SWIMMING

Otago Witness, Issue 3958, 21 January 1930, Page 51

SWIMMING

By Neptune. BATT CUP RACE. Congratulations to Aliss Al. Alathieson on her sterling swim in the Batt Cup Harbour Race. Aliss Aiathieson thoroughly deserved her win, and. under the somewhat trying conditions which prevailed, her performance was a remarkably good one for such a young swimmer. Aliss Aiathieson has been swimming very consistently this season, but, nevertheless, considering the number of seasoned swimmers who took part, her win over such a gruelling course was somewhat unexpected. She is the second girl to win the cup, Miss C. Macassey having taken the trophy in the initial race in 1928. and it is worthy of note that a girl (Miss P. Lang) also swam into fourth place on Saturday in the fine time of Ihr 18min 46scc. The best swim of all. however, was that of N. 11. Bailey, who registered fastest time for the third year in succession. Swimming off scratch, Bailey ploughed through the rough water in great style, and, gradually overhauling the front markers, finished with a great burst of speed and gained third place, having covered two miles and a-quarter in the remarkably fast time of 56mm 23sec, which is only 26sec slower than his time for last year, when conditions were very much better. On bis present form Bailey, should he swim in the Annette Kellerman Cup Race at Greymouth, would appear to have an excellent chance of bringing the trophy to Otago. C. Durand, of St. Clair Club, who gained second place, also put up a good performance, and swam a remarkably good race. It was encouraging to note the keen interest taken in Saturday's race by the general public, and it is to be hoped that ere next seaso-i every local club will have added a harbour race to its yearly programme of fixtures. After all, swimming in the open water under varied conditions is even more worthy of encouragement than purely speed swimming, for it is invariably in the open water that the really utilitarian value of the art lies.

H. DEVLIN FOR CHRISTCHURCH. Through the departure of 11. Devlin to take up the position of beach patrol at New Brighton, the St. Clair Life Saving Club is losing one of its keenest and mo.e valuable members. Modest and unassuming. “ Dev ” said little about his exploits on St. Clair Beach, but there are many surfers in Dunedin to-day who have cause to remember his name with gratitude, and who. but for his timely assistance, might not have been alive to-day. He will be a distinct acquisition to New Brighton. KIWI CLUB’S CARNIVAL. The Kiwi Swimming Club held its annual carnival in the municipal baths on Tuesday evening in the presence of an attendance which filled all the available seating accommodation in the building. Two provincial championship events —l5O yards men's breaststroke and six-a-side relay race—were swum off during the progress of the carnival. B. Kerr, I of the Dunedin Club, scored a popular I win in the former event, lowering the

provincial record of 2min lusec by 11 3-ssee. The relay championship went to the St. Clair Club’s team after one of the most exciting and closely-contested races seen in the baths for many a day. R. Geddes’s attempts to lower his New Zealand record time for the junior boys’ 100 yards and his record for the junior boys’ 75 yards breaststroke were unsuccessful, but. considering that the water was particularly slow, the young champion put up a remarkably good performance in equalling his record time established at the Otago clfhmpionship meeting (65 4-ssec) over the 100 yards, and registering only 2-ssec slower than his previous record in the breaststroke event (59 4-ssec). Aliss Al. Aiathieson also made an attempt .on her New Zealand intermediate girls’ 75 yards breaststroke record (65sec), but failed by 2 2-ssee.

A highly humorous interlude was provided by that inimitable pair, H. E. Walker and R. Calder, who caused shouts of laughter by their amusing antics in a clever aquatic burlesque. Later, in conjunction with A. Rix. they gave one of their popular exhibitions of diving, receiving at its conclusion three resounding cheers. The following are the results : —

50 YARDS MEN'S HANDICAP. - First heat: C, Durand (7sec) 1, R. C. Calder (2see) 2. Four starters. 'Von by a touch. Time, 33 4-ssee. Second heat: Al. Taylor (4sec) 1, W. Tuck (4sec) 2. Five starters. Won by a yard. Time, 33 2-ssec. Third heat: H. E. Walker (6sec) 1. S. Al’Kenzie (Dec) 2. Three starters. Won by a foot. Time. 32 2-ssec. Fourth heat: C. Turgis (21see) 1. W. Hamilton (3see) 2. Four starters. AA'on bv half a yard. Time, 29sec. Final. Turgis I Walker 2 Durand 3

