Ngaire Lane Was Nervous

Chronicle (Levin), 6 August 1948, Page 5

Ngaire Lane Was Nervous

Received Thursday, 7 p.m. WEMBLEY POOL, August 5. "The time was too fast "for me," said Ngaire Lane with a rueful smile after finishing seventh in the semifinal of the women's 100 metres hackstroke at the Olympic Games. "I am afraid 1 fiud these big events a hit too much for me." Miss Lane was again nervous though more composed than hefore the first heat. The crowd was again delighted with the vigorous haka given by Mr. Woodfield, Nelson, Holland and Carter, and Ngaire, standing waist deep in the pool — not wearing her silver ferned swim suit on this occasion — gave them a cheery wave. She appeared to start rather too deeply and soon began to fall back. She lost ground steadily and finished seconcl to last ' in slower time than for her first heat. "The conditions in this pool are excellent and all one could wish for," she said, "but I am afraid I can't do my best on these occasions." Miss Lane added that she did not intend to compete r.gair. in. international events but to confine her swimming to championships in New Zealand. Whatever misgivings Miss Lane may have, there is no doubt she swam well and piuckily UDder the nervous strain. It seems an odds-on chance that K. M. Harup (Denmark), who hroke the Olympic record in hoth her heats, will win the final tomorrow night.