First Day Of Swimming Championships

Chronicle (Levin), 24 February 1949, Page 9

First Day Of Swimming Championships

Press Association)

(Per

AUCKLAND, Feb. 23. The New Zealand nationai swimming championships opened today with heats this morning and iinals tonight, in the Olympic Pool, Newmarket. Principal surprise of the iinals tonight was the defeat of the women's 100 yards breasfjstroke 'champion, Miss H. Forsyth (Otago) who was beaten out of a plac'e in the event. The women.'s 100 yards was a most exeiting race between Miss B. Casey who had won the title in four previous years and Miss N. Bridson, a young. Auckland. They uwam together for the whole distance and Miss Casey 's margin of victory for ker fifth successive victory was not more than an inch. She swam smoothly and well and the time was exceptiohal for the pool. Perhaps Miss Bridson was nnlucky. Miss Casey was on her blind side fronr the turn to the iinish and she may not have realised that she was so close. The men's 100 yards freestyle ckarnpionship was! almost as close and exeiting as the women's and M. Baliantyne made history by being.the flrst swiinmer from South Canterbury to win the title. Baliantyne, P. Borrington and F. Higginson turned together after the s first 55 yards and Baliantyne was firit to show out in the dash over the final 20 yards. He had a lead of sliglitly less than a yard with ten yards to go but at this stage was rapidly overhauled by Borrington who seeined to have the title winning -spurt until he unaccountably slackened stroke about two yards from the iinish. Even so Baliantyne was ahead by not more than a foot. R. Jolly carne fast at the iinish aud was just a toueh behind Borrington. The mile was a great race between C. Chambers, the titleholder, and R. Lucas, the 17-year-old Aucklander. They swam together for the whole distance 'with Chambers iinishing more powerfully to win by two feet. In the following results centres are detailed as follows: — A Auckland, YV Waikato, T Taranaki, HB Hawke's Bay, Wn Wellington, Wan Wanganui, U Canterbury, SC South Canterbury, C Ctago, -S Southland. 100yds Breaststrolce: Final, C._ Callan (A) 1, T. Logan (T) 2, JD. liowse (W) 3; time, 75.8secs. Women's 100yds Freestyle: Miss B. Casey (W) 1, Miss N. Bridson (A) 2, Miss J. Hastings (A) 3; time, OLSseos. Won by a bare touch. Men's 440yds Backstrolce: P. hlatliieson (A) 1, D. Braneh (A) 2, W. Pasley (S) 3; time, 5mins 48.4secs. Women's 220tyds. Breaststroke: Miss M. Svveeney (A) 1, Miss H. Teague (W) 2, Miss H. Smith (West Coast) 3; time, 3mins 24.Gsecs. Men's 100yds. Freestyle: M. Baliantyne (SC) 1, P. Borrington (A) 2, li. Jolly (W) 3; time G0.2sees. » Cne mile: C. Chambers (C) 1, lt. Lucas (A) 2, D. Baird (A) 3; time, 2mins 45.8secs. Women's 100yds. Backstroke: Miss N. Lane (O) 1, Miss J. Stewart (0) 2, Miss M. Holman (W) 3; t'ime, 73secs. 100yds. Butterfly Breaststroke: T. Logan (T) 1, D. Dovvse (Wn) 2; timo, 73secs. After the race it was announced that Logan had been disqualified for a false stroke but a later aunouucemeut was made that the reforqp, the sole authority, had not made a disqualihcation and Logan consequentiy was adjudged the winner. Water Polo: First round, Auckland 2, Waikato 2; Otago beat Taranaki by dcfault. Second round, Ctago G, Wellington 2. Yaldhurst Shield Points: Auckland 3, Wellington 2, Canterbury, Ctago and South Canterbury oue eachc ,