Won by a touch. Time, 28 2-ssec. 33?. YARDS JUNIOR All NED HANDICAP. First heat: Miss N. Olds (ssec) 1. A. Williams (7see) 2. Four starters. Won by a touch. Time, 23 2-ssec. Final. S. Jarvis (Ijsec) 1 Aliss N. Olds 2 A. Williams .. 3 Won by half a yard. Time, 22sec. Jarvis swam in the second heat, but as several of the competitors in this heat got away before their time they were all allowed to compete in the final. 150 YARDS OTAGO MEN’S BACKSTROKE CHAMPIONSHIP. (Holder —W. Boyd, 2min lusec.) B. Kerr (Dunedin) 1 S. Fogg (Kiwi) 2 C. J. M’Lean (St. Clair) .... 3 ’ Also started: AL Taylor (Kiwi) and J. Faulkes (St. Clair). Won by 3 yards with 5 yards between second and third. Time, 2niin 3 2-sscc —an Otago record. OTAGO SIX-A-SIDE RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP. (Olds Challenge Shield. Each competitor to swim a length.) St. Clair (S. Al'Kenzie. C. B. Lewis, C. J. Al'Lean, R. Wilson, C. Turgis, V. Fletcher) 1 Kiwi 2 Dunedin 3 These were the only starters. Won by a touch, with two yards between .second and third. 100 YARDS BREAST-STROKE HANDICAP. First heat: J. Swan (12sec) 1, J. L. Al'lndoe (9sec) 2. Six starters. Won by half a yard. Time, Imin 29sec. . Second heat: C. Lewis (scr) 1, J. Faulks (12sec) and C. Durand (6sec) dead heat, 2. Five starters. Won by a yard. Time, 77 3-ssec. Final: Lewis 1 Al'lndoe 2 Swan 3 Won by half a yard, with a touch between second and third. Time, 76 2-ssec. 50 YARDS HANDICAP. (Boys under 17 years.) First heat: J. Afarston (9 sec) 1, S. Jarvis (7sec) 2. "Won by a touch. Time, 36sec. Second heat: E. Hiscoke (lOsec) 1, A. C. Fraser (4see) 2. Won by a touch. Time, 37 3-ssec. Final: ATarston 1 Hiscoke 2 Fraser 3 Won by a yard, with two yards between second and third. Time, 35 l-ssec. 133 1-3 YARDS JUNIOR AND INTERMEDIATE RELAY HANDICAP. Dunedin No. 1 (Miss AL Alatheson, W. Jarvis, J. Byrnes and S. Jarvis), 14sec 1 Kiwi No. 1 (scr) 2 • Kiwi No. 2 (15sec) 3 Won by a yard. Time, Imin 23scc. : 100 YARDS AIEDLEY HANDICAP. B. Kerr (Ssec) 1 J. Faulks (7sec) 2 H. Clark (2sec) 3 These were the only starters. Won ’ by two yards. Time, Imin 23 l-ssec. ' DIYING HANDICAP. j R. C. Calder (scr) 1 H. E. "Walker (3 points in) .. 2 » R. Al'Lay (4 points in) .... 3 ; 220 YARDS HANDICAP. S. Al'Kenzie (6sec) 1 r H. D. Gillies (ssec) 2 e C. Turgis (ssec) .. 3

