SWIMMING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18633, 18 February 1935, Page 4

SWIMMING

NEW ZEALAND TITLES OPENING SESSION INSPIRING i;.\ I’ll CM ASM. (Per Press Association.) AITOK L A X I), lasini gh t. Inspiring enthusiasm was numb fected during the contests for titles til the opening session of the Xow Zealand swimming championship meeting at the tepid baths on Saturday evening. Even tlie mile, generally a monolonon.- rave, gripped the interest during l he. whole of its progress, and ended in a ill ri ding struggle. Tile men’s .'.’2o yards breaststroke event migli! nut have field the crowd in suspense, the outcome having been obvious from slightly mure than half the distance, hut it offered compensation by lining the only contest in which a New Zealand record was established. The winner, J,, Smith (Wanganui), lowered his own standard from Smin. Usee, to .'Sniin, 1 2-ssec. W. .1, Jarvis (Otago), scored brilliantly in the 100yds. men’s free style. .Miss Mona Leyden (Auckland), won the 220yds. ladies’ free style in similar fashion, stud Watkins, of Hawke’s Bay, the mile. Watkins’ time was much outside the record, but by registering on 2-fisec. and L’niiri. 4(1 2-fisec. respectively, Jarvis and Miss Leyden each tailed to equal records bv Iwoti 1 Ills of a second. The swimmers I min whom the lilies were wrestl'd were X. Crump (Auckland). in the sprint. and .Miss Nancy Ludlow (Auckland), in the ladies’ furlong. The mile was not defended by 1). J’. Lindsay, of Manawalu.

The great interest in Hie meeting was illustrated by the f'net that; all the unreserved accommodation was taxed to its capacity three-quarters ot an jmiir he to re the start of the carnival. I'urthennore, it was csliinaleil that a greater number of people than the 18(10 within the building were enable to gain admit l ance. At present Auckland, the holders, lead fur the Valdhurs! Shield. 'Points have been scored as follows: Auckland, J 1!: Otago, ti; Hawke’s Huy, and Wanganui, b each; Southland. M: Canterbury, 1.

The heats of the mile were swum on Friday evening and those of the 100yds. men’s and 220yds. ladies' on Rat unlay morning. Results wore ns follows:Kit) VA I’l)R MEN’R I’l? Id Id RTVLK. Final:—Jarvis, I; thump, 2; Rymes. o. Also started: Frankham. AVharcaitu, McGrath. Won by Hyils. Except for McGrath, the .others tinished within a lifth of a second of Crump. Time, bo 2-bsec. 220VDR. LADIES’ FREE STYLE Final. —.Miss Leydon, 1; Miss Basslian 2; Miss Grange. 3. Also started: Misses Ludlow, Hughes, and Rainey. Miss Basslian shot away from the rest of the field, and led Miss Ludlow by two yards at. the 100yds. Miss Leydon came into. the picture in the- sixth lap. Amid frantic excitement, Misses Basstian and Leydon turned together • for the final 20yds. sprint. The former gained en the turn, but Miss Leydon responded with nil her might, and caught Miss Basstian Byds. from the finishing line, and won by 2ft. ?Jiss Grange, who had moved up well, was 3yds. short of Miss Basstian. Time, 2.46 2-5.

220YDS. MEN’S BREASTSTROKE L. Smith (Wanganui), 1; K. Spry (Wellington), 2; J. Magee (Auckland), 3. Also started: B. Haworth (Wanganui), 11. Mclntosh (Auckland). Time, 3min 1 2-ssec. —a Dominion record. For tile seventh successive year Smith won this championship. He finished 6yds ahead of Spry. ONE MI BE FREE- STYLE

First heat.—J. Neville (Taranaki), 1: J. Watkins (Hawke's Bay), 2; N. Crump (Auckland), 3. Time. 23min. 56 l-ssec. Second heat.—W. Johnson (Auckland)

i ; J. 1). O'Driscoll (Otago), 2; G. It. Buchanan (Auckland), 3. Time, 23min. 56 l-ssce. Final. —Watkins, 1; Johnson, 2: O’Driscoll, 3.. Also started: Buchanan and Neville. The competitors settled down to their long swim at a sound pace, the first 100yds. being covered in 70sec, Over the later stages, Johnson and Watkins drew ahead and swam on even terms throughout and made the last, turn together, and both men threw their remaining strength into a desperate bid for the laurels. Watkins made the stronger spurt and won by 2yds. O’Driscoll was 20yds. back. Time, 23miu. 38 3-ssec.