RECORD BROKEN BY L. NEWELL

Southland Times, Issue 23406, 13 January 1938, Page 11

RECORD BROKEN BY L. NEWELL

NATIONAL SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS MISS C. LYNCH SECOND IN BREASTSTROKE EVENT (United Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, January 12. Exceptionally good racing marked the final night of the national swimming championships at New Plymouth tonight. L. Newell, Canterbury, broke the record in the men’s 440 yards and L. Smith beat J. Davies in the 100 yards breaststroke race by a touch in one of the closest finishes seen at the meeting. Auckland won the Yaldhurst Shield for inter-provincial competition. The 440 yards was expected to provide a thrilling contest and for about half the journey this appeared likely, but from then on Newell was the only one man in it. He set a hard pace from the start and though D. H. Byrnes and A..W. Pascoe were in front of him for a little over two laps he joined them at the 100 yards and a lap further on was in charge, just ahead of P. Hanan, who moved up quickly and was going so smoothly that he appeared likely to extend the champion. Newell was two yards in front of Hanan at the 220 yards, which was covered in 2min 31sec. Shortly afterwards Hanan started to tire and Newell to draw away. He had to make his own pace, but he kept on increasing his lead and won by nearly 30 yards in the record tune of smin 10 2-ssec or 3sec better than the record established by G. Bridson in 1929, This was the third record of Bridson’s that Newell broke at the fixture. Pascoe, though he had no chance with Newell, swam a well-judged race to fill second place. Symes, as in the 220 yards beat Pennington for third place. Hanan retired after 300 yards.

MISS GOTLIEB RETAINS TITLE Making her first appearance at the gathering Miss S. Gotlieb, of Wellington, retained the title in the women’s 100 yards, though she was all out at the finish to score narrowly. Beginning smartly, Miss Gotlieb soon took charge and, setting a smart pace, cut out the first lap in 20 seconds to turn just in front of Miss Grey, Miss Purdie and Miss Coulthurst. Turning for the last time Miss Gotlieb was a yard and ahalf clear of Miss Purdie and Miss Coulthurst and appeared likely to win easily, but Miss Purdie and Miss Coulthurst both staged splendid efforts and in one of the best finishes of the fixture Miss Gotlieb lasted long enough to win by a touch from Miss Purdie, with Miss Coulthurst a similar distance away third.

The 220 yards women’s breaststroke produced a great duel between Miss W. Dunn, of Otago, and Miss C. Lynch, of Southland. Miss Dunn obtained a slight advantage early, but could not get away from the tenacious Southlander. Though Miss Lynch staged a desperate finish she was still half a yard behind at the finish. Miss Dunn’s time was only a second '■■utside Miss J. Webster’s record.

Giving a wonderful display of fine, consistent diving, D. J. Ewart, of Rotorua, outclassed his opponents. He was so far away from D. Kerr, of Nelson, his closest rival, at the completion of the first night’s events-that it was clear that unless he made bad errors he must win. The errors, however, did not come. The women’s 200 yards backstroke was a walk-over for Miss Mona Leydon, who, taking things easily, covered the distance in 1 l-ssec below standard time.

N. Crump displayed too much pace for his opponents in the 50 yards invitation event. He beat Frankham by two feet, with Driscoll a foot rway and Symes right up fourth. The 53 yards women’s invitation event drew only two starters, Miss Coulthurst and Miss Purdie. Miss Coulthurst possessed too much pace for her opponent and won by ovr a yard. The 100 yards invitation breaststroke produced the finest finish of the night, with L. Smith obtaining revenge on J. Davies by the narrowest of margins. At the final turn Davies and Horsfall were on terms, just in front of Smith. In a great finish Davies and Smith drew out to fight a desperate finish. To the crowd Davies appeared to win, but Smith, an old campaigner, touched just before him under the water. Results:— 440 Yards Men.—L. Newell (Canterbury) 1, A. W. Pascoe (Auckland) 2, D. H. Symes (Canterbury) 3. Time, smin 10 2-ssec, a New Zealand record. 100 Yards Women.—Miss S. Gotlieb (Wellington) 1, Miss I. Purdie (Otago) 2, Miss V. Coulthurst (Auckland) 3. Time, 66sec. 220 Yards Women’s Breaststroke.— Miss W. Dunn (Otago) 1, Miss C. Lynch (Southland) 2, Miss J. Glasgow (Wanganui) 3. Time, 3min 24 3-ssec. 50 Yards Men’s Invitation Scratch Race.—N. Crump (Auckland) 1, R. B. Frankham (Auckland) 2, J. D. O’Driscoll (Otago) 3. Time, 25sec. 50 Yards Women’s Invitation Scratch Race.—Miss V. Coulthurst (Auckland) I, Miss k Purdie (Otago) 2. 100 Yards Men’s Breaststroke Invitation Scratch Race. —L. Smith (Wanganui) 1, J. Davies (Taranaki) 2, H. Horsfall (Canterbury) 3. Time, 76 3-ssec.

200 Metres Women’s Backstroke.— Miss M. Leydon (Auckland) 1. Time, 3min 23 4-ssec. The only starter. Men’s Diving Championship.—D. J. Ewart (Bay of Plenty) 113.28pts 1, A. Branks (Southland) 85.15pts 2, D. Kerr (Nelson) 84.03pts 3. 500 Yards Flying Squadron InterCentre Relay (teams of five). —Auckland. The only starter. ,

SOUTHLAND CENTRE MEETS WATSON CUP TO BE SWUM ON LAKE HAYES A meeting of the executive of the Southland Swimming Centre was held last evening. Mr H. M. Ashley presided over the following members: Messrs J. Alexander, A. J. Kingsland, O. Davis and L. Foster.

The Southland championship meeting was set down for Thursday, February 10. The question of the open water swim for the Watson Cup was discussed.

Mr Kingsland said that a course could be swum on Lake Hayes in three legs of one mile each leg The lake was two miles long and a mile wide, he said, and the temperature was very even. After a 'discussion, it was decided to accept Mr Kingsland’s recommendation, to hold the open water swim over a three-mile course on Lake Hayes on March 6.

The general opinion of members was that as a course would have to be selected for the Annette Kellerman Cup race to be held during the national swimming championships at Invercargill next year, it would be advisable to give the Lake Hayes course a trial.