There were six starters. Won by a touch, with a yard between second and third. Time, 2min 51 2-ssec. 66 2-3 YARDS LADIES’ HANDICAP. First heat: Aliss Al. Aiathieson (2sec) I, Aliss C. Lang (6sec) 2. Won by a yard. Time, 49sec. Second heat: Miss V. Jenkins (Ssec) and Aliss M. Jepson (scr) dead heat, 1. Time, 50sec. Final: Aliss Jepson I Aliss Aiathieson .. .. .. .. 2 Aliss Lang .. 3 Won by a touch, with a yard between second and third. Time, 47sec. LIFE-SAYING lIANDICAP. J. L. Al'lndoe and H. C. Clark (scr) 1 J. Faulks and H. R. Isaacs (ssec) 2 Three pairs competed. AUSTRALIAN COAIPETITORS. AUCKLAND COUNCIL. AUCKLAND, January 16. At the carnival to-night the Australian swimmers, Griffiths and Ryan, were successful in defeating Bridson, the New Zealand champion and record holder. In the 220 yards scratch race Griffiths won by three yards in 2min 24 2-ssee, breaking Bridson’s Dominion record by 1 4-ssee. Griffiths set a fast pace, and thus made the way for Ryan to defeat Bridson, who tired badly, by a touch. Ryan, off three seconds, won the 100 yards handicap, Griffiths (scratch) being second. Bridson also started off scratch in this event, Griffiths beating him by three yards. There was a record-breaking attendance. and the swimmers, received an ovation. In the ladies’ breaststroke Auckland championship over 220 yards, Aliss G. Pidgeon defeated Aliss J. Thomson by 16 yards, in 3 minutes 37 seconds, which is 1 2-.>see outside her own New Zealand record. Aliss Pidgeon who was making a reappearance after a year’s retirement, lias been included in the Auckland representative team for the national championship at Greymouth.

CARNIVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH. SOME FAST PERFORMANCES. CHRISTCHURCH. January 15. At tlie swimming carnival in the tepid baths to-night the 100 Yards Junior Girls’ Championship was won by R. Low in Imin 23sec—a Canterbury record The Women’s 100 Yards Championship was retained by Miss J. Craig, who recorded Imin 21 4-sscc. The 220 Yards Breaststroke Championship was won by W. Hunter in 3min 20 l-ssec, and the 150 Yards Backstroke by L. J. Moorhouse in Imin 49 l-ssec, which time betters the New Zealand record by 4 4-ssec. A. T. Stokes made an attempt on the 880 yards record, and covered the distance in 6 3-ssec better time, but as he was paced by two men, who joined in after he had covered several lengths, the record cannot be officially recognised.

THE WELLINGTON COAIPETITORS. WELLINGTON. January 13. Wellington will be represented by the following competitors at the New Zealand swimming championships which commence at Greymouth on January 24: — 100, 220, and 440 Yards, Senior Men’s: C. Claridge. J. Blakeley, I. M’Hardy (100 Yards only). 150 Yards Back-stroke (Alen) : J. Blakeley. Polo team: C. Claridge, J. Blakeley. F. Alollier, F. Ryan. I. Al'Hardy, B. Al'lvor, H. Withers. P. Edwards. Flying Squadron: C. Claridge, J. Blakeley, I. M’Hardy, P. Edwards, B. Al'lvor. 100, 220. 440 Yards. Ladies, and 150 Yards Back-stroke: Aliss K. Aliller. 100. 220 440 Yards Intermediate Boys: B. Gellate. THE BLENHEIM CARNIVAL. BLENHEIM. January 19. On their way to the Dominion championships at Greymouth, a party of Wellington swimmers took part in the Blenheim Swimming Club’s carnival last evening. Blakeley (scr) won the 220 Yards, with Kathleen Millar (llsec) second. Aliss Al. House (lOsec) won the 50 Yards. Gallate was second in the 100 Yards. The Lyall Bay team (Miss Millar. Gallate, Blakeley, and Ryan) won the 100 Yards Relay. NEW SOUTH WALES CHAMPIONSHIPS. SYDNEY; January 19. The swimming championships were held at the Drummoyne Baths yesterday. Aloss Christie won the 880 Yards Championship of Now South Wales in Imin 7sec, which is the fastest time of his career. The holder of the title is N. Rvan. whose time is I Imin 2sec.

The 220 Yards Championship was won by C. Light, whose time was 2min 27 2-ssec. The New Zealander (Cameron) did only an exhibition swim, attempting to lower Robertson’s record for 55 yards, which is 26 3-ssec. Cameron’s time, however, was 27 1-lOsec. VICTORIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. AIELBOURNE. January 19. The Victorian swimming championships were decided yesterday. The 440 Yards Race was won by F. Walker in smin 41 sec. A, Higginson won the 100 Yards Breaststroke in Imin 17 l-6sec.