Australians' Triumph

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 873, 17 January 1930, Page 6

Australians' Triumph

LAST OF SWIMMING TOUR Griffiths’s Time in Furlong BRILLIANT LY reversing their form early in their New Zealand tour, the Australian swimmers, Owen Griffiths and Noel Ryan, triumphed at the Mount Eden Club's carnival last evening at the Tepid Baths. In beating Ryan and Gordon Bridson. of Auckland. Griffiths set a new time for 220 yards.

By an won from Griffiths and Ken de r Loree in the 100 yards first class handicap, the other big event of the even- j ing. Only Arne Borg the famous Swedish j swimmer, has established a better time j for 220 yards in Auckland than that i put up by Griffiths. The Australian i covered the distance in 2.24 2-5 in . one of the best races seen in Auek- | land. This bettered by 1 4-ssec the j New Zealand record recently estab- j lished by Bridson. The pace set by Griffiths last evening was too severe for Bridson, who was left behind gradually. Over the last 20 yards, Ryan sprinted, passed Bridson and won second place. His form, too, was obviously much improved since Bridson defeated him easily in December. Griffiths's time was better than any he has established in Australia, although he is New [ South Wales champion for the dis- ; tancc. The other week, in Christ- J church, he made 2.27 1-5 in fresh j water. i Bridson’s defeat was foreshadowed two laps from the finish when a spurt by Griffiths thoroughly rattled him. Ryan was improving his position and the Aucklander was at a loss as to what methods to employ. For a time, he departed from his deliberate stroke and this must have had an effect toward the end. Griffiths clapped on the pace the whole distance and went near to 60sec for each 100 yards; Ryan swam an excellently judged race. Bridson lost by three yards, and this means he did not quite equal his best time of 2.26 1-5. Ryan nearly attained that time in beating Bridson by nearly half a stroke. Details of the race were: 220 YARDS SCRATCH RACE (New Zealand record, G. Bridson. 2.26 1-5.) Owen Griffiths (N.S.W.) } Noel Ryan (N.S.W.) ~ Gordon Bridson (Auckland) ° Time, 2.24 2-5 (New Zealand record). Griffiths’s magnificent performance is well shown in a chart of the lap positions. The lap placings were:—First: Griffiths led by a touch from Bridson and Ryan. Second: Griffiths was leading by a touch. Third: Griffiths was two feet ahead of Bridson, who led Ryan by a yard. Fourth: Griffiths was a yard from Bridson, who was fooT feet from Ryan. Fifth: Griffiths’s lead was a yard and Rvan was a yard back. Sixth: Griffiths led by five feet, and Bridson was two feet from Ryan. Twenty yards to rope: Griffiths won by three yards and Ryan came up to beat Bridson by a touch. In the 100 yards handicap, ‘.n which Ryan won by two yards off 3see, there was another story of how Bridson can be rattled under severe competition. On the last lap, when Griffiths was increasing his lead from the Aucklander to overtake the handicap men, Bridson’s stroke was again hurried. In this race, which was swum in not overfast time, the Aucklander did not equal his best performances for the distance. Details: 100 YARDS FIRST CLASS HANDICAP Noel Ryan (N.S.W.), Ssec 1 Owen Griffiths (N.S.W.), scr - Ren de Loree (Mount Eden), 4sec .. J Time, 59sec. Also swam: G. Bridson (Grammar), scr; A. W. Raper (Ponsonby), 4sec; R. A. Sellars (Helensville), 4s. Ryan led the handicap men all the way and beat Griffiths by two yards. Griffiths led Bridson after the end of the

