SWIMMING.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1924, Page 4

SWIMMING.

AUCKLAND, March I I The Ladies’ 100yds Invitation Race at the swimming carnival last night was spoiled by a very unfortunate incident. Misses Sliand, Stoekley, and llell faced the starter, and The two firstnamed got away practically together, but Miss Roll was caught napping and dived in a little late. Immediately there were erics of "False start” from a section of the spectators and a few officials, but the starter gave no intimation of this being so. The three swimmers raced up the hath to the first turn, Miss Stocklev being slightly ahead. There, however, a spectator leaned over and told Miss Sliand to stop, which she did. The other two turned and raced back, but Miss Bell slowed up. Miss Stoekley kept on at top speed to 66 2-5 yards where, as she turned, a swimmer dived in from the side and stopped her. Had the rope at half-way been untied as it should have in the event of a false start, matters would not have been so bad, hut what was more surprising was that two and a half minutes afterwards the ladies were called up to contest the race again. These conditions were decidedly in Miss Shand’s favour, and she won. The reason for re-swimming the race immediately was not apparent, as the event was well up on the programme. The final result was—Miss G. Sliand 1, Miss Stoekley 2, Miss J. Bell 3. Won by a second. Time 69secs.