SWIMMING

Otago Witness, Issue 3957, 14 January 1930, Page 50

SWIMMING

OTAGO CENTRE. A meeting of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Swimming Association was held in the Y.AI.C.A. on Wednesday evening. Air J. L. Al'lndoe presiding. The principal portion of the evening business consisted of the selection of the Otago swimming team to compete at the New Zealand championships at Greymouth on January 24. The following were selected:— R. C. Calder (Dunedin) and 11. E. Walker (Dunedin) men's diving championship. The swimmer registering the fastest time iii the Batt Cup will be entered for the Annette Kellerman Cup race and also for the mile and the half-mile. Aliss AL Mathieson (Dunedin) will compete in all intermediate girls’ championships; R. Geddes (Kiwi), N. Jarvis (Dunedin), W. A. Buckland (Kiwi) in all junior boys’ championships; Nancy Olds (Kiwi), junior girls’ championships; R. Al'Kay (Dunedin), intermediate boys’ diving championships. Three Otago championships were decided at the Alunicipal Baths last night, resulting as follows:— 100 Yards Ladies’ Championship.— Aliss AL Jepson (Dunedin) 1. Only starter. Aliss Jepson, who was paced by C. J. E. Al'Lean, completed the distance in 73 2-ssec. 150 Yards Junior Boys’ Championship.—R. Geddes (Kiwi) 1, S. Jarvis (Dunedin) 2. Geddes led all the way, but Jarvis stayed the distance well, being about three-quarters of the length of the baths behind when Geddes crossed the line. The time, Imin 50 l-ssec, is a centre record. 880 Yards Alen’s Championship (Roberts Cup).—N. H. Bailey (Kiwi) I, C. Turgis (St. Clair) 2, C. J. E. Al'Lean (St. Clair) 3. The other starters were: S. M'Kenzie (Dunedin), J. Fleming (Dunedin), and H. D. Gillies (Kiwi). Bailey took the lead after about four laps, and maintained it throughout, though Turgis came up strongly about half way. Bailey sprinted at the finish, and won by 12 yards, Al'Lean was a length of the baths back. Time, 13min 13sec. Air W. Jenkins acted as starter, and the timekeepers wore Alessrs J. L. Al'lndoe and A. Greig. AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. BRIDSON ESTABLISHES NEW RECORDS. AUCKLAND, January 9. The Auckland swimming championshipwere held to-night. In the 220 Yards Bridson defeated Lindsay by three yards in the record time of 2min 26 l-ssec, which clipped 3 4-ssec off Bridson's own Dominion record for the distance. Lindsay, who swam in his best form, also beat his previous record. Aliss Farquhar created a surprise bv defeating Aliss P. Robertson in the 100 Yards Ladies’ event in the slow time of 70sec. Bridson also won the 100 Yards Championship easily from Enwright in 57 3-ssec —an Auckland record. OTAGO HARBOUR RACE. WON BY AIISS M. MATHIESON. Finishing with a strong stroke after being in the water for one hour and seven minutes, Miss M. Mathieson won the

annual harbour swimming race for the Batt Alemorial Cup, over a distance of two miles and a-quarter, on Saturday afternoon. Her performance was very creditable, as she had to contend with trying conditions. She also registered the fastest time of any girl swimmer in Batt Cup races. Her actual time was Ihr 7min 2sce, being over 15 minutes faster than Aliss C. Macassey’s time of Ihr 22min 43sec, when she won the first race for the cup. A remarkable performance was put up by N. 11. Bailey, the scratch man. who covered the distance in 56min 23sec. He thus had the distinction of registering the fastest time for the third year in succession. The second man, C. Durand, put up a fine performance, as also did Aliss P. Lang, who finished fourth.

