TWO RECORDS BROKEN

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1935, Page 9

TWO RECORDS BROKEN

SWIMMING TITLE EVENTS NEVILLE THIRD IN HALF-MILE. MISS LEYDON’S PERFORMANCE. JARVIS IN IMPRESSIVE FORM. (By Telegraph—Special to News.) Auckland, Last Night. Taranaki’s representatives were again unsuccesssful in events decided last evening on the second night of the New Zealand swimming championship carnival, although J. Neville registered a good performance in the half-mile, in which he finished third. The breaking of two New Zealand records and the success of Otago’s. representatives in dominating the men's contests were features of the evening. 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 Im 45 4-ss, a reduction of one-fifth of a second from his own record which was established at Dunedin three weeks ago. Miss Leyden’s achievement was in the 440 yards women’s freestyle event. This she won by 15 yards, after making an amazing finishing dash in 5m 52 2-ss, thus lowering her own time registered last year by 2 l-ss. Her new record is this much slower than the Australian record. There was an element of surprise about the other Otego victories. W. J. Jarvis outclassed his opponents in the 220 yards freestyle in 2m ?3 4-ss. In spite of his 100 yards success on Saturday evening it was not expected he would win the 220. The Aucklanders, N. Crump and F. 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 championship was thus wrested from Crump. Again the 17-years-old Aucklander W. Johnson figured in an exciting finish, the race being this time the half-mile, 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 11m 23 2-ss. NEVILLE’S ADVANTAGE. In this race Neville left his three opponents behind after 200 yards had been covered, and increased his pace visibly. The others, however, would not allow him to gain too great an advantage. At half-way Neville was a good yard ahead of Johnson and looked to have a good chance. Johnson and O’Driscoll, how--1 ever, passed him on the 19th of the 26 laps and had the finish to themselves. Neville hung on gamely to beat Watkins, who won the mile on the opening night by a foot. The Taranaki lad impressed as being likely to make his* presence felt in similar events when he acquires a little more stamina and experience. Miss Camcross (Taranaki) started in the 440 yards, women's freestyle but was unable to maintain the pace set by her opponents, and retired from the contest shortly after passing the half-way mark. Miss Leydon was successful in winning the 100 yards women’s backstroke title, 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 of Im 20s equalled the standard. Interest in the meeting was well maintained and there was again a capacity attendance. Auckland retains the lead in the Yaldhurst Shield, points having been scored as follows: Auckland 30, Otago 21, Southland 6, Hawke’s Bay and Wanganui 5, South Auckland and Canterbury 4, Taranaki 1. DETAILED RESULTS. Following were 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 100 yards, which he had covered in 58 4-ss, led Jarvis, Crump and Symes being handy. The completion of another lap found Frankham leading by one and a half yards. Crump and Jarvis were still together, with Symes gradually drawing nearer. Thomas retired at this stage. Jarvis now began to close on Frankham and the crowd was on its feet cheering when Frankham, whose movements becoming heavy, reached the 166 2-3 yards mark only a foot sooner than Jarvis, who was hardpressed by Crump. Quickening his stroke, Jarvis left Crump and then Frankham, and held an advantage of two yards at the final turn from Symes, 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 beat Crump by five yards. Time, 2m 23 4-ss. 440 yards women’s freestyle: Miss Mona Leydon (Auckland) 1, Miss Nancy Ludlow (Auckland) 2, Miss Ngaire Hughes (Canterbury) 3. Also started: Miss V. Carncross (Taranaki). Miss Leydon wasted no time in placing herself in the lead, and the completion of the first 100 yards found her leading by two yards from Miss Ludlow, who was only a yard ahead of Miss Hughes. The time of 75s 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 yards behind. Miss Leydon was trying to put herself well clear of Miss Ludlow, but her rival refused to lose further ground. It was not until after the last turn at 400 yards that Miss Leydon emphasised her qualities as a stayer, and an advantage of three yards she transformed into a victorious margin of 15 yards. Miss Ludlow beat Miss Hughes by 15 yards. Time, 5m 52 2-ss, a New Zealand record. 150 yards men’s backstroke: P. E. Mathieson (Otago) 1, W. Whareaitu (South Auckland) 2, G. Low (Canterbury) 3. Also started: T. J. Moorhouse (Canterbury), A. Raper (Auckland). Here again Otago supplied a new champion. Low was the leader at the first turn by one and a-half 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 one and a-half yards in hand at the 100 yards mark from Low and Whareaitu, who were on equal terms. Realising 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, lm 45 4-ss, a New Zealand record. 100 yards women’s 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 a yard and a-half. However, the Aucklander was well able to reduce the advantage and when they approached the turn she was about two feet behind. Here Miss Leydon made an error that would have justified disqualification, for in turning she rolled and took two freestyle 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 three yards. Time, lm. 20s. 880 yards men’s free-style:—First heat. R. Watkins (Hawke's Bay) 'l, J. DO’Driscoll (Otago) 2, R. Simon (South Auckland) 3; won by four feet, two feet between second and third; time, 11m. 37 3-ss. Second heat: W. Johnson (Auckland) 1, J. Neville (Taranaki! 2, R. Thomas (Auckland) 3; won by 10 yards, three yards between 'second and third; time, 11m. 32 3-ss. Final: O’Driscoll 1, Johnson 2, Neville 3. . .. The four contestants swam in a line for the first 200 yards and it was not until the seventh lap that Neville decided to set' a faster pace. At half the distance he was not m -e than a. yard in front of Johnson, who led O’Driscoll by two feet. O’Driscoll and Johnson passed Neville in the 19th. lai Gradually smartening the pace, the. two leaders moved steadily away from Neville and the issue narrowed down to them aloneO’Driscoll entere.'. the 26th. lap a yard and a-half ahead of Johnson, and it was now that the Aucklande: endeavoured to save the laurels. He sprinted hard and gradually wore down O’Driscoll s. advantage. He turned just behinu him.. To many the Otago representative’s defeat seemed inevitable, but he was by no means finished. Profiting from the mentum of his turn, he shot away from Johnson in a fine sprint and reached his objective a winner by two yards. Time, 11m. 23 2-ss.