AUSTRALIANS IN FORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27307, 6 February 1950, Page 5

AUSTRALIANS IN FORM

New Empire Marks In . Swimming TWO IN WOMEN’S EVENTS From the Sports Editor AUCKLAND, Feb. 51 Although the water in the Newmarket Olympic Pool is regarded as being slow, two Empire records were broken when the swimming section of the British Empire Games began on Saturday night. Features of the carnival were the performances of some of the younger swimmers, notably Marjorie McQuade, the 16-year-old Australian Olympic representative; Winifred Griffin, holder of all the New Zealand junior freestyle titles; the 17-year-old French-Canadian, Lucien Beaumont, and the brilliant New Zealand distance champion F. R. (“ Buddy ”) Lucas, who recorded the fastest time in the heats of the 1650 Yards Men’s event.

In the Women’s 440 Yards Freestyle Relay, the New Zealand team swam with rare promise to fill second place to the Australian team, which included three Olynipic representatives in Marjorie McQuade, Denise Spencer and Judy Joy Davies. The other member of the team was the brjlliant 16-year-old Denise Norton, regarded as one of Australia’s best prospects for future honours. The winners reduced the Empire Games record of 4min 48.3 sec, established by Canada at Sydney in 1938. The young New Zealand team consisted of two rising stars in Kristin Jacobi and Winifred Griffin, the National Senior and Junior 100 Yards title holders respectively, and Norma Bridson and Joan Hastings. , In spite of. the big crowd, the doors were not opened to the public until 7.10 p.m. and the first event started a quarter of an hour behind schedule. This time lag increased as the evening wore on, and it was nearly midnight before the two relays were completed. The qualifiers for the final of the 110 Yards Freestyle were decided on the six fastest times recorded in the three heats. These were returnd by Peter Salmon, Lucien Beaumont (Canada), Frank O’Neill (Australia), Jacobus de Beer Wiid (South Africa), P. H. Kendall (England) and Michael Amos (New Zealand). Salmon, who is well fancied by Canadian supporters, led from the start and opened up a gap in the early stages. He is a particularly powerful sprinter and won by two feet, with Kendall, Amos and Beard finishing almost in line. L. Barry, the New Zealand title holder, was a yard further back. Salmon’s time of lmin o.7sec was the fastest of the night. The surprise of the second heat was the showing made by the young Quebec - swimmer, Beaumont, who is the Canadian record holder for junior freestyle breaststroke and medley events, as well as for several senior events. Beaumont and O’Neill, who was one of the favourites for the title,had a great tussle. Both were timed at lmin o.9sec. , The younger swimmers dominated the 110 Yards Women’s Freestyle event; and the first heat provided a thrilling tussle between New Zealand’s best freestyle prospect, • Winifred Griffin, and South Africa’s 14-year-old record breaker, Joan Harrison. Miss Griffin established a lead of two yards in the second lap, but Miss Harrison closed the distance to one fpot at the finish. Miss Griffin equalled the Empire record of lmin lO.lsec, with Miss Harrison recording lmin 10.5 sec and Miss Spencer lmin 11.5 sec. Norma Bridson, one of New Zealand’s most versatile and consistent performers, registered a splendid performance to win the second heat in lmin llsec, with M. T. Girvan (Scotland) challenging strongly. .The first Empire record was credited to Marjorie McQuade, of Australia, in the third heat. The young Olympic swimmer swam away from the field in the second lap to win in lmin 9.4 sec, one-fifth of a second better than the record established in Sydney in 1938 by Evelyn de Lacy, of Australia. The finalists will be Griffin, Harrison, Bridson, Wellington, and Spencer. The 1650 Yards Men’s Freestyle provided a thrilling battle of tactics between the New Zealand champion, F. R. Lucas, and the 18-year-old English distance swimmer, Donald Bland. Lucas, who has a perfectly relaxed and most proficient style, swam a welljudged race and led all the way. Bland cut down the gap in the latter stages of the race, and with four laps to go both men started to sprint, and Bland reduced Lucas’s lead to a yard. The young swimmers turned together for the last lap, but Lucas finished brilliantly to win by a touch. Lucas’s time of 20min li.2sec was 24.45ec slower than the winning time of R. H. Leivers, of England, at the last Games. Barry Kelleway, the 15-vear-old tance star, is Australia’s nope. in this event, as the Olympian, Garrick Agnew, was withdrawn. Kelleway won by 70 yards from Colin Chambers (New Zealand) in 20min 55.35ec. Qualifiers were Lucas, Bland, Johnston, Kelleway. J. Portelance (Canada), and Chambers. Swimming pf the highest standard was produced in the 440 Yards .Women’s Relay, and though New Zealand led for two laps Australia gradually forged ahead to win by five yards in new Empire record time. With . a well-balanced team consisting of four national title holders over various distances in L. Barry, F. R. Lucas, N. Chambers, and M. Amos. New Zealand sprang a surprise on the field in the 880 Yards Men’s Freestyle Relay and won by 10 yards in 9min O’Neill, of Australia, staged a great race over the last two edge England out of second place. The detailed swimming results were: 110 Yards Freestyle (six fastest times qualify for final). —First heat: P. Salmon (Canada), 60.7 sec, 1; J. Wiid (South Africa), 61.2 sec, 2; P. Kendall (England), 61.8 sec, 3; M. Amos (New Zealand). 61.9 sec, 4; ,J. Beard (Australia), 63sec, 5; L. Barry (New Zea-

