SWIMMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 291, 7 December 1929, Page 5

SWIMMING

AUSTRALIAN’S VISIT CHAMPIONS AT AUCKLAND GRIFFITHS AND RYAN ■ Considerable interest in swimming circles in the Dominion was manifested in the appearances of Noel Ryan and Owen Griffiths, tho two touring Australian swimmers, at Auckland this week, especially so in view of the fact that they will be seen in the principal centres during their four week’s visit. In this connection the following from Thursday’s New Zealand Herald is of interest:— Australian and Auckland swimmers shared honours in swimming contests at the Tepid Baths last evening. The occasion was the carnival controlled by the Auckland Centro of tho New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association at which Noel Ryan and Owen Griffiths appeared The chief event, the quartermile scratch race, did not realise the anticipation that it would be a closelycontested race. Ryan, tho Australian champion, swam much below his best form, while G. Bridson’s time, smin. 215., was 4 2-ssec. outside the New Zealand record he established last week. Ryan’s fastest time is smin. 17sec., recorded in winning the New South Wales championship last season. It was expected Ryan would fully extend Bridson, but the Aucklander had the easiest of victories and won by 15yds increasing his lead in alniost every lap. Ryan swam pluckily and made a gallant effort to recover some of the leeway.

The .100 yards scratch race, in which Owen Griffiths, 220yds champion of Australia was engaged was closely contested for the greater part of the distance, but over the last lap the Australian asserted his superiority and won by a comfortable margin from the Auckland 100yds title-holder J. P. Farrell. The time was good, although 2 4-5 s outside J. W. Cameron’s New Zealand record. An exhibition of the evolution of swimming strokes by Griffiths was warmly applauded. In the absence of the Mayor, Mr J. B Patterson, chairman of the Parks Committee, extended a welcome to the visitors, who suitably responded. Following are the results of the principal events:

Invitation Scratch Race. 100yds.— New Zealand record 55 4-ssec., I. W. Cameron (Wellington); Australian record, 54 2-ssec.. R. Grier (Queensland). —Owen Griffiths (New South Wales), 1; J. P. Farrell (University), 2; A. Raper (Ponsonby), 3. Also started: D. P. Lindsay and R. Porteous. From an even start Griffiths and Farrell shot to the front, and at the end of the first lap they held a slight advantage over Raper. Going down the next lap Griffiths increased his load and turned two feet ahead of Farrell and Raper. Lindsay and Porteous were close up. Over the next and. final lap Griffiiths forged still further ahead to win comfortably by five feet from Farrell, who beat Raper by four feet. Time 58 3-ssec. Invitation Scratch Race, 440yds.— New Zealand record, smin. 6 3-ssec., G. Bridson; Australian record. 4m. 59 4-ssec., Andrew Charlton; world’s record, 4m. 52scc., J. Weismuller (America). —G. Bridson (Grammar), 1; Noel Ryan (New South Wales) 2. The only starters. The swimmers were together at 100yds, but thereafter Bridson assumed the lead, and, swimming confidently, eventually won. by 15 yards. Time smin. 21sec. SEASON’S FIRST CARNIVAL GONVILLE FUNCTION PROSPECTS FOR THIS EVENING Weather permitting, the Gonville Amateur Swimming Club will stage the first swimming carnival of the 1929-30 season in Wanganui in the Gonville bath this evening. As a result of adverse weather the club has been forced to postpone it on two occasions, but they are hoping to be more fortunate this evening. The arrangements in connection with to-night’s function are well in hand. Its success, from the competitive point of view, is assured as the entries are particularly large. Patronage, of course, will be governed by the weather. Should this be favourable, there is every reason to expect that a good crowd will attend. The form disclosed at the club contests conducted by the Wanganui East, Gonville and Ladies’ Club on Thursday evening is an assurance of good races competitors will be Miss N. Stratton, L. Smith (record holder and present holder of the New Zealand breaststroke championship), G. Beaven, W Boyd, K. Craig. H Gowan (present Wanganui distance champion), F. Chainey, D. Chisholm and H. Piper. It is worthy of mention that all the local clubs will have strong representation. In the junior and intermediate events this is particularly noticeable. In view of the approaching visit of the two Australian champions, N. Ryan and Owen Griffiths, and also of the New Zealand national championships, the efforts of the more prominent swimmers will be followed with additional interest. The members of the Gonville Ladies’ Swimming Club have arranged a coffee stall in order to provide hot drinks for competitors. Given fine weather, there is little doubt that for numbers in competitors and patrons a new record will be achieved.