SWIMMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 4, 6 January 1939, Page 5

SWIMMING

FLANNAGAN CUP RACE i D. FITZSIMMONS WINNER LONG DISTANCE EVENT AT NEW PLYMOUTH With a barely a length to the next man, D. Fitzsimmons. New Plymouth, won the Flannagan Cup swim at Ngamotu on Sunday from the veteran, F. G. Ryan. Hawera. Ryan covered the course in 51m 12s, making fastest A. Smith, the limit man, led for about the first quarter mile of the journey, when he was overtaken by E. Clow, who was next to leave the launch. Swimming steadily, Fitzsimmons was next to overtake the limit man and swam for some time on terms with E. Clow, who was about 50 yards in front of a bunch that made up the remainder of the field. Gayton, winner on two previous occasions and holder of the fastest time for the race, appeared to stray from his course, although he actually closed on the leading men in doing so. Along Newton King wharf before entering the straight in the front of the beach for the completion of the first lap the order was E. Clow, Fitzsimmons, Rygn and Pettigrew to the front. The remainder, comprising L. George (Hawera), A. Robson (Stratford), B. Milne (Fitzroy), F. Clow (Fitzroy) and D. Gayton (New Plymouth), were almost together and did not appear to be overtaking the leaders. A. Smith had withdrawn at this stage. Completing the last part of the first lap, the swimmers showed their merits. George and E. Clow dropped out, leaving Fitzsimmons to the fore, with Ryan and Pettigrew close attendants and the scratch man, Gayton, just headed by F. Clow. Milne and Robson were well to the rear of the field, with Milne coming up. Milne joined the main body of swimmers going into the first stage of the final lap, while the order of the leading three remained the same, with Ryan closing on Fitzsimmons. t Ryan and Fitzsimmons were on 1 terms when half the first leg of the '■n lap had passed with Gayton, Milne, Pettigrew and Clow swimming evenly together. From that period Ryan and Fitzsimmons swam stroke for stroke with neither able to gain a substantial lead, although at each flag Fitzsimmons was a little to the fore. Gayton filled third place for a time with

Pettigrew and Clow, until along the . tretch at the side o£ Newton King wharf they gradually separated, with Gayton and Milne swimming neck and neck, while Pettigrew and Clow fell back. Robson filled rear position. Finishing the last leg of the race along the beach front, Ryan and Fitzsimmons, both untired, attempted to obtain the lead from one another, but Fitzsimmons remained the same short distance in front to the finish. The first two were so close that the winning man could not be distinguished from the beach. Milne and Gayton similarly fought out the finish, although Milne had a better advantage over last year's winner than Fitzsimmons had over Ryan. F. Clow finished in fifth place and Pettigrew was sixth. Although the sea was perfectly calm and there was little wind, the swimmers stated that the water was bitterly cold, and this was a factor jn the early retirement of some. The placings were:— D. Fitzsimmons (New Plymouth', 2im, 51m 30 l-5s 1 F. G. Ryan (Hawera), Im, 50m 12s 2 B. Milne (Fitzroy) 30s, 51m 25s ..... 3 D. Gayton (New Plymouth), scr, 57m 7s 4 Clow. Pettigrew and Robson also completed. A. Smith, E. Clow and L. George retired. Fitzsimmons, 18 years of age and a member of the New Plymouth Amateur Swimming Club, was swimming in his second Flannagan Cup race. In asking Mr. F. Flannagan to present the cup, Mr. F. J. Eggleton, president of the Tarankai Swimming Centre, said the cup was considered the hall mark of open water swimming throughout New Zealand, and that race had been one of the best. In fact, said Mr. Eggleton, it was a tribute to the handicapper that it was such a good race. He congratulated Fitzsimmons and thanked the Mardi Gras committee and all officials for its help. Mr. Eggleton congratulated Ryan on achieving fastest time.