N.Z. SWIMMING MEETING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20233, 17 February 1934, Page 11

N.Z. SWIMMING MEETING.

Big Crowd Attends Championships in St Albans Bath.

N. CRUMP TAKES 100 YARDS TITLE.

THE first day of the New Zealand swimming championship meeting was a great success for the weather was glorious and great racing was seen by a crowd that numbered over 1200. All the seating accommodation at the new St Albans bath was taken, and many were forced to stand. The grandstand was filled well before the carnival opened at 2.30 and already much of the seating for the other two carnivals on Monday and Wednesday evenings has been reserved. It is nine years since a championship meeting was held here and the public appreciated the opportunity to see New Zealand’s leading performers in action. In addition to thrilling championship finishes, there were close tussles in the handicap events. N. Crump (Auckland) won the 100yds title from R. Frankham in a great race.

Preliminaries of a number of champiinships were decided in the morning, when the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) welcomed the visitors. The takings at the turnstile for the afternoon were £6B 2s 3d, and with about £2O from reserved seats, to-day’s receipts will be about £9O. Points for the Yaldhurst Shield after to-day’s championships are:—Auckland 20, Manatvatu 10, Otago 3, Wellington 3. Canterbury, South Auckland, Ashburton, Hawke's Bay and Southland have not yet scored. The morning heats were those of the men’s 100yds freestyle and 220yds breaststroke championships and the women's 220yds freestyle. There vras some splendid swimming. Crump Champion. The first championship final in the afternoon, the men’s 100yds. could hardly have seen a closer finish. R. Frankham (Auckland) swam very well in an endeavour to keep hjs title, but X. Crump (Auckland) was just too much for. him and managed to secure a foot lead over the last length. Crump, who was winning intermediate events last month, thus took his first open crowd, W. J. Jarvis (Otago) and W. Whareaitu (South Auckland) were right up with the leaders and were inches away. The two Canterbury men were not quite good enough. The time of 58sec was slower than the morning heats. The start was a prolonged affair, as three times some of the swimmers fell in before Mr Bryant got them away. L. Smith (Manawatu) made no race of the men’s 220vds breaststroke and retained his title by ten yards from K. Spry (Wellington). His time of 3min 4 l-ssec was onyl one-fifth of a second outside his own New Zealand record. A delayed touch at the finish would have made the difference. A Great Finish. The women’s 220yds championship saw a great struggle between Misses M. Leydon and N. Ludlow (Auckland). Miss Leydon led at half-wav, but Miss. Ludlow pulied up and took Miss Leydon s title by a touch in a great tenyard final effort. Miss S. Grange (Auckland) found the race top much for her, and was dragged out at the end of five lengths. She soon recov- I however. Miss N. Basstian (Southland) swam well, but was beaten for ."third place by Miss B. Lewin (Auckland). Miss Basstian has shown good form at her -first - championship meeting. Lindsay On His Own. D. P. Lindsay (Manawatu) had