SWIMMING

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1924, Page 2

SWIMMING

TWO MILE HARBOUR RACE

WON BY D. MURRELL

A CLOSE FINISH,

The two-mile harbour swim held on Saturday afternoon under the auspices of the Wellington centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, was won by D. Murrell, of the Olympia Club, from scratch, in the fast time of lhr 2min 3sec. J. M. Blakeney (Worser Bay) was second, and W. G. Morpeth (Wellington) was third. Miss A. Imandt (Institute) was the only lady competitor to complete the course, and finished fifth.

The weather was fine, though a moderate southerly breeze was the cause of the majority of the competitors taking an erratic course. Starting from No. 1, Queen's Wharf, the course led to Clyde Quay Wharf, to Taranaki Street Wharf, and back to the starting point. The distance, twice round, was slightly over two miles. There were 17 starters, whose handicaps were : —Miss E. Hunt, 18min; Miss V. Brodie, 18min; Miss Imandt, 15min; Messrs. J. Mason, 12min; W. Morpeth, Bmin; A. Russell, Bmin; E. Pocock, Bmin; Shannon, 7min 48sec; W. Look, 7min 30sec ;W. Howie, 7min 12sec; G. Barrett, 6min 36sec; L. Dawkins, 6min 36sec; W. Lavelle, smin 35sec; J. M'Hardy, smin; J. Blakeney, smin; F. Moilier, 2min 30sec; 'D. Murrell, scratch.

All the competitors made a good start, the scratch man getting away just on 3 o'clock. The race was witnessed by a large number of spectators, who had [gathered on the three wharves. Shannon and Pocock retired before the first lap was completed. The order in which the competitors completed thp first round, and their actual swimming times, weTe :—Miss Hunt, 42min 20sec; Miss Imandt, 41min 2Ssec; Messrs. Morpeth, 36min 3sec; Mason, 38min 25 sec ; Barrett, 33min 40sec; M'Hardy and. Blakeney, 32min 45sec; Lavelle, o4mm 40sec; Moilier, 31min 45sec; Murrell, 30min 20sec; Howie, 39min 52sec; Rus* sell, 40min 25sec. Miss Brodie, Dawkins, and Look retired upon completing half the course, and their times were not recorded.

Passing the Clyde Quay Wharf the second time the order was as follows : Blakeney, Morpeth, Mason, M'Hardy, Murrell, "Moilier, Miss Imandt, Miss Hunt, Russell, Hokie, and Lavelle. It was then anticipated that a close race would result, and this was confirmed when it was announced that coming up to tho finishing mark Murrell was leading by a yard from Blakeney, with Morpeth following close behind. Murrell increased his lead, and won by Byds. ,The result of the race (with actual swimming times) was :—Murrell (lhr 2min ,3sec), 1; Blakeney (lhr 7min 20sec), 2; Morpeth (lhr 12min 25sec), 3; Moilier (lhr Bmin 30sec), 4; Miss Imandt (lhr 25min 30sec), 5; Howie (lhr 24mm 22sec), 6; Russell"" (lhr 25 mm 20sec), 7, During the race a display of high diving from a Harbour Board crane was given by W. Hicks, W. Nesbitt, and M. Griffin. , The officials for the race ■ were : Judges, Messrs. P. Bundle, P. Coira and TVI. Burke; starters, Messrs. R. Smith and J. M'Nie; secretary, Mr V Beasley; lap steward, Mr. R. J. Wilson. .