SWIMMING

Otago Witness, Issue 3961, 11 February 1930, Page 50

SWIMMING

By

Neptune.

COMING EVENTS. February- 15. —Swimming events at Ravensbourne regatta. February 18 (tentative). —At St. Clair Life-saving Club’s carnival. March 6. —Kiwi Swimming Club’s burlesque and swimming carnival.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. Congratulations to the Otago team, which, besides bringing back the War Memorial Shield from the National Swimming Championships, scored surprisingly well in points for the Yaldhurst Shield, which went to Auckland. For this honour, the northern province has principally to thank that speedy young swimmer Gordon Bridson. who scored most of its shield points. When the Otago team left it was considered that our weakness lay in the senior division. Of our intermediates and juniors we were fairly certain, but with such stars against them as Miss K. Miller, Bridson, Moorhouse, it was not expected that our senioi swimmers would show up to any great advantage; thus it cam. as a great surprise to see Otago runners-up in a great many of the senior events. Easily the most consistent points-getter for the province was Miss M. Jepson, who, by her form in Greymouth, established the right to be placed amongst the foremost lady swimmers of the Dominion. Her success was well deserved, for, prior to leaving for Greymouth she trained steadily, with the result that, second place in the 100, 220, and 440 Yards Championships came her way. Moreover, although somewhat of a “ dark horse ” in the Ladies’ Backstroke event, she was runner-up in this race also.

N. H. Bailey also upheld his reputation by taking third place in the halfmile and mile, and also in the Kellerman Cup event, although in the last-named race it is only fair to him to point out that his handicap appeared to be out of all reason. Bailey swam a great race on' Lake Brunner, for despite the fact that he received only 2j minutes from Claridge, who registered fastest time, was asked to concede one minute to the winner (Enwright), he swam into third place, only 100 yards separating him and Claridge at the finish.

Of Geddes it need only be said that he is without question the speediest junior Otago has ever seen, but it is a question whether his performances may not be challenged by W. Jarvis next season. Jarvis is a year younger than the champion. and, moreover, it has to be remembered that some of his times this year have been better than those registered by Geddes last year. Otago is going to be fortunate next season, in that Jarvis and his younger brother. Sid, will still be juniors, whilst Geddes and Miss M. Matheson will be available to represent the province in the intermediate section. Nancy Olds will also be amongst the juniors. Thus, there appears a good chance of the War Memorial Shield coming this way again next year. By taking the Senior Diving Championship again, Roy Calder has established the remarkable record of having won the title five times in succession. Kecsing, the runnerup in the dive, is an ex-Otago man, and won the title for Canterbury in 1925. Miss D. Foote, who won the Ladies’ Diving Championship for Canterbury, also learned her diving in Dunedin, and has held the championship of Otago. In this event, however, it was disappointing that she had to dive unopposed.

INVITATION TO BRIDSON. As yet the Australian Swimming Union has not extended an invitation to G. Bridson to visit Sydney this summer (states the New Zealand Herald). The statement made by Griffiths when in Auckland that Bridson would leave for Sydneyon January 31 has not been confirmed. In fact, Griffiths himself made the suggestion to the New South Wales Swimming Association that the Aucklander should leave on that date, in order to appear at a special carnival to be held in Sydney early- next month. The matter is to be discussed at a meeting of the New South Wales Association, and it is felt in Sydney swimming circles that the suggestion will be adopted, as it is considered that such a carnival would pay handsomely, thus making up for the absence of Ryan and Griffiths from the State championships. AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONS. Further successes in the New South Wales and Australian championships have been recorded by Misses Edna Davey- and Jean Cocks, who will visit the Dominion next month. Following her win in the 440 Yards Championship, Miss Davey retained her half-mile State title in 12min 49 3-ssec, which is 19sec outside her own Australian record. The slowness of this time can probably be attributed to the fact that she had the easiest of victories, defeating Miss L. Joubert by 75 yards. However, her time of 7min 7sec for 500 yards eclipsed Miss F. Durack’s Australian record by 1 l-ssec. In the 100 Yards State Intermediate Championship Miss Cocks retained her title in 65 9-10 sec, this time being 1 3-10 sec outside her Australian record. On Saturday she won the 220 Yards Australian Championship in 2min 51 3-ssec, which is Gsec slower than her record.

AUCKLAND, February 5. * At a combined carnival held in the Tepid Baths to-night by the Grammar and Ponsonby Swimming Clubs. G. Bridson, the New Zealand champion, Avon the Quarter-mile Auckland Championship, in smin 20 3-ssec, which is 4 l-ssec slower than his own Dominion record. Bridson swam unopposed.