SWIMMING

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2306, 4 March 1930, Page 6

SWIMMING

SATURDAY NLGHT’S GALA. AUCKLANDERS’ FINE EXHIBITION. There was a fair attendance at the Municipal Bath on Saturday evening, when the club held its third gala cf the season. The outstanding feature was the presence .of Gordon Bridson, of Auckland, the Dominion’s champion swimmer over all distances; also Auckland’s champion diver, Mr W. Hasson. Accompanied by Mr (Dick) Speight, who is well-known in Cambridge, the visiting swimmers arrived in Cambridge in the early afternoon. Considering their appearance in several events it was expected, that the attendance would have been larger than it was, though, of course, there were counterattractions. The two Aucklanders were accorded a hearty welcome to the local bath by the Deputy Mayor, Mr W. G. Care. Visitors’ Exhibitions. During the course of the gala the visitors gave splendid exhibitions and they delighted both patrons'and officials of the club by their generosity in. this respect. Besides competing in several events Bridson gave an educative exhibition of swimming strokes. Generally appreciated that he is a powerful swimmer, in the course of his exhibition, he did a length of the bath (33 l-3yds) with 104 arm strokes. The swimmer impressed on learners the value of carrying the arm stroke right through, in preference to the jab stroke only carried through to a-line with the elbow. He also emphasised the value of the shoulder bearing downwards on the arms to get the maximum power. One arm should be right back to the full extent with the other likewise forward, and with three beats to each stroke the maximum result could be obtained. He expressed the opinion that the feet were only an accessory, though when used correctly with the arms enabled the best results to be achieved. Before concluding his exhibition Mr Bridson demonstrated the back-stroke and the German double cross-arm back-stroke. He was loudly applauded for his efforts. One of the finest exhibitions of diving seen in Cambridge for a long time was given by Mr Hassen, who demonstrated the champion he is in this direction. His exhibition included the following dives—standing pike dive, standing hump, one and a half somersaults, isandcr, reverse somersault, standing full screw, swallow dive, one and a half somersaults (high), and n frog dive. Hassen also gave several freak dives. In the 100yds men’s open handicap Bridson (scr) was beaten by S. Speight (Cambridge) on the 18 seconds mark in the final by a yard, the winner’s time being 71secs. Bridson swam with a powerful even .stroke. He conceded up to 21sces in his heat, swimming second to M; Byrne on the 13 seconds mark. In the final Speight swam a great race. In the 33 l-3yds open handicap, Bridson conceded up to 6 seconds in his heat and won it in the good time

of 19 4-ssccs. In the final Byrne’s handicap of 2secs was too much for him over such a short distance, and the local sprinter won in great style, with W. Hague second by a touch from Bridson. Bridson’s time in the .100yds event was 58secs.

The South Auckland Ladies’ 75yds Championship was taken by Miss M. Ensor, -of Morrinsvillc, there being no competition. Miss Ensor swam the distance alone in SSsecs. Subsequently she was presented with the championship medal and chain by Mr W. G. Care. r Results of the Programme. The clubs the various competitors represent are shown in the results as follows: (A) Auckland; (H) Hamilton; (T) Te Awamutu; (if) Morrinsvillc, and (C) Cambridge. Girls, under 14, 33 l-3yds.—Heat 1: E. Ensor (M), Ssecs, 1; B. Coombc (M), scr, 2. Time 30sccs. Heat 2: J. Boulton (C), ltjsccs, 1; J. Cornish (M), 2secs, 2. Time 36 3-os. Final: Cornish 1, Ensor 2, Coombes 3. Time 30s. Bovs, under 14, 33 l-3yds.—Heat 1* ,C. Boyce (C), 7,1; J. Mcnsfortli (C), scr, 2; R. Gardiner (C), scr, 3. Time 30s. Heat 2: R. Pickett (M), 3s, 1; J. Jones (C), scr, 2. Final: Boyce 1, Pickett 2, Jones 3. Time 25 2-ss. Won easily. Inter-Club Relay.— Morrinsvillc (C. Cameron, I. Barker, W. Cameron, B. Coombc) 1; Cambridge (Bvrno, Dodd, Hague and Speight) 2. A good race, won by two yards. Time 775. IOOYds Men’s Open Handicap.—Heat 1: B. Coombc (M), 13s, 1. Time 76 l-ss. Heat 2: M. Byrne (C), 13s, 1; G. Bridson (A), scr, 2. Time 735. ( Heat 3: S. Speight (C), 13s, 1; C. Cameron (M) 12s, 2. Time 725. Heat 4: T. Barker (M), ,12s, 1; W. Hague -(C), 225,. 2. Time SO 1-5 Final: S. Speight 1, G. Bridson 2, W. Cameron 3. Won by a yard. Time 71s. 75Yds South Auckland Championship (Ladies). —Miss M. Ensor (M) was the only swimmer and was awarded the engraved gold medai. Her time was 58s. Bovs, under 17, 33 I:3yds.—Heat 1: N. Hague (C), 2s, 1; R. Gardiner (C),. 4s, 2, J. Meanic ff,, 7s, 3. Time 26 l-ss. Heat 2: C. Bcyce (C), 11s, 1; Noble (M), 2; J. Jones (C), 45,.3. Time 255. Final: Boyce 1, Noble 2, Hague 3. Wca easily. Time 25 l-ss. Ladies’ Dive.—Miss M. Boyce (C) I, Miss D. Dyke (M) 2. Girls, under 17, 33 l-3yds.—Heat 1: J. Maoc-rly (C), 10s, 1; M. Boulton (C) 7s, 2; J. Cornish (M), 6s, 3. Time 275. Heat 2: N. Martyn (C), 7s, 1; M. Boyce (C), Ss, 2. Time 2S l-ss. Heat 3—G. Moore (0), S s, 3; G. Dyke (M), Bs, 2; D Boyce' (C), 7s, 3. Time 295. Final: Miss Mabcrly 1, Miss Boulton 2. Time 28s. Ladies’ S 3 1-3 Yds Handicap.—V. Coombc (M), 2s, 1; D. Boyce (C), 7s, 2; G. Dyke (M), Bs, 3. Time 28 l-ss. Won by a yard with a touch between next placed. N 3 1-3Yds' Men’s Open Handicap. — Hr at 1: G. Bridson (A), scr, 1; K. Dodd (C), 3s, 2. Time 19 4-ss. Heat 2: N. Hague (C), ss, 1; S. Speight (C), 2s, 2. Time 225. Heat 3: W. Hague (C), 4s, 1; C. Cameron (M), 2s, 2. Time 21 3-ss. Heat 4: M. Byrne (C), 2s, 1; R. Shaw (C), os, 2. Time 335. Final: M. Byrne 1, W. Hague, G. Bridson 3. Won by a good yard. Time 21 2-ss. Duel Relay.—Miss M. Boyce and G. Bridson, scr, 1; Miss D. Boyce and J. Jones, 9s, 2. Time 52 3-ss. Won comfortably. Ribbon Dive. — W. Hassan (A) 1. Men’s Dive. —W. Hassen (A) 1, N. Hague 2, J. Jones 3. Riding Petrol Tin. —R. Gardiner 1, W. Parker 2. Again the gala was well managed and reflected credit on all the official concerned. Although the entries were excellent, the competition was not as good as expected, there being numerous defections in some of the heats.