land), 63.25ec, 6. Second heat: L. Beaumont (Canada), 60.9 sec, 1; F. O’Neill (Australia), 60.9 sec, 2; R. Legg (England), 63.25ec, 3; O. Hanan (New Zealand), 64.45ec, 4; A. Kinnear (Scotland), 66sec, 5; D. Arndt (Ceylon), 66.75ec, 6. The event was reduced to two heats. The qualifiers are: Salmon, Beaumont, Wiid, Kendall, O’Neill, Amos.

110 Yards Women’s Freestyle (six - fastest times qualify for final).—First heat: W. Griffin (New' 70.1 sec, equals British Empire Games record, 1; J. Harrison (South Africa), 70.5 sec/ 2; D. Spencer (Australia), 71.5 sec, 3; L. Preece (England), 73sec, 4; K. McNamee (Canada), 74.95ec, 5; S. Gaddum (Ceylon), 74.95ec, 6. Second heat: N. Bridson (New Zealand) 71sec, 1; M. Girvan (Scotland), 71.6 sec, 2; I. Strong (Canada), 72.1 sec, 3; B. Hosking (Australia), 76.75ec, 4; G. Wood (England), 78.5 sec, 5. Third heat: M.. McQuade (Australia), x 69.4sec, which' breaks the British Empire Games record, 1; M. Wellington (England), 71.1 sec, 2; C. Miles (Canada), 72.45ec, 3; E. Turner (Scotland), 72.8 sec, 4; K. Jacobi (New Zealand), 73.45ec, 5. Qualifying finalists are: McQuade, Griffin, Harrison, Wellington, Bridson, Spencer. , 1650 Men’s Freestyle (six fastest times qualify for final).—First heat: R. Lucas (New Zealand), 20min I.2sec, 1; D. Bland (England), 20min 11.6 sec, 2; G. Johnston (South Africa), 20m>n 25.75ec, 3; J. Portelance (Canada), 21min 9.Bsec, -4. Only four started. <

Second heat: B. Kellaway, (Australia), 20min 55.35ec, 1; C. Chambers (New Zealand), 21min 46.65ec,‘ 2; L. Portelance (Canada), 22min 4.ssec, 3. Only three started.

440 Yards Women’s Freestyle Relay (four swimmers each to go 110 yards). —Australia (D. Spencer, D. Norton, J. Davies, M. McQuade), 4min 44.95ec.—? breaking the British Empire Games record —1: New Zealand (K. Jacobi, N. Bridson, W. Griffin, J. Hastings), 4min ,48.7 sec, 2; England (G. Wood, H. Yates, D.Preece,M. Wellington), 4min 56sec, 3: Canada (K. McNamee, I. Strong, J. Morgan, C. Miles). smin o.4see, 4. 880 Yards Freestyle Relay (four swimmers each to go 220 yards).—New Zealand (M. Amos. L. Barry, C. Chambers, R. Lucas). 9min 27.75ec, 1; Australia (F. O’Neill, D. Agnew, J. Beard, B. Kellaway), 9min 34.55ec, 2; England (R. Legg, D. Bland. P. Kendall, J. Hale), 9min 36.8 sec, 3; Canada (P. Salmon, A. Gilchrist. L. Portelance, J. Portelance). 9mm 44.45ec, 4.