SWIMMING

Southland Times, Issue 21650, 11 March 1932, Page 8

SWIMMING

EX-PUPILS’ CLUB HIGH STANDARD AT CARNIVAL SOME FAST TIMES Large entries and a good attendance of the public continued to make the Ex-Pupils’ Club’s swimming carnival, which was held in the Municipal Baths last evening, one of the most successful of the present season. The entries were the largest received at any carnival for some time, while the accommodation at the baths was comfortably filled. A feature of the carnival was the speed with which the various events were despatched, a fact which reflects great credit on the officials concerned. Starting punctually at 7.30, the carnival was finished a few minutes after 10 o’clock. In' the various events a high standard of swimming and close finishes were the rule. The excellence of the swimming drew forth a considerable amount of admiring comment from those present, while the finishes, which were a tribute to the work of the centre’s handicapper (Mr E. Foster), were responsible for bringing the audience to its feet time and again. Several new championship events were allotted the carnival by the centre and they were responsible for some bright performances. The winner of the 75 Yards Junior Boys’ Breaststroke event turned out to bo C. Millar, a young swimmer of promise, whose time of 75 l-ssec was distinctly good. He had a narrow win, however, D. Campbell and T. Polson running him close. J. Courtis won the 100 Yards Intermediate Boys’ Breaststroke Championship with a little to spare in the creditable time of 94sec. As was expected, W. T. Springford won the 440 Yards Men’s Freestyle Championship. However, he received a serious challenge from J. MacGibbon, a young swimmer who attended the Timaru Boys’ High School last year. Hitherto Springford has been an easy winner in all events over 440 yards. The remaining championship event, the 440 Yards Intermediate, was an exciting race, in which P. 11. McGrath defeated F. W. Springford by a narrow margin. The time was smin 55 4-ssec. At the Intermediate National Championships at Wellington recently Bullivant and Crump, who were placed first equal in the event, covered the distance in the time of smin 51 3-ssec. This is the first time McGrath has competed over 440 yards and, on his time, it looks as if he will be a better stayer than a sprinter. The large entries received for the handi cap events necessitated holding more heats than usual. In fact, in one event, the 50 Yards Mixed Handicap, it was necessary to hold two elimination heats at the conclusion of four heats. The first three placed competitors in the 33 1-3 Yards Novice Handicap, J. Oliver, A. Aitken and Miss L. Mehaffey, all showed an improvement in their times as recorded in recent trial races. Oliver showed an improvement of 3sec, At ken an improvement of 2 2-ssec, while Miss Mehaffey’s improvement was 1 4-ssec.

A popular win was that of Miss I. Macdonald in the 50 Yards Ladies’ Handicap. ; Miss Macdonald trains steadily and is a ■ consistent entrant. Her time, 37 4-ssec, is also worthy of mention. After some excit- . ing finishes in the heats A. Marshall won i the 50 Yards Mixed Handicap by a comi fortable margin. In the first heat J. Conling looked like winning, but he spoiled 1 his chances by touching the side rope in- | stead of the finishing rope. At the time he ; was easily two seconds in the lead. I An event full of amusement for the ; spectators was the 50 Yards Blindfold Race, ' which was won by J. Murdoch. Some very ' erratic courses were swum and, in fact, Murdoch nearly lost the race by stopping a few : inches from the rope. The remaining handicap event was the 100 Yards, which was won by J. Mac Gibbon, who throughout the ! evening showed himself capable of putting ! up an excellent performance no matter what I the distance.

i Two diving events appeared on the pro- • gramme, the entries for which were most encouraging. Some fine diving was wit- : nessed, a fact which met with appreciation ! from the public. The winner of the handii cap dive, A. W. Wesney, used two new I dives. That versatile performer J. Murdoch 1 was second, while P. Grace was third. After 1 a long absence Miss F. Basstian also comI peted and her performance, considering her ! lack of training, was remarkably good. The I diving of E. Carstinsen, who won the junior dive, was good and there was little difference between him and J. Bath, who was placed second. Only one event for a Herbert Smith Trust Cup was held and two remain to be : decided before the trophy can be won. The ' present holder of the cup is W. Robertson, a High School boy. The winner of last i night’s event was P. Shave, who attended i the Middle School last year. i One of the best events of the evening ! was the Dual Relay Handicap, which pro--1 vidcd a splendid finish. The race was won by Miss E. Marshall and her brother, A. Marshall,, by a narrow margin in the time i of 46 l-ssec. , I A water polo match for the Centres Shield was played between Ex-Pupils and the Oreti Surf Club. After an exciting game Ex-Pupils emerged victorious by nine goals to two. Mr E. R. Fitzsimmons refereed the game. Detailed results of the various events are as follows: —

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. 75 YARDS JUNIOR BOYS’ BREASTSTROKE CHAMPIONSHIP. Four entries. C. Millar 1; D. Campbell 2; T. Polson 3. The competitors swam evenly, but the winner drew away near the finish. Won by a foot, a similar distance separating second and third. Time, Imin 15 l-ssec. 100 YARDS INTERMEDIATE BOYS’ BREASTSTROKE CHAMPIONSHIP. Five entries.—J. Courtis (Ex-Pupils’) 1; RBrown (Ex-Pupils’) 2; A. Wesney (ExPupils’) 3. The competitors were evenly matched throughout, but in the last lap Courtis drew away to win by a length, a similar distance separating second and third. Time, lmin 34sec. 440 YARDS MEN’S FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIP. Three entries.—W. T. Springford (Ex-Pupils’) 1; J. Mac Gibbon Xpupils’) 2; W. A. Springford (ExPupils’) 3- The race was evenly contested and Springford won by a narrow margin while barely a yard separated second and third. Time, 6min 20 l-ssec. 440 YARDS INTERMEDIATE BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP. Two entries.—P. H. McGrath (Ex-Pupils’) 1; F. W. Springford (Ex-Pupils’) 2. McGrath drew away gradually at the end of a hard-fought race to win by a length. Time, smin 55 4-ssec.

