SWIMMING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8345, 4 February 1913, Page 9

SWIMMING

N l. CHAMPIONSHIPS CHAMPION WINS SPRINT AND MILE EVENTS. AND BREAKS A RECORD. Press Association. WANGANUI, February 3. The New Zealand amateur swimming championship -meeting commenced here ;o-day. In the evening there was an attendance of 2000 people. Some.magniiicent racing was witnessed. Results. First heat —A. O’Haro (Waitemata) 1 6. Seymour (Hawke’s Bay) 2, Ptank’uch (Blenheim) 3. Muller (Wanganui) also started. Seymour got tne best of the start, but was soon overhauled by O’Haro, who won by a touch, Pfankuch six feet away, lime, 07 2-ssec. , . ~ , Second heat—M. Champion (Auckland) 1, C. Atkinson (Opawa) 2 HStevenson (Hawke’s Bay) 3. Davy (South Canterbury) also started. Won easily, with something m hand m 61 l-ssec, two seconds inside the New Zealand record. , . Third heat—C. Welson (Waitemata) 1, R. Healy (Wellington) 2. The only starters. Welson won ns ho liked. Time, 64 2-6 sec. _. , , Fourth heat—C. Brice (Wellington) 1, F. Bridges (Hawke’s Bay) 2. Armstrong (Wanganui) also swam. Armstrong got off badly, and could not make up leeway. A good_ finish eventuated between Brice and Bridges, the former getting the verdict by a touch. Time, 65 1-Ssec. Semi-final—Welson 1, Seymour and O’Hare (dead heat) 2. Time, 66 2-ssce. Second semi-final.—Champion? 1, Atkinson 2. Time, 61sec, which is l-ssec better than Champion’s afternoon record. Final,—Champion 1, Atkinson 2, Welson 3. Won by a touch, the same between second and third. Time, 63 3-ssec. 50vds Ladies’ Inter-club Handicap.— Final: Miss Eado 1, Miss J. Gordon 2, Miss A. O’Leary 3. Time, 41 l-6sec. 75yds Imer-club Handicap.—J. Stevens (Napier) 1, Armand (Christchurch) 2. Time, 58Jsec. High Dive.—Paloon (Christchurch) 1, Armstrong (Wanganui) 2. One Mile Championship (70 laps).— Starters: Champion (Auckland), Pfankuch (Blenheim), Welson (Auckland) Rich (Opawa), A. Seymour (Blenheim), R. Healey (Wellington). Champion, Welson arid Seymour went to the front the last-named establishing a lead of a few yards. At the quarter-mile Pfankuch and Rich were two lengths and a length (25yds) respectively behind. liter going 800yds Champion led by five yards, but half a dozen lengths later Wilson and Seymour sprinted and overhauled him. The three raced together for the next 100yds. Rich was about 75yds behind, Pfankuch having withdrawn, and at the 200yds mark Seymour 'withdrew. Champion commenced to forge ahead, and was soon 20yds in front of Welson, who led Rich by 60yds. With 220yds to go Champion led by 35yds, and increased the lead over Welson all the way, eventually defeating Welson by 50yds. Rich was 20yds away. Time, 25min 34sec. 35yds . Relay.—Blenheim 1, East Christchurch 2. Time, 60seo. Polo.—Wellington defeated Wanganui B by 7 points to nil. FINE RACING. Special to the ” Times.” WANGANUI, February 3. In his heat of the 100 yards championship Brice got the verdict By a touch after an excellent finis!? with Bridges (Napier). In the semi-final ho failed to turn well, missing badly at the 76 yards mark. Champion won tho heat with some feet to spare from Atkinson, who is showing splendid form. Champion’s time (Cisco) places a new record on tho books. In the final Champion was never troubled and eased up towards the finish. Healy started and succeeded in getting into the semi-final, where he found the company too hot. The mile proved to be more interesting than the New Zealand long-dis-tance championship usually is. Pfankuch (the Blenheim hoy) is showing for tho first time, but he rapidly dropped behind. F. Seymour (Napier) and C. H. Rich (Christchurch) made the pace at tbe commencement, leading Champion and Welson (who were together) by a narrow margin. Rich dropped back at 300 yards and the three leaders, with Seymour still forcing the pace, lapped Pfhankuch fifty yards further on. Tho latter left the water at 450 yards. At 700 yards Champion commenced to swim in earnest, and took charge, drawing away from Seymour, who at this time was leading Welson by about a yard. At 1000 yards Champion lapped Rich. Seymour, who appeared to bo going well and to possess an excellent chance of beating Welson, gave up at this point, leaving the first two places to Champion and Welson. Champion, swimming easily, won by about 52 yards, Welson being 25 yards in front of Rich. A notable feature of the meeting is the liberal use made of tho crawl stroke. Champion favouring this method for sprinting.