SWIMMING

Southland Times, Issue 22510, 19 February 1935, Page 8

SWIMMING

NEW ZEALAND TITLES

TWO RECORDS BROKEN

MISS BASSTIAN AGAIN

SECOND

(Per United Press Association.)

Auckland, February 18. The breaking of two New Zealand records and the success of the Otago representatives in dominating the men’s contests were features of the second session of the New Zealand Swimming 'championships at the Tepid Baths this evening. The competitors setting fresh records were P. E. Mathieson (Otago) and Miss Mona Leydon (Auckland). Mathieson won the 150 yards men’s backstroke title decisively from the previous holder, W. Whareaitu (South Auckland) in lmin. 45 4-ssecs, a reduction of one-fifth of a second from his own record which was established in Dunedin three weeks ago. Miss Leydon’s achievement was in the 440 -yards ladies’ freestyle event. This she won by 15 yards, after making an amazing finishing dash, in smin 52 2-ssec, thus lowering her own time registered last year by 2 l-ssec. There was an element of surprise about the other Otago victories. W. J. Jarvis outclassed his opponents in the 220 yards freestyle in 2min. 23 4-ssec. In spite of his 100 yards success on Saturday evening, it was not expected that he would gain the furlong. The Aucklanders N. Crump and R. Frankham failed badly, their downfall being completed by the Canterbury champion, D. H. Symes, who finishing well, pushed Crump into third place. Frankham was a poor fourth. The furlong was the second championship wrested from Crump. Again the 17-year-old Aucklander, W. Johnson, figured in an exciting finish, the race being this time the halfmile, and his chief rival J. D. O’Driscoll (Otago). They stayed practically together during the latter stages of the contest and fought out a stirring finish, O’Driscoll gaining the victory by two yards in llmin. 23 2-ssec. J. Neville (Taranaki) was third and R. Watkins (Hawkes Bay), winner of the mile on Saturday, was a close fourth. Miss Leydon was successful in winning both titles, the 440 yards and the 100 yards ladies’ backstroke for which she defeated Miss Nancy Basstian (Southland). However, had the rules been strictly observed, Miss Leydon should have been disqualified, for in trying to effect a quick turn she reversed her body position too soon, and swam two strokes at freestyle. Miss Leydon’s time, lmin. 20sec, equalled the standard.

Interest in the meeting was well maintained and there was again a capacity attendence. Auckland retains the lead in the Yaldhurst Shield, the points having been scored as follows:—

Auckland 3' Otago 2: Southland i Hawkes Bay . Wanganui I South Auckland Canterbury Taranaki The following are the results:—

220 YARDS MEN’S FREESTYLE: W. J. Jarvis (Otago) 1; D. H. Symes (Canterbury) 2; N. Crump (Auckland) 3. Also started: R. Frankham (Auckland), P. H. McGrath (Southland). At the end of the first lap Frankham and Jarvis showed the way, but at the second turn Crump was with them, then Frankham moved to the front and at the 100 yards, which he had covered in 58 4-ssec, led Jarvis and Crump, Symes being handy. The completion of another lap found Frankham leading by 1J yards, Crump and Jarvis still being together with Symes gradually drawing nearer. Thomas retired at this stage. Jarvis now began to close on Frankham. The crowd was on its feet cheering when Frankham, whose movements were becoming heavy, reached the 166 2-3 yards mark only a foot sooner than Jarvis who was hard pressed by Crump. The sixth lap brought a change. Without quickening his stroke, Jarvis left Crump and then Frankham and held an advantage of two yards at the final turn from Syme., who had headed the Aucklanders, both of whom were labouring. The last 20 yards Jarvis covered with a powerful sprint that sealed his victory by three yards. Symes outpaced Crump by five yards. Time. 2min 23 4-ssec.

440 YARDS LADIES’ FREESTYLE: Miss Mona Leydon (Auckland) 1; Miss Nancy Ludlow (Auckland) 2; Miss Ngaire Hughes (Canterbury) 3. Also started: Miss V. Camcross (Taranaki). Miss Leydon wasted no time in placing herself in the lead and the completion of the first 100 yards found her superior by two yards from Miss Ludlow who was only a yard ahead of Miss Hughes. The time of 75sec testified to the sound pace. No pronounced difference was yet evident between the competitors and at 200 yards Miss Leydon was leading Miss Ludlow by three yards, Miss Hughes being a further two behind. Miss Leydon was trying to put herself well clear of Miss Ludlow, but her rival refused to lose further ground. It was not, however, until the last turn at the 400yds that Miss Leydon emphasized her qualities as a stayer and an advantage of three yards she transformed into the victorious margin of 15 yards. Miss Ludlow beat Miss Hughes by 15 yards also. Time, smin 52 2-ssec, a New Zealand record.

