THREE SWIMMING RECORDS BROKEN

Southland Times, Issue 23438, 19 February 1938, Page 15

THREE SWIMMING RECORDS BROKEN

Performances At Southland

Championships

(By

LIFEBELT)

CLUB HOURS Murihiku: Monday 6.15-7 pan. Ex-Pupils: Tuesday, 5.45-6.30 p.m. Collegiate: Wednesday, 5.45-6.30 pan. COMING EVENTS February 20: Surf relay handicap race at Oreti. February 24: Collegiate Club Carnival. March 6: Watson Cup at Bluff. The action of the centre in changing the venue of the Watson Cup from Lake Hayes to Bluff is to be thoroughly commended. A little feeling had crept into the discussions and that should now be done away with. Bluff should prove a very satisfactory course and it will also be very accessible. Now it is for those swimmers who were opposed to Lake Hayes to make sure that the entries for the race warrant their efforts towards the change. Indeed, there is no reason why a large field should not be found. The Southland championships contested last week were about the most successful yet held. There was very little delay at any period once the meeting was started. This early wait is a regular thing and it should be avoided. There is no good reason -why the programme should not be commenced within five minutes of the advertised time.

No fewer than three Southland records were broken and all by good margins. Once again starters in heats were still running about after their races to find out whether they had reached the final or not. Surely it would be easy to head the race on the programme with the required information. In the absence of Mr Kingsland the starter’s task was very ably undertaken by Mr J. Alexander. The starting was very good, although in the championship starts, Mr Alexander was inclined to withhold the “Go” rather too long. The effect of waiting for the word, either has a tendency for someone to anticipate or cause them all to dwell and lose their chances of good time. Remarkable for this was the women’s 100yds championship when both competitors lost very nearly llsecs on the mark.

The racing opened with the men’s 220 yards championship and five starters lined up. From a slow beginning Osmond came out of the dive ahead of the others but Davis went to the lead at 33 1-3 yards in 18 seconds. Two lengths, swum in 41 seconds, saw Davis and Millar together with the rest bunched. The field strung out more over the third length and the two leaders turned together six feet ahead of Springford with Berry between him and Osmond. Davis and Millar stayed together for four lengths when Millar dropped back. At the turn for home Davis was only four feet ahead of Springford and Millar, however, with Berry in a better position and Osmond last. In the sprint Davis managed to hold off Springford by less than two feet, while, Berry finishing with great energy, came up on Millar’s blind side to snatch third place by a touch. Osmond was a few feet further back. This was a most exciting race and saw the favourite nearly upset by Springford. Springford’s performance was remarkable as he does very little training. The time of 2min 39sec was slow, being three seconds outside the Southland intermediate time registered to win in Nelson. Millar, another unfit swimmer, performed really well. Shaw provided a surprise in the 100 yards event. He won by two feet with Davis unplaced. Davis led for 33 1-3 yards in 17 3-ssecs, with the rest in a line. On the second lap Shaw gradually went into the lead and turned with two feet to spare in 38 3-ssec. The last lap saw a great struggle but Shaw held his lead to touch two feet ahead of Springford, a touch from Millar, who was a foot ahead of Davis. Osmond who fouled the rope near the finish was 10 feet behind the winner. Davis’s training methods must be very poor, as, evfen with his speed, he was unable to see the race out in such slow time. The winner is an awkward-looking swimmer but his long reach takes him through the water with great power. His win was well deserved.

Only one starter lined up for the men’s breaststroke, Osmond not defending his title. Shaw, in a swim-over, reduced the Southland record held by N. Kidd from 3min 19 4-ssec to 3min Bsec, undoubtedly an excellent performance. The last 12 months has seen a great difference in this boy. The change in his physique has been beneficial, as he now shows great stamina and power" in his swimming. Going strongly, but not aonearing to extend himself, Shaw

covered his first lap in 24 4-ssec, 100 yards in 80 l-ssec, 200 yards in 2min 51sec and the full journey in the very fine time of 3min Bsec. Miss McGrath struck unexpected opposition from Miss Mair in the 100 yards women’s event and although she won comfortably Miss Mair registered probably her best performance, covering the distance in 75sec. All chance of a record was lost on the mark, both girls dwelling badly. Miss McGrath went into the lead and was 18 inches ahead at the first turn in 21sec. She 4 ' increased her lead the next lap to seven feet in 45sec, going on to win easily in 70 2-5 sec. Miss Mair was 16 feet back in 75 sec. Both girls swam very nicely. Miss McGrath collected her second title by winning the 50 yards championship very easily from Miss Mair who was six feet ahead of Miss Monica Ford. Miss Ford is a welcome addition to senior ranks as she has plenty of speed and performed well as a junior girl. Another record was shattered when Miss Lynch easily won the breaststroke championship, reducing the recprd from 3min 44 3-ssec to 3min 31sec. Her only opponent, Miss M. Day, holder of the previous record and the title, was obviously unfit but put up a magnificent fight for half the distance. She failed badly over the last two lengths, finishing 18 yards behind the winner. Miss Lynch covered her first hundred yards in 89 3-ssec, Miss Day taking 94sec. Her 200 yards took 3min 12sec and the full journey 3min 31sec. As an easy swim it was another good performance on Miss Lynch’s part. Margery Day required 3min 50sec for the journey but with good training should be able to record about 3min 35sec.

