. In the circumstances, the time, 3min 20 2 : ssec, was just about what could have been expected. ‘ OTAGO DIVERS PEOMINENT. The first section of the Men’s Diving Championship was held in the afternoon, when the outstanding competitors were the Otago champion, E. O: Johnson, and D. Ewart, a 16-year-old stripling from South Auckland. All Johnson’s numbers were well executed, but while Ewart put in two beautiful dives for his last two compulsories, he went too far over in his first —a -forward running . somersault—and lost marks. In the evening, when the second section of the compulsories was taken, Ewart and Johnson again dived well. Another . Otago competitor, D. Freeman, also giving a good display. The Ladies’ Dive drew only two entries, Miss G Eix and Mrs E. C. Isaacs, both of Otago, and they both completed their compulsories. The voluntaries for this event will be taken this evening and in the men’s championship on Wednesday. A SPECTACULAE HUNDEED.

The eagerly-awaited final of the 100 Yards Men’s Championship, proved, as ■was only to be expected with the cream ot New Zealand’s sprinters in action, a race that will long remain in the memories ot those who witnessed it. The six swim-: mers hit the water almost together, and Crump and Jarvis were the early leaders. At the first turn Jarvis got round about half a yard in front of Crump, with Hanan and Frankham together only a foot or two back, and Syraes and rennington on their heels. Stroke for stroke, the two «d rivals battled it out over the second length, but Jarvis' dropped back a little, and they turned almost together, with the other two Aucklanders and Symes only an arm’s length away. The last lap provided one of the most spectacular tussles ever seen in the Municipal Baths. For the first 15 yards of the length it was anyone’s race, but suddenly the crowd rose to its toes as it realised that Frankham was taking, the lead and that Jarvis was fading a little. With an electrifying sprint the Aucklander pushed himself to the front, and strongly challenged by Hanan, reached the finishing line to snatch. a victory by a bare touch. Jarvis came again, but, although he made up a little of his leeway, he just failed to gather Hanan, who beat him for second place by a touch. Symes, a similar distance back, was fourth. The time (57 l-ssec) was not particularly fast, but it was a great race. MISS LEYDON’S BRILLIANCE. Although Miss Leydon gave a taste of her quality in the afternoon, it was not until the final of the ladies’ furlong that she really showed what she could do. Supporters of the Southland girl, Miss Basstian, fancied her chance of heading off the title-holder, and there was a good deal of optimism ,in the Otago camp regarding the probabilities of Miss Mathieson being first home. . Miss Mathieson and Miss Basstian made the pcae for the first 150 yards, with Miss Basstian going, slightly the better of the two. but Miss Sporlc (Otago) and Miss Hughes (Canterbury) were bj no means out of it,_ and v-ere i V - a yard or so behind, with Miss Leydon in a handy position keeping a watching brief over the whole field. With two lengths to go. Miss Leydon really got d °" n work, and drew up and passed the leaders go on and score a comfortable win by four yards from Miss Mathieson, who was two yards in front of Miss Sporle Miss Hughes was a touch away in fourth place. Miss Leydon’s victory, while it was primarily due to her easy, gliding action, which carried her along at a great pace, was also a triumph for shrewd judgment. SMITH THE EVERGREEN.

After his easy win in his heat, it was difficult to see how L. Smith could fail in the final of the 220 Yards Mens Breaststroke Championship. Geddes, it was thought, might extend him, but the Otago lad had had a hard game of water polo in the afternoon, and there was no

doubt this affected him a good deal in the evening. He could not, however, have beaten the veteran from Wanganui, who was never seriously troubled at any stage of the race, and won as he liked. He went into the lead from the start, and, gradually increasing his advantage, won by eight yards from Geddes. After a great race with the Taranaki lad, Davies, Elliott managed to beat him by a touch for third place, two yards behind Geddes. Smith’s time was only 5 2-ssec outside the record which he established last year at Auckland. This makes the eighth year in succession in which he has won this title. O’DEISCOLL DEFEATED. Very early in the proceedings the men’s mile resolved itself into a two-man race for premier honours —L. Newell versus J. O’Driscoll. After his performances at the Canterbury championships, Newell was known to be a tough proposition, and it was considered that he would be the one who would trouble the Otago lad most. And so it proved. O’Driscoll. R Watkins, of Hawke’s Bay, and Newell were soon showing the way to the others, and for the first quarter of a mile these three kept in line and were going along nicely, with the Southlanders, Malthus and Berry, a few yards back, O’Driscoll w*as always the most prominent in the early stages of the race and that he was not loitering on the journey can be gathered from the fact that he cut out the first 100 yards in 64 3-ssec, the 200 yards in 2min 22sec, and the 400 .in smin 6 l-ssec. At the quarter-mile O’Driscoll was leading Newell by. a yard, and Watkins, by this time, had slowed up and, with Malthus, was 10 yards back. After passing the 500yard mark, which was reached in 6rain 30 l-ssec, it was obvious that O’Driscoll and Newell would have things pretty much their own way, for the others were now well behind. vVatkins was showing signs of tiring, but Malthus was plugging along steadily and was moving better than any of the back bunch. With half the distance covered, the two leaders were 25 yards in front of the rest of the field, and on they swept, O’Driscoll a few feet ahead of Newell, and the distance between them hardly varying for lap after lap. With 17 laps to go. Watkins retired, and with seven more laps covered Newell began to forge ahead, while Malthus improved his position a little. Cliff was hopelessly out of it, and was oyer a lap behind. 'He, also, pulled out after having carried Newell along for a lap or two. and with only 200 yards to go Newell had established a break of eight yards over O’Driscoll, who was 10 yards ahead of Malthus. O’Driscoll appeared .to be tiring slightly, but Newell wag going as strongly as ever, and as they turned to go off on the second last lap, he ■"’os increasing his lead with every stroke. Oyer the final 25 yards he unwound an astonishing spurt and swam home an easy winner by 14 yards. Malthus, who was 18 yards away in third place, swam a remarkably plucky race, as did his team-mate Berry, also. Following are the results: — CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

