NO ENTHUSIASM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 7

NO ENTHUSIASM

RYAN-GRIFFITHS CARNIVAL FAILS TO ATTRACT EXPERIENCE IN WELLINGTON WELLINGTON, Thursday. So far as Wellington Is concerned, the response to the energy of the New Zealand Swimming Association in arranging for a tour of Australian swimmers has not met with a very enthusiastic reception. The two swimmers, O. Griffiths and N. Ryan, appeared at a carnival in the Te Aro Baths last Saturday. and though the weather was excellent for the sport the attendance was very meagre. In fact, it was one of the poorest attended carnivals held in Wellington for some seasons.

There were four events on the programme in which the visitors appeared, the most successful being the 220 yards, won by Griffiths in 2m 28 l-ss, which is four-fifths of a second better than the New Zealand record registered by G. Bridson at February last. Cameron, the New Zealand sprint champion, accounted for the hundred yards event, in which Griffiths was second.

Ryan was successful in winning the quarter-mile, but there was nothing outstanding in his performance, except that he was about 15 yards ahead of ’‘vStump’' Claridge at the finish. The indications, however, are that the two visitors are improving in form and should put up some notable performances before long.. Both swimmers are young, and it has taken them some time to become acclimatised.