The final championship of the evening saw another title change hands and another record broken. This was accomplished by the young Collegiate boy, Colin Martin, who won the 150 yards backstroke very well from the holder A. Brown, with D. Berry third. This was a good race, with Martin a winner all the way. Going into an early lead Martin finished the first lap in 21sec a touch ahead of Brown, with Berry, who went away slow, close up. Over the second length, covered in 45 3-ssec, Martin had gained another foot and he had a lead of four feet at the 100 yards’ mark from Brown. At the turn for home Brown began a sprint and was gaining when l.», missed his turn badly. Tiredness appeared the reason for this but over the last half lap he was gaining on Martin, when Berry appeared with another electric finish and very nearly took second place after being well back at the turn. All three swimmers were under Brown’s record of lmin 56sec. Their times were: Martin lmin 53sec, Brown lmin 54 3-ssec, Berry lmin 55sec. Arnold Branks was forced to give of his best to win the diving title The exhibition given by the four competitors was really good and held the interest of all spectators. Good diving will always attract, but poor unfinished exhibitions are best done away with. Blackie gained second highest points, but as he is an intermediate, second place goes to the third man Couling. R. Winning, a newcomer to the diving, gave a very good performance and as he is now handicapped by an injured leg, he can surely be expected to have a bright future. All four men went through the schedule without any serious mistakes, and although Branks and Blackie were qui-e plainly the best performers on ;he evening, the winner was hard to pick. The judging was very difficult to understand. Uniformity in judging is expected and some of the marks given seemed very strange. Two judges were marking very high all night, so high in fact, that had the perfect dive been performed they would have required a much higher figure than 10. One dive gained nine points on one chart, eight on another and less on the third, and it was not unusual ■ to see two eights and a four held up. Mr Salisbury, who should know thb points of diving, was not acting as a judge but appeared to be the computing steward. He is wasted there.

A water polo match between a team of men from HM.S. Leith, reinforced by three local men, was won by the city side by six to three. The match was bright, although rather onesided. However, the visitors were unable to cap their efforts by scoring but as both teams nade the game open, it provided :?a interesting quarter of an hour.

The Trust Cup races provided better fields than usuaLand very good racing resulted. Miss M. Ford won a very good race in the 50 yards freestyle from R. Chiaroni apd recorded the good time

of 34 seconds. A big field contested this event and provided a good exhibition. In”the 50 yards breaststroke Miss N. Dixon had an interesting duel with Miss J. Menzies to emerge the victor by about four feet. Lance Blaikie who was expected to walk away with the 33 1-3 yards found himself hard pushed to come home with less than three feet to spare from Lyall Barry and R. Barlow. The boys’ 33 1-3 yards breaststroke was won by J. Cockerill by a narrow, margin from L. Barry. Bruce Phillips was only a touch behind Barry for third place. A good field started in this race also.

Mavis Gerrard won the 50yds open handicap with three feet to spare and her time of 39 3-ssec gave the handicapper and the rest of the field a surprise. In common with several others in the race, she made a big improvement on her time.

Kathleen Westerby was a fairly comfortable winner in the intermediate 100 yards from A. Wilson. Both improved on their handicap times. J. Cameron from scratch did time which would have won him the senior 100yds championship. One of the best finishes of the evening was in the width for tiny tots and the judges had difficulty in separating the first three. With the exception of

one boy who was left on the mark, all the field finished within a touch. A newcomer in D. Watson won the length for tiny tots from a good entry with -J. Macdonald second and Colin Barry third. The limit boys were too fast for the scratch marker to give lOsec but they will be closer to her next carnival. CLUB NOTES Murihiku had another quiet club night and devoted the hour to coaching. Prominent among the coaches was the veteran Mr A. E. McGrath and he was doing good work with the children. The club is to be commended on their efforts to help the youngsters. Aggregate races are now being swum off by Ex-Pupils and the first prize in each division is a cup. The first series resulted as follows (all races from scratch): — Intermediate girls’ 33 1-3 yards.— Miss Y. Webb 1, Miss K. Bradshaw 2. Time 23 2-ssec. Won by a touch. Miss N. Webb was unfortunate at the start and took no part in the race. Men’s 33 1-3 yards.—P. McGrath 1, F. Springford 2, P. Berry 3. Time 16 2-ssec. Won by 18 inches. Intermediate boys 33 1-3 yards.—R. Duthie 1, L. Blaikie 2, A. Duncan 3. Time 18 2-ssec. Won by 5 feet. Points are awarded in the proportion of 5-3-1. SURFING The Oreti Surf Club will be giving demonstrations of life-saving, both water work and land drill, on Sunday, February 20 at 2.30 p.m., at Argyle Beach, Bluff, and at Mitchell’s Bay, Riverton Rocks. The teams to be in action will both be competing in the Otago Surf championships to be held at Oreti Beach on February 27. At Riverton Rocks the club’s senior team will be seen in action and the team for Bluff will be comprised jf the club’s junior representatives. Most of the senior representatives have been in the teams which have represented Southland at the national championships. The following are the teams:— Senior.—P. H. McGrath, F. W. Springford, A. Brown, D. F. Davis, A. Marshall, C. Roscoe, E. Gumbley (captain). Junior.—K. Shaw, J. Cameron, R. Jenkins, R. Duthie, A. Ingles, R. Glennie O. Davis (captain). Emergencies: H. Bath, A. Aitken.