100 YARDS MEN’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand record: 54 3-ssec, R. B. , Frankham (Auckland), 26/3/35, at Auckland. Standard time: 68sec. Title-holder: W. J. Jarvis (Otago), 55 2-ssec. First Heat. P. Pennington (Wellington) .. • • 1 W. J. Jarvis (Otago) • • 2 R. B. Frankham (Auckland) .. •. 3 These were the only starters. Frankham finished first, four yards ahead, but he touched under water and was placed third. Time, 62 l-ssec.

Second Heat. P. Hanan (Auckland) .. 1 D. H. Symes (Canterbury) .. .. 2 N. Crump (Auckland) 3 Also started: E. B. Toase (Otago). Won by a touch each way. Time, 57 2-ssec.

Final. R. B. Frankham (Auckland! .. .. 1 P. Hanan (Auckland) 2 W. J. Jarvis (Otago) 3 Won by a touch each way. Time, 57 1220 YARDS LADIES’ NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. Record; 2min 46sec, Miss M. Farquhar (Auckland)’, 8/2/33; at Auckland. Standard time: 2min 54sec. Titleholder: Miss M. Leydon (Auckland). 2min 46 2-ssec. First Heat. Miss M. Leydon (Auckland) .. .. 1 Mies P. Sporle (Otago) 2 Miss-N. Hughes (Canterbury) .. .. 3 Also started: Miss E. Rainey (Hawke’s Bay). " Won by six yards, with two yards between second and third. Time, 2rain 54 2Second Heat. Miss N. Basstian (Southland') .. .. 1 Miss M. B. Mathieson (Otago) .. .. 2 Miss N. Ludlow (Auckland) .. .. 3 Only starters. Won by a touch, with three yards.between second and third. Time, 2min 59 2-ssec. Final. Miss M. Leydon (Auckland) .. .. 1 Miss M. B. Mathieson (Otago) .. .. 2 Miss P. (Otago) 3 Won by three yards, with two yards between second and third. Time, 2tnin 49sec. 220 YARDS MEN’S NATIONAL BREASTSTROKE CHAMPIONSHIP OF NEW ZEALAND. Record: 3min 1 2-ssec, L. Smith (Wanga- . nui), 16/2/35, at Auckland. Standard time: 3min 13sec. Title-holder: L. Smith (Wanganui), 3min 1 2-ssec. First Heat. L. Smith (Wanganui) .. .. .. .. 1 F. Taylor (Auckland) 2