150 YARDS MEN’S BACKSTROKE: Mathieson (Otago) 1; 'W. Whareaitu (South Auckland) 2; G. Low (Canterbury) 3. Also started: L. J. Moorhouse (Canterbury), A. Raper (Auckland). Here again Otago supplied a new champion. Low was the leader at the first turn by 14 yards from Mathieson, Whareaitu and Moorhouse following closely. Low’s chances, which had looked bright began to fade in the second lap as Mathieson and Whareaitu gradually decreased his advantage, the former being within a foot of him at the turn. Mathieson now drove himself to the front and had 11- yards in hand at the 100 yards mark from Low and Whareaitu who were on equal terms. Realizing that his title was slipping out of his possession, Whareaitu exerted pressure and for a while Mathieson’s effort seemed on the point of failure. Only a foot separated them at the last turn, but the Otago champion had conserved more energy and he sped away to take the title by two yards. Whareaitu defeated Low by five yards, Moorhouse being another yard further back. Time, lmin. 45 4-ssec., a New Zealand record. 100 YARDS LADIES’ BACKSTROKE: Miss Mona Leydon (Auckland 1; Miss Nancy Basstian (Southland) 2. After 40 yards Miss Basstian gave the impression that she would be the victor for she was leading her opponent by 1| yards. However, the Aucklander was well able to reduce the advantage and when they approached the turn she was but 2 feet behind. Here Miss Leydon made an error that would have justified disqualification, for in turning she rolled and took two free style strokes. This action enabled her to pass and turn quicker than her opponent and over the remainder of the distance a much

stronger finishing effort assured her of victory by 3 yards. Time, lmin. 20sec.

880 YARDS MEN’S FREE STYLE. First heat: R. Watkins (Hawkes Bay) 1; J. D. O’Driscoll (Otago) 2; R. Symon (South Auckland) 3. Won by four feet, two feet between second and third. Time, llmin. 37 3-ssec. Second heat: W. Johnson (Auckland) 1; J. J. Neville (Taranaki) 2; R. Thomas (Auckland) 3. Won by 10 yards, three yards between second and third. Time, llmin. 32 3-ssec. Final: O’Driscoll 1; Johnson 2; Neville 3. Also started: Watkins. The four contestants swam in line for the first 200 yards and it was not until the seventh lap that Neville decided to set a faster pace and at the half distance he was no more than a yard in front of Johnson, who led O’Driscoll by two feet. O’Driscoll and Johnson passed Neville in the nineteenth lap. Gradually smartening the pace . the two leaders moved steadily away from Neville and the issue narrowed down to them alone. O’Driscoll entered the twentysixth lap one and a-half yards ahead of Johnson and it was now that the Aucklander endeavoured to save his laurels. He sprinted hard and while the crowd barracked him, he gradually wore down O’Driscoll’s advantage and turned just behind. To the many Otago representatives defeat seemed inevitable, but he was by no means finished and profiting from the momentum of his turn, he shot away from Johnson in a fine sprint and reached his objective the winner by two yards. Time, llmin. 23 2-ssec. DELEGATES CONFER MANY REMITS. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, February 18. Overseas tours, educational work in swimming and control of diving were among the subjects discussed to-day by the annual conference of delegates from centres affiliated to the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. The remits adopted will be submitted to the New Zealand Council as recommendations.'

The chairman of the Auckland Centre, Mr R. W. Sheffield, was elected chairman of the conference.

Speaking for a remit from the Auckland Centre that the overseas representation fund should be reinstated* Mr Sheffield referred to the difficulty experienced in raising money by subscription to send champions to international meetings.

Mr C. Atkinson said that Hawkes Bay would support Auckland if its remit were recast to make provision for tours by overseas champions. This change was agreed to by the Auckland delegates and the remit was adopted. The need of the New Zealand Swimming Association, the Royal Life Saving Society and the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Association, for financial assistance was emphasized by Mr L. Kenny (Auckland) in introducing a remit that these bodies should apply for art union profits to be divided among them equally and redistributed equally by each parent body to the affiliated centres and associations. It was decided to send a deputation to the Minister of Internal Affairs. It was decided to recommend the inclusion of New Zealand diving championships for junior boys and girls, and intermediate girls. The conference unanimously passed a Wellington remit that the Government should be asked to make swimming compulsory in the schools where facilities were available, and that the teaching of swimming be placed on the syllabus as a compulsory subject in the teacher’s course of training. Mr B. C. Sporle (Manawatu) advocated a swimming week throughout the Dominion. It was also decided that the Government be asked to make provision for swimming baths when building new schools.

It was agreed that the New Zealand diving championships be decided only in a bath or pool and where the standard equipment was in use.

The New Zealand Council asked for an opinion whether it should continue to recognize the record for a long plunge. Recognition was considered useless.

The Otago Centre is to be recommended for the New Zealand senior championship meeting of 1936 and the South Auckland Centre for the intermediate and junior championships. The conference expressed approval of the movement to hold championships for Maoris. It was decided to recommend an examination for diving judges for the purpose of obtaining a uniform standard among them.