Records Battered by N.Z. Swimmers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 580, 5 February 1929, Page 11

Records Battered by N.Z. Swimmers

AUCKLANDERS SHINE

STOKES' GREAT WIN (Special to THE SUX) WELLINGTON, Monday. Records were sadly battered at Te Aro Baths on the second day of the New Zealand swimming championships. For three records to go in successive races was in itself something of an event and the gailery was kept a-sizzle with the expectation of more thrills to Ij'OUR line new performances were marked on the chart to-day, and the wonder of it was that two of them, in the junior events, were the work of competitors w li o were never pushed. R. Geddes, Otago’s wonder boy, clipped 1 3-ssec. from the existing record in the 75 yards junior boys’ breaststroke championship, covering the distance in 60 4-ssec. Miss P. Robertson, a strong younggwimmer, from Auckland, distanced the field in the 100 yards intermediate girls’ championship, when she made her touch in 68 2-ssec, which was 2-5 sec better than the previous best. The other new records were the property of L. J. Moorhouse, who scored Canterbury’s first win of the day in the 150 yards men’s backstroke, and of A. Stokes, Canterbury’s 220 yards champion. "‘The record-holder” was how the announcer described Moorhouse in erroj* before the race, but he was only anticipating. In gaining another win in this event, Moorhouse was timed at lmin 52 1-5 sec, which lowered the record by 2-5 sec. Stokes, in the best race of the day, rushed home in 2min 31sec, 3-ssec lower than L. L. Kronfeld’s time.

REMORSELESS STOKES Canterbury was in the limelight today with three championships and two new records. The best win of the province came from the surprising Stokes, who swam a masterly race in the 220 against strong opposition, and finished in a manner which demonstrated that he is probably destined to annex more titles before long. The burly Bridson, of Auckland, clapped on the pace from the beginning, and reached the hundred mark, closely pursued by Lindsay, his team-mate, and Stokes. Claridge and Enwright were tail-enders. Bridson plugged away in his powerful style and bustled his pursuers, but Stokes hung on remorselessly, and in the last lap he overhauled Bridson, touched the 200 yards at almost the same instant, turned more strongly and with a final spurt, put himself four feet ahead. Lindsay, belatedly, overtook Bridson and almost on the rope he robbed the pacemaker of second place. The 220 yai'ds women’s championship I saw a desperate effort by the Auckland girls which just failed to snatch victory. Misses Stockley and Miller were the favourites and at the 50 yards turn they held a lead of about a foot. Miss Grant (Auckland), a stylish swimmer, then spurted, and at 100 yards she was about 10 feet in front.., Misses Stratton and Simmonds were behind the favourites, and Miss Champion was right in the rear. Miss Miller was all out in the third lap and cut down her opponent’s lead by two yards. MISS MILLER’S FINE WIN Renewed effort by Miss Grant gave her another couple of feet early in the fourth lap. but this was vanishing rapidly by the time they had reached the middle of the baths. They turned for the final 20 yards in the same second, but Miss Grant was failing and Miss Miller, swimming doggedly, finished two yards ahead. Miss Stockley, who had been distanced in this duel, came up in the final stages and almost overhauled Miss Grant. Miss Stratton had headed her, but the Auckland girl’s final effort took her into third place by a touch. Runaway victories marked the 75 yards junior boys’ breaststroke championship, and the 100 yards intermediate girls’ championship. R. Geddes, of Gtago, gained a yard by his slick start in the boys’ event, and simply dashed away from the field, which was of good average qualitjr. He was about five yards ahead at the turn, and won by six yards. The boy is muscular, and promises to go far. AUCKLAND AGAIN

The second runaway win was by Miss Robertson, of Auckland. Though suffering from a cold, she raced away from the other competitors and finished lustily in record time, eight yards ahead of a pretty swimmer, Miss M. Smith, also of Auckland, who ran in a yard ahead of Miss M. Mathieson, of Otago. His quicker turning at lap-ends and general alertness gave L. J. Moorhouse the 150 yards backstroke championship without serious opposition. What chance his nearest attendants had they sacrificed by leisurely changing of direction. Moorhouse won by four yards from Rix-Trott (Wellington), with W. Cameon next. W. Boyd (Otago) was never in the contest, but he gained third place through Cameron forgetting himself and turning upon his breast to finish, an error which brought disqualification upon him. DIMINUTIVE AUCKLANDER Miss J. Webster, the diminutive Auckland girl, who won the junior breaststroke championship in 43sec, two seconds under standard, took the lead from the outset and never was troubled. She was a yard ahead of the other girls, who finished almost in a line. Miss Z. Fryer, of Hawke's Bay, got the judge’s decision for second place. The intermediate boys’ quarter-mile was full of incident, the leaders changing almost lap by lap. Kelly, of Hawke’s Bay. began best, but at the 100 yards Williams (Wellington) had headed him and McConville (Canterbury) was close. In another 50 yards the Canterbury boy had come ahead, and Sutherland (South Canterbury) appeared from the rear of the bunch. Williams opened out at the 200 and Sutherland moved up after him, Kelly fading and Rose (Wellington), lying handy, fourth. L. Smythe (Auckland) was last. Rose went on to make the pace at the 300 yards touch, McConville being second and Sutherland third. Fifty yards more and Sutherland, moving powerfully, had dashed past Rose, and the field had realised that he was the man to be met. McConville rushed after him. but Sutherland had caught the Canterbury boy napping and gained two yards start when the final lap began. Kelly reappeared, but neither he nor McConville could overhaul the South Canterbury lad. who finished hard and held his lead unimpaired. The first sections of the intermediate boys’ diving championship and the women’s diving championship were held to-day. and J. Ha.ley (Canterbury), and Miss L. Copplestone, were performing well.