no trouble in retaining his mile title, almost lapping N. Crump (Auckland)' who was well ahead of the third man! Lindsay swam beautifulh', but the slow water gave him no chance of lowering his own New Zealand record. His .time of 23min 22sec was, however, better than his last year’s time of 23 min 29 2-ssec. After Lindsay had finished and Crump was going on the pair shook hands on passing, to the amusement of the crowd. Results were as follows; 100YDS MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP. (New Zealand record, 55 4-ssec, W Camif*™ 3 *• Thoma s. ffdlder: R. Frankham (Auckland), 57 2-ssec Standard time 58sec.) First heat; W. J. Jarvis (Otago) 1 E sta«?d- nyi ß! „ 'I 6 front from the start of one S by a length at the end °-3t°ds but' nulled up at 66 S 'for C °tl, r | C flni'l hol Tlme-£t{ le |lleC° Second heat: R. Krankliam (Auckland) k W. Whareaitu (South Auckland) 2, u - S.'nies (Canterbury) 3. Also startD Fl a nk (Wellington), G. Field (Otago) and C. M’Kenzie (Canterbury)* Frankham had a yard lead from Whareaitu at the end of the first length r rankham was swimming easily, anri w<yn ■by two yards slowing up. Symes a , yard from Whareaitu, with AijK>nzle close up fourth. Time 57 Fipal. X- Crump (Auckland) .. ... l R. Frankham (Auckland) 2 W. j. Jarvis (Otago) 3 Also started: W. Whareaitu (South Auck'and). D. H. Stints and E. M'Con'J 11 ® (Canterbury). After three breaks the field got away and all the swimmers at the end of the first length. < rump and Frankham went to tlle front over -the second length ', he 33 ’- 3 yards had a great tussle, u-itli Jarvis and Whareaitu pressing them. Crump won hv a foot, to take the title from Frankham. Jarvis was inches away, with Wharea,tu fourth a touch behind. Symes and Were a yard back. Time—220YDS WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP. (New Zealand record. 2min 46sec MisSNF. Fartiuhar. Holder. Miss M. Levdoii (Auckland). 2min 4Ssec. Standard Hme, 2min 54sec.) First heat; Mfss N. Ludlow' (Auckland) 1, Miss N. Basstian (Southland) Miss A. Morris (Canterbury) 3. Also started: Misses M. Fnrquhar (Auckland) a nd j. Mosse (Canterbury). Miss Ludlow won by a foot from Miss Basstian. Miss Morris was two yards and a yard m front of Miss Farquliar, the record-holder, who was never moving easily. Time—2min 54see. Second heat: Miss M. Leydon (Auckhnd' 1. Miss S. Grange (Auckland) 2. Miss B. Lewin (Auckland) 3. Also started: Misse« P. Snorle (Manawatu) and V. Berry (Canterbury). Miss Leydon won comfortably by two vards. Mfsc Lewin just took third place from Miss Time—2min 56 2-ssec. Final. Miss N. Ludlow (Auckland) .... J Miss M. Leydon (Auckland) . . 2 Miss B. Lewin (Auckland) 3 Also started: Misses S. Grange (Auckland!. N. Basstian (Southland) and A. Morris (Canterbury). Misses Basstian and .Lewin led for the start, with Misses Leydon and Grange three yards away. The order was the same at 100yds—time 70sec—but Miss Leydon was pulling up. Miss Morris was out of it. Miss Grange was hauled out in a bad way at the end of five lengths but quickly recovered. Miss I-udlow came in great style to make a great finish With Miss Leydon. Miss Ludlow’s final effort gave her a win on the touch, with Miss Lewin two yards away. Time—2min 51 2-ssec.