H. Callender (Otago) 3 Also started: D. Shanahan (Otago). Won by five yards, with two yards between second and third. Time, 3min 10 2-ssec. Second Heat. J. Davies Taranaki) 1 R. Geddes (Otago) 2 C. W. Elliott (Otago) 3 Only starters. Won by a touch, with 10 yards between second and third. Time, 3mm 20 3-ssec. Final. L. Smith (Wanganui) .. .'. 1 R. Geddes (Otago) 2 C. W. Elliott (Otago) 3 Won by eight yards, with two yards between second and third. Time, 3min 6 3-ssec. MEN’S ONE MILE NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. -Record: D, P.' Lindsay (Canterbury), 22rain 57 4-3 sec, February 6, 1932, at Christchurch. Title-holder: R. Watkins (Hawke’s Bay), 23min 38 4-ssec. Final. L. Newell (Canterbury) 1 J. D. O’Driscoll (Otago) 2 P. R. Malthas (Southland) 3 Also started: R. Watkins (Hawke’s Bay), D. C. Berry (Southland), C. Cliff (Canterbury). Watkins and Cliff did not finish. Won by 14 yards, with 18 yards between second and tlTird. Time, 24min 2 l-ssec. MEN’S NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL DIVING CHAMPIONSHIP. Title-holder: W. Hassan (Auckland). The competitors were:D. Ewart (South Auckland), J. Durand (Otago), G. Berry (Auckland), H. Nunes (Canterbury), D. Freeman (Otago), A. Williams (Otago), F. Maslin (Taranaki), K. L. Moffatt (South Canterbury), 'R. O. Johnson (Otago), F. Greenam (Nelson), and W. Gordon (Auckland). The first section only of this event has been completed. LADIES’ NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL DIVING CHAMPIONSHIP. Miss G. Rix and Mrs E. C. Isaacs were the only competitors. Only the first section of this championship has been decided. WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIP. First Round. Otago A 5 beat Auckland 4. V. Newall (3), R. Geddes and P. E. Mathieson scored for the winners, and.J. Enwright (3) and S. Lonsdale for the losers. Otago B 3 drew with Southland 3. J. Barry (2) and D. Shanahan scored for Otago B, and W. T. Springford (3) for Southland.

Second Round.

Otago A 8 beat Otago B 2. For Otago A, R. Geddes (5), J. O’Byrnes (2), and V. Newall were the scorers, D. Shanahan and A. Thomas each scoring a goal for Otago B. Canterbury 5 beat Southland 1. A. T. F. Stokes (4) and E. M'Kenzie scored for the winners, and P. M'Grath for the losers.

HANDICAP EVENTS 66 2-3 YARDS LADIES’ INTERCLUB HANDICAP. First Heat. Miss P. Hill (East Christchurch), Bsec 1 Mise I. Purdie (Kiwi), 2 Miss E. Abernethy (Kiwi), 6sec .. 3 Four starters. Won by a touch. Time, 49 l-sscc. Second Heat. Miss V. Coulthurst (Auckland) .. 1 Miss J. Robertson (Westport), 6sec 2 Miss A. Gillies (Kiwi), 3sec .. .. 3 Five starters. Won easily. Time, 40sec. Final. Miss Hill 1 Miss Purdie 2 Miss Gillies 8 A good finish. Won by a touch. Time, 48 3-ssec. Miss Coulthurst finished second, but was disqualified for breaking. 50 YARDS INTERMEDIATE AND JUNIOR HANDICAP. First Heat. A. Wethey (Toko), Bsec 1 L. Woods (Dunedin), ssec 2 Three starters. Won easily. Time, 30 2-ssec. Second Heat. N. Williams (Dunedin), 3sec .. .. 1 Miss I. Purdie (Kiwi), 3eec .. .. 2 Four starters. Won by a touch. Time, 28 3-ssec. Third Heat. D. Davis (Ex-pupils, Invercargill), scr 1 J. MTherson (Kiwi), 4sec .. .. 2 Three starters. Won by a touch. Time, 26 2-ssec. Fourth Heat. A. R. Duff (Kiwi), 2sec .. .. .. 1 R. G. Cotton (Lawrence), 6eec .. .. 2 Six starters. A great race. Won by a yard. Time, 28 l-ssec. Final. A. Wethey 1 N. Williams .. 2 D. Davies 3 Five starters. In a good finish, won by a touch, with a foot separating second and third. Time, 33 2-ssec. 100 YARDS MEN’S INTERCLUB HANDICAP. First Heat. H. D. Gillies (St. Clair), 6seo .. .. I K. Nelson (Kaikorai), lOsee .. .. ~ C. M. Robertson (Westport), 14sec 3 Three starters. Won by a touch. A great finish, the competitors finishing almost in a line. Time, 63 l-ssec. Second Heat. A. H. Brown (Ex-pupiis, Invercargill), C. MTvenzie (Christchurch United), 7sec 2 Four starters. Won by a yard. Time, 69sec. Third Heat. J. W. Clulee (Dunedin), 3sec .. .. 1 Only starter. Time, 63 l-ssec. Final. A. H. Brown 1 C. M'Kenzie 2 J. W. Clulee •• 3 Five starters. Won by half a yard, with a foot separating second and third. Time, 71sec. YALDHURST SHIELD The following are the points to date for the Yaldhurst Shield:—Auckland 13, Otago 12, Wanganui 5, Canterbury 5, Southland X.

VISITORS ENTERTAINED Yesterday the visiting officials and competitors were the guests of the Otago Centre at a picnic at Harrington Point. AN AUSTRALIAN RECORD (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) PERTH, February 15. At the Australian swimming championships Evelyn de Lacey (Western Australia) established a national record when she won the 220 Yards Womens freestyle from Kitty Mackay (New South Wales) in 2min 39eec.