HANDICAP EVENTS. 33 1-3 YARDS NOVICE HANDICAP. Twenty-one entries. —First heat: Miss L. Mehaffey (scr) 1, T. Bath (Bsec) 2, W. Spence (4sec). 3. Won by a touch, third half a length away. Time, 24 2-5 sec. Second heat: J. Oliver (Bsec) 1, Miss F. Stead (ssec) 2, A. Bridgeman (4scc) 3. A touch separated the first three competitors. Time, 23 3-ssec. Third heat: D. Duncan (Bsec) 1, A. Aitken (9 sec) 2, J. Couling (6sec) 3. Again a touch separated the first three competitors. Time, 24 l-ssec. Final: J. Oliver 1, A. Aitken arid Miss L. ,Mehaffey (equal) 2. The competitors swam evenly till near the end when the winner drew away to win by a foot. Inches appeared to separate the second and third competitors but they were placed equal. Time, 23 3-ssec. 50 YARDS LADIES’ HANDICAP. Fourteen entries. —First heat: Miss I. Macdonald (4sec) 1, Miss N. Wilson (12sec) 2, Miss S. Murdoch (Isec) 3. Won by a foot, two feet separating second and third. Time, 36 3-ssec. Second heat: Miss M. McGrath (lsec) 1, Miss: F. Fortune (9sec) 2, Miss E. Stead (3sec). 3. Won by a

touch, third half a length back. Time, 35 3-ssec. Final: Miss I. Macdonald 1, Miss F. Fortune 2, Miss F. Stead 3. The competitors were neck and neck for the greater part of the distance, before the winner drew out to score a comfortable victory. "Half a length separated the second and third placed competitors. Time, 37 4-ssec.

50 YARDS MIXED HANDICAP. Twentyfour entries. —First heat: A. Marshall (7 sec) 1, P. McGrath (scr) 2, V. Grenfell (7sec) and C. Kidd (6sec) 3 equal. Won by a touch, third a similar distance away. Time 32 4-ssec. Second heat: J..Roscow 7sec) 1, J. Courtis (6sec) 2, F. Springford (Isec) 3. Won by a foot, third half a length away. Time 33 4-ssec. Third heat: J. Mac Gibbon (ssec) 1, M. Moffett (9sec) 2, W. A. Springford (Isec) 3. Won by a foot, third a similar distance away. Time 32 3-ssec. Fourth heat: W. Pickford (7fee) 1, N. Grace (7sec) 2, R. Blue (6sec) 3. Won by a foot; third a touch away. Time, 32 3-ssec. First semi-final: A. Marshall 1, P. McGrath 2, V. Grenfell 3. Won by half a length, a similar distance separating second and third. Time 32 l-ssec. Second semifinal: W. Pickford 1 N. Grace 2, J. MacGibbon 3. Won by a foot, half a length between second and third. Time 32 l-ssec. Pinal: A. Marshall 1, W. Pickford 2, J. Mac Gibbon 3. The competitors swam neck and neck and it was only near the finish that Marshall gained a lead. He hung on to win comfortably, a foot separating second and third. Time, 32 l-ssec.

50 YARDS BLINDFOLD RACE. Sixteen entries. —First heat: A. Bridgeman 1, J. Murdoch and W. Jackson 2 equal. Won narrowly. Second heat: R. J. Blue 1, J. Mac Gibbon 2, A. Marshall 3. Another close finish. Final: J. Murdoch 1, A. Marshall 2, W. Jackson 3. Won narrowly, a small distance separating second and third.

100 YARDS HANDICAP. Eleven entries. —First heat: J. Courtis (llsec) 1, W. T. Springford (6sec) 2, R. J. Blue (Msec) 3. A. touch separated the first three. Time, lmin 16sec. Second heat: J. Mac Gibbon (8 sec) 1, A. R. Marshall (llsec) 2, J. Roscow (13sec) 3. Won by a foot, third inches away. Time lmin 9 3-ssec. Final: J. MacGibbon 1, A. Marshall 2, A. Courtis 3. MacGibbon began to flraw away early but a stout tussle ensued for second place, barely a touch! separating the competitors. Time, lmin 9 l-ssec. DIVING EVENTS. HANDICAP DIVE. Seven entries. A. W. Wesney (18pts) 153.2pts 1, J. Murdoch (14 pts) 142pts 2, P. Grace (28pts) 134,8pts 3. JUNIOR DIVE, under 14. Ten entries. E. Carstensen (89pts) 1, J. Bath (88pts) 2. OTHER EVENTS. 100 YARDS HERBERT SMITH TRUST CUP, under 15. Present holder of cup, W. Robertson (5.8.H.5.) Time, 72 4-ssec. Two entries. —P. Shave 1, P. Grace (Marist) 2. The competitors swam neck and neck and at the finish Shave drew away to win by half a length. Time lmin 16 l-ssec. DUAL RELAY HANDICAP. Seven entries. —Miss E. Marshall and A. Marshall (lOsec) 1, Miss M. McGrath and P. H. McGrath (2sec) 2, Miss S. Murdoch and F. Springford (3sec) 3. An exciting race took place in which only a narrow margin separated the first three competitors. Time, 46 l-ssec. _____________