SWIMMING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20542, 18 February 1935, Page 12

SWIMMING.

Enthusiasm at National Championships. NEW DOMINION RECORD. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 17. Inspiring enthusiasm was manifested during the contests for titles at the opening session of the New Zealand swimming championship meeting at the Tepid Baths on Saturday evening. Even the mile, generally a monotonous race, gripped? the interest during the whole of its progress, and ended in a thrilling struggle. The 220yds men’s breaststroke event might not have held the crowd in suspense, the outcome having been obvious from slightly more than half the distance, but it offered compensation by being the only contest in which a New Zealand record was established. The winner, L. Smith (Wanganui) lowered his own standard from 3min 4sec to 3min 1 2-ssec. W. J. Jarvis (Otago) scored brilliantly in the 100yds men’s free style. Miss Mona Leydon (Auckland) won the 220 yds women’s free-style in similar fashion, and Watkins (Hawke’s Bay) the mile. Watkinses time was much outside the record, but, by registering 55 2-ssec and 2min 46 2-ssec respectively, Jarvis and Miss Leydon both failed to equal the records by two-fifths of a second. The swimmers from whom titles were wrested were N. Crump (Auckland) in the sprint and Miss Nancy Ludlow (Auckland) in the women’s furlong.

The mile was not defended by D. P. Lindsay (Manawatu). The great interest in the meeting was illustrated by the fact that all unreserved accommodation was taxed to capacity three-quarters of an hour before. the start of the carnival. Furthermore, it was estimated that a greater number of people than the 1800 within the building were unable to gain admittance. At present Auckland (holders) lead for the Yaldhurst Shield. Points have been scored as follows:—Auckland 13, Otago 6, Hawke’s Bav-Wanganui 5, Southland* 3 and Canterbury 1. The heats of the mile were swum on Friday evening, and those of the 100yds men’s and 220yds women’s on Saturday morning. Results:— 100 YARDS MEN’S FREE-STYLE. First Heat—N. Crump (Auckland) 1. D. H. Symes (Canterbury) 2, R. Simon (South Auckland) 3. Time—s 6 2-ssec. ✓ Second Heat—R. B. Frankham (Auckland) and W. Whareaitu (South Auckland) (equal) 1, G. Chamberlain (Taranaki) 3. Time—s6sec. Third Heat—W. J. Jarvis (Otago) 1, N. H. M’Grath (Southland) 2, A. Somerville (Wellington) 3. Time—ss 3-ssec. Final. Jarvis 1 Crump 2 Symes 3 Also started: Frankham (Auckland), Whareaitu (South Auckland*) and M’Grath (Southland). Time—ss 2-ssec. Won by a yard and a half. Except for M’Grath, the others finished within fifths of a second of Crump. 220 YARDS WOMEN’S FREE-STYLE. First Heat—Miss Sylvia Grange (Auckland) 1, Miss Mona Leydon (Auckland) 2, Miss Ngaire Hughes (Canterbury) 3. Time—2min 50 l-ssec. Second Heat—Miss Nancy Basstian (Southland) 1, Miss Nancy Ludlow (Auckland) 2, Miss Edna Rainey (Auckland) 3. Time—2min 4Ssec. Final. Miss Leydon 1 Miss Basstian 2 Miss Grange 3 Also started: Misses Ludlow (Auckland), Hughes (Canterbury), Rainey (Auckland). Time—2min 46 2-ssec. Miss Basstian shot away from the rest of the field, and led Miss "Ludlow by two yards at 100yds. Miss Leydon came into the picture in the sixth lap. Amid frantic excitement. Misses Basstian and LeydPon turned together for the final 20yds sprint. The former gained on the turn, but Miss Leydon respond- 1 ed with all her might., and caught Miss Basstian eight yards from the finishing line and won by two feet. Miss Grange, who had moved up well, was three yards from Miss Basstian. 220 YARDS MEN’S BREASTSTROKE. L. Smith (Wanganui) 1 K. Spry (Wellington) 2 J. Magee (Auckland) 3 Also started: B. Hawarth (Wanganui), H. Mackintosh (Auckland). Time—3min 1 2-ssec, a Dominion record. For the seventh successive year Smith won this championship. He finished* six yards ahead of Spry. ONE MILE FREE-STYLE. First Heat—J. Neville (Taranaki) 1, J. Watkins (Hawke’s Bay) 2, N. Crump (Auckland) 3. Time—23min 56 l-ssec. Second Heat—W. Johnson (Auckland) I, J. D. O’Driscoll (Otago) 2, C. R. Buchanan (Auckland) 3. Time—23min 56 l-ssec. Final. Watkins 1 Johnson 2 O’Driscoll 3 Also started: Buchanan (Auckland), Neville (Taranaki). Time—23min 38 4-5 The competitors settle*? down to their long swim at a sound pace, the first hundred yards being covered in seventy seconds. Over the later stages, Johnson and Watkins drew ahead, and swam on even terms throughout. They made the last turn together. Twentyfive yards were left, and both threw their remaining strength into a desperate bid for the laurels. Watkins made the stronger spurt, and won by two yards. O'Driscoll was twenty yards back. ______