The conditions were most unfavourable, but nevertheless the race created a great deal of interest, the finish being witnessed by over 1000 persons in the vicinity of the Harbour Board's office. Fifteen swimmers started, but 11 failed to finish. The race was held under the auspices of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. The following were the starters: —Aliss P. Lang (18min), A. L. Jordan (ISmin). Aliss AL Alathieson (Ulmin). J. S. Fulton (17min), C. Durand (16min), W Hunter (15min), B. Kerr (15min), J. Crowley (13lmin). Af. Taylor (lOlmin), J. Fleming Bmin), S. Fogg 7min, 11. D. Gillies, H. Clark, and C. Turgis all Simin, and N. 11. Bailey (scr). Aliss Lang and Jordan were sent away at 2.40 p.m., and were followed by Miss Alathieson half a minute later. The other competitors were despatched in accordance with their handicaps, which were revised in view of the wind. Most of the competitors hugged the eastern shore as far as Waverley. in order to escape the ebb tide. Bailey set out with a powerful stroke, using the trudgeon style, which he maintained throughout. He gained rapidly on the front markers, following a course very close inshore. Fogg used the backstroke frequently. A; Waverley Point Aliss Mathieson led by fully 50 yards from Hunter, with Durand about 20 yards back. Then came Kerr, Taylor, Turgis, Fleming, and Gillies. Jordan retired before reaching Waverley, and the other 10 retired between Waverley and open water. Approaching the entrance to the wharves Aliss Alathieson had a good lead from Durand, the latter then holding second position owing to Hunter having retired. There was no change in the order of the four remaining swimmers over the last half-mile, and Aliss Alathieson secured an easy win. The finishing times were as follows:— Aliss Al. Alathieson (Dunedin Club), Ihr 7min 2sec 1 C. Durand (St. Clair Club), Ihr 9min 53sec 2 N. H. Bailey (Kiwi Club), 56min 23sec 3 Aliss I*. Lang (Kiwi Club), Ihr 18in 46sec 4 At the conclusion of the race the Batt Cup was presented to Miss Alathieson by Air J. L. Al'lndoe (president of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association). In handing over the trophy. Air Al'lndoe heartily congratulated Aliss Alathieson on her sterling and plucky performance. The race for the Batt Cup was won last year by 11. Clark, and N. 11. Bailcj registered the fastest time—-55min 54sec. The cup was won in 1928 by Aliss C Alacassey, and N. 11. Bailey put up the fastest time—s6min 56sec. AUSTRALIAN SWIMMERS. CHARGES OF DISCOURTESY. SYDNEY. January 9. The Guardian's swimming writer says that charges of discourtesy and tingentlemanly conduct made by the Ashburton Swimming Association against Ryan and Griffiths have aroused a storm of protest in Sydney. Air Dexter, chairman of the New South Wales Swimming Association, says that evidently the Ashburton Association is under the impression that the swimmers had approved of the itinerary mapped out. Such is not the case, and the blame must be laid at the door of the New Zealand Swimming Association. Ryan’s coach (Mr Hay) considers that Ryan and Griffiths have been scandalously treated by both the New Zealand Swimming Association and the Australian Swimming Union. Mr Afacdonald, secretary of the New South Wales Association, said: “ I have no hesitation in saying that nowhere else in the world would a controlling body impose such a killing itinerary on athletes as New Zealand asked Ryan and Griffiths to carry through. In the course of the tour, which last 37 days, including five Sundays, the swimmers were called on to appear at no fewer than 25 carnivals, and eight of the days on which they did not swim were spent in travelling." ALLEGATION OF DISCOURTESY RESENTED. AUCKLAND. January 11. The allegation that both or either one of them had been discourteous to the Ashburton Club was not appreciated by Griffiths or Ryan, the Australian swimmers, when the matter was mentioned to them on their arrival in Auckland this morning. Griffiths said that he had read the item in a Wellington paper. “ I cannot under - stand in what way we have been ungentlemanly or discourteous. We have given our best everywhere, and at Ashburton. after the gala, we were congratulated on our performances. I made an attempt on the 440 yards record in addition to competing in the handicap events, and later gave an exhibition of fane.’ diving. We have done our best to entertain the public, and I consider that to allege that we have been discourteous is an insult to the country we represent.” FORBIDDEN TO RACE AGAIN IN DOMINION. AUCKLAND, January 11. Difficulties in the swimming tour of New Zealand by the Australians, Owen Griffiths and Noel Ryan, were increased to-day. Both swimmers are being ordered by the Australian Swimming Union not to race any more in the Dominion, although both are officially engaged to swim

in Auckland on Thursday. The Australians arrived here this morning from tha south. A cablegram received this morning from Sydney said that Ryan and Griffiths weie permitted to visit New Zealand provided fh e \ returned in time for the New South Males State championships on January a -> *' astonishment of the omeials who were relying on the swimmers leaving Zealand yesterday,’’ the message said, “ a cable has been received stating that they would not return untilJanuary 31. Air James Taylor, president ot the Australian Swimming Union, has now cabled Griffiths ordering him and 11} an not to compete in further races.” A reporter found Griffiths and Ryan just as they were leaving their hotel to r.° , - ) v . eek ' en 'i tr >P in the Hauraki' Gult. Griffiths said that no official message had reached him from Sydney. “If w e don't receive an official message we are going to swim next Thursday evening , tepid baths for the Mount Eden Club, he said. Griffiths’s opinion the New South M ales Swimming Association was expecting Gordon Bridson, the Auckland sprint' and distance champion and the New Zealand distance champion, to race in the' State championships. That was why it' wanted him and Ryan to return. “ Bridson is not going until after the New Zea-’ land championships on January 24 if he’ goes to Australia at all,” Griffiths said.’ In fact. Bridson, Ryan, and I are prooably all going together to Sydney on* January 31?’ xv‘ Van was concerned at the message. We would be suspended for a couple of: seasons if we disobeyed the Australian Union,” he said, “ but then we are swim- 1 ming here under the New Zealand Council." WELLINGTON CHAMPIONSHIPS. M ELLINGTON, January 12. The Wellington Centre's swimming championships were postponed on account' of rain. NEW SOUTH WALES TITLES. _ SYDNEY, January 12. The 100 Yards State Championship in the Domain baths resulted as follows:—•* Cecil Light (Sydney) 1, D. Willson (Bondi) 2, F. Doyle (Sydney) 3, W.‘ Cameron (New Zealand) 4. The other, starters were A. Besomo, the holder of the title, and H. Robertson. At 75 yards Cameron looked like a certain winner, but Light and Willson pushed forward and fought out a great finish, with the others hard upon them. Light, by a wonderful dash in the last 15 yards, landed a winner by a yard, the rest finishing almost in a bunch. Time, 57 l-ssec. In the Half-mile Women’s Swimming. Championship of New South Wales at Coogee Edna Davey (Sydney) won front L. Joubert (Lismore) and P. Perry. (Alanly) by 65 yards in 12min 49 3-ssec. Her time for 500 yards (7min 7sec) wag 1 l-ssee better than Fanny Durack’s Aus-’ tralian record. Edna’s time for the ful| distance, however, was 19sec slower thaq her own Australian record.