220YDS . MEN’S BREASTSTROKE CHAMPIONSHIP. (New Zealand record, 3min 4sec, L. Smith. Holder, L. Smith (Manawatu), 3min 6 2-ssec. Standard time—3min 1 3 sec.) First heat: K. Spry (Wellington) 1, R. Geddes (Otago) 2, J. Hardie (Ashburton) 3. Also started: M. Candy (Canterburv). Geddes took the lead from the start, swimming in great style, but after two lengths he eased up and surrendered the lead to Spry, who was a yard in front at 100yds. Geddes took things very easily and was three yards behind Spry at the finish. Hardie was fairly close, but Candy was half a. length away. Second heat: L.. Smith (Manawatu) 1, C. Elliott (Otago) 2, J. Bruce (Canterbury) 3. Also started; H. Knptt (Canterbury). Smith made no race of this heat, and looked as if he might break the record in the final. Time—3min 7 3-ssec. Final. L. Smith (Manawatu) ........ 1 K. Spry (Wellington) 2 R. Geddes (Otago) .......... 3 Also started. J. Hardie CAsli.). J. Bruce (Canty.), and C. Elliott (Otago). Geddes led by three yards from Smith at the end of the first length, with Sprv third. Smith pulled up .and led at 100yds. Geddes was tiring, and Spry passed hfm. The Canterbury men were well back. Smith increased his lead with each length, and won by ten yards. Geddes was well back third. Hardie and Elliott were together fourth. Time —3min 4 l-ssec. ONE MILE MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP(New Zealand record, 22min 57 4-ssec, D. P. Lindsay. Holder, D. P. Lindsay (Manawatu), 23min 29 2-ssec. Standard time—23min 34sec.) Fifty-two lengths and back to rope. D. P. Lindsay (Manawatu) .. 1 N. Crump (Auckland) 2 J. D. O’JDriscoll (Otago) 3 Also started: R. Watkins (Hawke’s Bay) and' P. E. Mathieson (Otago). Lindsay and Crump covered the first 100yds together in 67sec, and Lindsay led by two yards at 220yds in 2min 40sec. Mathieson retired, and at fourteen lengths Lindsay was fifteen yards ahead of Crump, with Watkins five yards back. Lindsay was twenty-five yards in front .at half-way, v and with twenty-eight lengths gone' had lapped O'Driscoll arid Watkins. G'DrisColl was now lying- third, 'When he had covered thirty-eight lengths Lindsay was a length ahead of Crump, while the Aucklander at forty-one length's had lapped the'other two' .men. Lindsay was having a great go at the record,- and showed little slowing up;, increasing the lead length by . length. Lindsay speeded up over the last three lengths, and when lie finished had almost lapped Crump, -who made a fast finish over . two lengths ahead of the third, and fourth men. O’Driscoll was third from W.atkins by two . yards. Time—23min 22sec. FIRST ROUND MEN’S DIVE. Holder; R. C. Calder (Otago.) .‘Compulsory Dives: Plain header, forward- running, (high board), .backward header (high board), Lsander half, gainer running (high boetrid),- -backward spring-forward dive (low board), half sorew- forward -running (low* board).- 3 - Coinpetitors were: T. Wi * Thomson (Canterbury),'- K. Moffatt (South Canterbury), "C.'Thurlow (Hawke's Bay); W: Keesing (West Coast), Ar W. Wesney (Southland).: R. O Johnson (Otago), S. Muff (Canterbury), V. M’Keague (Sou th ' Canterbury), W. - Hassari (Auckland), W. Payne (West Coast), E: Crossley : (Canterbury), C. R. Riordair (Canterbury) and H. Nunes (Cariterbiiry). • The championship will be cbmplete'd on Wednesday evening, when each competitor Will perform five optional dives. With the systerii bf all five judges holding up . numbered -cards showing their assessments of each dive, the spectators were able to follow the results and interest was keen. ' Handicap Events. 66 2-3YDS INTERMEDIATE BOYS’ HANDICAP.—First . heat,: S. Kingdon (Som.) 1, W. O’Leary (Grey) 2. Time—--4§ 2-ssec. Second heat:G. Marshall (C.U.) 1, K. Cutting (Syd.) 2.. Time—--4 2 l-ssec. Third heat: L ! . Johnstone (Phil.) 1, R. Mitchell '(Phil.) -2. *■ Time—--46 2-ssec. Final; Mitchell 1, Johnstone 2, Cutting 3. Time—46 l-ssec.. 66 2-3YDS MEN'S HANDICAP. — First heat: A. T. Bolam (C.U.) 1. Time —39 2-ssec. Second heat: G. S. Cooper (Elm.) 1. Time-rr-38_2-_ssee. Third heat: M. L. Butterick (E.C.) 1. Time—4l 3-5 sec. Fourth ijegt: R. 0. tGibbpnH-: (Elm.) 1. Time— 4 2se6.' ‘ Fifth heat: A. E. Vincent (Cob.) 1. Time—4o l-ssec. Sixth heat: S. Nioholls (Elm.) 1. Time—--4 2 2-ssec. Seventh heat: J. Harley (Elm.) .. 1. l* Tinye»r*£4 1 ■' Eighth heat: A. feoiiitfi’fi O'. Time—42 2-ssec. Ninth heat: S. O’Nfeill-(Beck.) 1. Time First semi-final—G. S. Cooper 1, M. L. Butterick '2 Time—3B 3-ssec. Second semi-final—S. Nioholls 1, A. Boulton 2. Time—4l . 4-ssbc. Final—A. Boulton 1, G. -S- Cooper 2. Time—4l 2-ssec. 33 l-3yd Women’s Handicap—First heat: Miss J. Musse (Elrii.) 1. Time—20sec. Second heat: Miss M. Hughes (W.E.) 1. Time—2oseo. Third heat: Miss C. Buchanan (Lin.) 1. Time—--23 l-ssec. Fourth heat: Miss H. Clark 1. Time—23 3-ssec. Fifth heat: Miss E. Mitchell 1. Time—26sec. Final: Miss M. Hughes 1, Miss M. Clark 2. Time—l9sec. 100 YARDS MINED BACKSTROKE HANDICAP.—First heat: G. Low (C.U.) 1. A. Thomas (Otago) 2. Time—69see. Second heat: A. T. Bolam (C.U.) 1, D. H. Symes (Elmwood 1 2. Time—B3sec. Final—Bolam 1, Thomas 2. Time—--81 3-ssec.