SWIMMING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20932, 11 January 1938, Page 10

SWIMMING

SENIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS RECORDS GO BY THE I BOARD By Telegraph—Press Association NEW PLYMOUTH. January 10. The New Zealand record for the women’s 440 yards was lowered by 9 4-5 seconds by Miss Mona Leydon (Auckland) at the senior national swimming championships to-night. Miss Leydon returned smin 36 3-ssec, which was not only better than the previous New Zealand record of smin 46 2-ssec established by her at Auckland in 1936, but faster than the >est Australian time for the distance. Miss Leydon had only a solitary opponent. Miss M. McGrath (Southland) \nd she also had to make her own pace. She cut out the first 100 yards in 76sec. and to demonstrate how easily she was going she did the second 100 yards in 72sec or four seconds faster. She then took a breather to do the third in 80sec. The fourth required 78sec and then she sprinted the last 40 yards to record smin 36 3-ssec, breaking her own New Zealand record by P 4-ssec. It was a grand effort, stamping her as probably the best freestyle swimmer the Dominion has produced.

Miss Leydon also scored an easy win in the 100 yards women’s backstroke event. She outclassed her only opponent, Miss P. Hudson (Hawkes Bay). Miss Leydon went to the front from the start, winning by 12 yards. The time was not so fast, but she was not extended at any stage. The Canterbury distance swimmer. L. Newell, took his second title and smashed his second record when he scored a runaway win in the halfmile. As in the mile Newell had to make all his own pace as his opponent, Pascoe, who had only just completed a strenuous 220 yards, provided od opposition. Nevertheless, with his steady, powerful stroke, he cut out the first 220 yards in 2m in 37sec and the 440 in smin 14sec. In the absence of a pacemaker he slowed up slightly in the second half. However, his time of lOmin 53 3-ssec clipped 7 l-ssec off G. Bridson’s previous record created in 1932. Newell did not appear to oe tiring at all in the second half.

The brilliant Aucklander. P. Hanan, carried off his second successive national title when he wen the 220 yards event in great style from another Auckland swimmer. A. W. Pascoe. The final produced a thrilling struggle. From a perfect start the six competitors settled down almost in line, but at the first turn Symes was just ah td of Pascoe and Crump. At 100 yards Pascoe had taken the lead with Hanan. Pennington and Frankham almost in line, the distance being cut out in 6’2 l-ssec. With about 50 yards to to Hanan took charge from Pascoe and Pennington with Symes still handy Hanan turned the last time three yards in front of Pascoe and Pennington.

and wffht on to win in decisive fashion from Pascoe, while the titleholder, Symes, staged a desperate finishing effort to beat Pennington by inches for third. After P. E. Mathicson’s easy win in the 400 metres backstroke on Saturday the 100 yards event was generally regarded as being the best of good things fir him, but he encountered unexpectedly stern opposition from the Otago swimmer, A. Thomas. Tne pair raced neck and neck for two lengths, and

then just as the crowd were preparing for a great finish Thomas made a poor turn and Mathieson gained an advantage of three yards which he held to the finish. Mathieson’s time, 68 2-5 sec was 1 3-ssec better than the stand ard, and though there was no previous record for this distance, it will probably be recognised. It demonstrated that Mathieson is still practically as good as ever, while Thomas is a promising man. The champinnship events resulted. — 220 Yards First heat D. Symes (Canterbury) 1 P. B. Frankham (Auckland) .. 2 N. Crump (Auckland) 3 Time, 2m in 31sec. Second heat P. Hanan (Auckland) 1 F. Pennington (Wellington) .. 2 A. W. Pascc: (Auckland) 3 Time, 2min 29sec. Final Hanan * 1 Pascoe 2 Symes 3 Times, 2min 25 4-sscc. 100 Yards Women’s Backstroke Miss M. Leydon (Auckland) .. 1 Miss P. Hudson (Hawke’s Bay) 2 Time, Imin 25 l-ssec. 100 Yards Men’s Backstroke F. E. Mathieson (Auckland) .. 1 A. Thomas (Otago) 2 W. R. Lloyd (Taranaki) 3 Time, 68 2-ssec. 880 Yards L. Newell (Canterbury) 1 A. W. Pascoe (Auckland) .. ..2 Time, lOmin 53 3-ssec—A New Zealand record. 440 Yards Women Miss M. Leydon (Auckland) .. 1 Miss M. McGrath (Southland) 2 Time, smin 36 3-ssec—A New Zealand record. 133 Yards Interprovincial Scratch Race Auckland 1 Otago 2 Taranaki 3 Time, 63 3 ssec. Auckland was slightly in the lead throughout. Otago caught up in the last length, but Auckland won by a touch, Taranaki being about three yards behind. Polo Taranaki beat Canterbury by 7 goals to 3. Points for Yaldhurst Shield Auckland 53 Otago 12 Canterbury 11 Taranaki 6 Southland 3 Wanganui 3 Hawke’s Bay 3 The 1939 Championships The annual conference of the New Zealand Swimming Association decided that the venues of the 1939 national

championships should be as follows: Senior.—Southland Centre. Junior and intermediate —Bay of Plenty Centre. Maori—Otago Centre. The Bay of Plenty delegate announced the venue of the junior and Intermediate championships as the Blue Baths, Rotorua.