SWIMMING

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 44, 5 December 1929, Page 5

SWIMMING

BRIDSON THE WINNER AUSTRALIANS’ FIRST RACE AUCKLAND. Doc. 4. Before a large attendance at the Tepid Baths this evening. Noel Ryan J and Owen Griffiths, the visiting Aus-1 tralian swimmers, were seen in action, in the Dominion for the first time on their present tour. In spite of the fact that they were practically fresh off the boat, the pair did very well and impressed spectators with their display. There is every indication that as they become acclimatised they will show to more advantage in the water, and later in the tour they will be round demonstrating their ability to hold their own with the majority of New Zealand’s swimmers. In the 440 yards Invitation scratch race, the star item of the programme, Gordon Bridson hit the front from the word go and was never headed, winning from Ryan by fifteen yards in smin. 21 l-sscc., which is stated to bo only three seconds outside the record, though it is five seconds slower than the 5.16 3-5 which he set up last week in an unpaccd swim < Bridson, it was agreed, showed better style on the night, but it should not be long before Ryan shows his pace. Griffiths, of course, was unsighted early and retired. To-night’s appearance of the Australians marked the commencement of a four weeks’ tour of the Dominion. AT MJQCLAND AN AUSTRALIAN’S WIN AUCKLAND, Dec. 4. At the Tepid Baths to-night Griffiths won the 100 yards scratch race by live feet in 58 3-5 secs from Farrell, the Auckland champion. The New Zealand record is 55 4-5. Another carnival will be held tomorrow night. Ryan is m the 880 yards race and Griffiths in the o 0 yards race. .