second lap. De Loree was a loot back and Raper was next. With an attendance of 1.500. the carnival was the most enthusiastic in Auckland for several seasons. The Australians received a tremendous ovation from the crowd and their performances were praised by Mr. G. 1 Taylor, president of the club, and* Mr E. H. Potter. Mayor of Mount Eden who spoke at the farewell to the swimmers. Griffiths, in reply, said Ryan and he were grateful to New Zealand, and Auckland especially, for hospitality during the tour. Bridson was a swimmer of great promise. Ryan and Bridson also spoke. Miss Gladys Pidgeon justified her return to the sport in winning the Auckland women’s 220 yards breast-stroke championship in good time. Another outstanding performer was R. Thomas, the young Grammar swim- J. mer, who swam with good success in six 50 yard races. 220 YARDS WOMENS BREASTSTROKE CHAMPIONSHIP (Auckland and New Zealand record, 3min 35 3-ssec, Miss G. Pidgeon.) Miss G. Pidgeon (Waiteniaia) i Miss J. Thomson (Parnell) 2 Time, Smin 37see. At the end of the first lap. Miss Thomson was level with the winner, but Miss Pidgeon pulled ahead steadily to win by 15 yards In fast time. 66 2-3 YARDS WOMEN’S HANDICAP First heat: Miss M. Elworth (N.S.), 6sec, 1: Miss S. Denham i.Pon.) 6sec, 2; Miss M. Sadler (M.E.). Ss 3. Time. 48 4-ssee. Miss L. Coutts, scr, was handicapped out of a place. Second heat: Miss S. Brown (M.E.), 4sec, 1: Miss P. Robertson (Par.), ssec. 2; .Miss O. Harvey (Par.), 6see, 3. Time, 4t>sec. Final: Miss Brown, 1; Miss Elworth and Miss-Robertson, dead 1 eat. 2. Time. 4 4 2-ssec. Won by two yards. Miss Robertson finished strongly. 100 Yards Dual Relay.—J. P. Farrell (U.C.) and Miss P. Robertson (Par ), scr. I. M. Honeyfield (W.), and Miss S. Brown (M.E.), ssec, 2; N. Crump (N.S.), and Miss G. Sadler (M.E.), I2sec, 3. Time, 6Ssee. Won by a foot. Candle Race.—R. Pidgeon, l. 100Yds Breast-stroke Handicap.—First heat: J. Mulvihill (W.), 15see, 1; R. de Loree (M.E.), lOsec, 2; T. Lowe (N.S.I. Isee, 3. Time, lmin 30 3-ssec. Second hear: J. Perrin <W.), 16sec. 1: A. Clarke (W.y, llsec, 2; J. Magee (Par.), scr. 3. Time, lmin 34see. Final: De Loree, 1: Mulvihill. 2; Perrin, 3. Time, lmin 27sec. Won by a. yard. 50 Yards Novice Handicap.—First heat: F. Guzzell (W.)„ 7tec, 1; T. Deane (N.S.), 4sec, 2. Time, 34sec. Second heat: (’. Skynner (M.E.), 7sec, 1; R. Thomas (G.), ser, 2; A. Spraggon (N.S.), 4sec, 3. Time, 33sec. Final: Skynner, 1; Guzzell, 2. Time, 34sec. Thomas and Deane were disqualified for breaking. 50 Yards Junior Boys’ Handicap.— First heat: R. Eccles (Wh.), nsec, 1; 1). Webster (M.E.), 7sec, 2; G. Cox (N.S.), Ssec, 3. Time, SCsec. Second heat: R. Thomas <G.), scr. 1; R. Gee <W.). lsec, 2; T. Strong (Hels.), ssec, 3. Time, 27 3-ssec. Third heat: D. Smith (M.E.), Ssec, 1; N. Crump (X.S.), 2sec. 2; J. Laird (Par.), 4sec. 3. Time, 3S 3-sser. Final: Thomas, 1; Eccles, 2; Gee, 3. Time, 28 3-ssec. Thomas swam brilliantly tc beat the Whangarei boy by a yard. 50 Yards Junior Girls’ Handicap.— First heat: Miss 15. Leiven (.M.E.), 7sec 1; Miss A. Thomsen (M.E.), 6sec, 2; Miss A. Ryan (W.), 7see, 3. Time, 39 3-ss*c Second heat: Miss M. Ley don (W.), 6sec, 1; Miss A. Pearce (Pon ), 2sec, 2; Miss G. Sadler (M.E.), 6sec. 3. Time, 36sec. Third heat: Miss IS. Strong (Hels.). sser, 1 Miss E. Rainey (N.S.), Ssec, 2: Miss 1. Keeping (W.), 3sec, 3. Time, 33 3-ssec. Final: Miss Leiven, 1; Miss Rainey. 2: Miss Thomson. 3. Time, 36 l-ssec. Won by three yards. Water Polo. —Auckland, 1; The Rest,