SWIMMING TITLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 37, 14 February 1939, Page 8

SWIMMING TITLES

QUALIFYING HEATS L. SMITH IN FINAL RESULTS AT INVERCARGILL I [ Per Press Association.] INVERCARGILL. Feb. 13. The heats of the 220 yards men’s breaststroke and the mile men's freestyle events, the opening races of the New Zealand swimming champion.ships were held this evening. | W. Dyson (Otago), K. Spry tWellington), L. Smith (Wanganui), and | J. C. W. Davies (Taranaki), the titleholder, qualified in the breaststroke. In the mile, A. Pascoe (Auckland’, L. Newell (Canterbury), J. Frank (Nelson), A. T. F. Stokes (Canterbury) and W. Johnson (Southland) qualified for the final. Dyson, who holds the record, had a 'fairly comfortable win the first heat jof the breaststroke event, winning by la yard from Spry, who finished stronglly and beat Smith by a foot for second place. In the second heat, Davies swam well within himself and won by [a yard from Shaw. Horsfall was three iyards further back. Shaw and Horsfall did not qualify as their times were not as fast as that of the third man in the preceding heat. Shaw, who tailed to qualify by only two-fifths of a second, was unfortunate in that he thought he had only to get into second place io qualify for the final, and so did not undulv extend himself, j Pascoe swam well in his heat of the 'mile and beat Newell, the title and i record-holder, by 40 feet. New ell. I however, seemed well content to take !things easily when he saw he was safe .for second place. Frank was nearly [6O yards further back. Stokes had a runaway victory in the 'second heat of the mile, winning by more than 60 yards from Johnson. G. [Usher, the Wellington one-legged swimmer, put up a game fight but finished a long way behind Johnson. (Peter Mathieson (Auckland), ‘he only 'other starter, retired after swimming 700 yards hackstroke. He apjpeared to be having a training swim •preparatory to defending his back(stroke titles. The qualifying heats for the two events resulted:— One Mile Freestyle First heat. A. Pascoe (Auckland; 1. iL. Newell (Canterbury) 2, .1. Frank • Nelson) 3. Time, 24min. 18sec. Second heat.-A. T. F. Stokes (Canterbury) 1, W. Johnston (Southland) 2, G. Usher (Wellington) 3. Time, 23 min. 54 3-ssec. ?20 Yards Breast stroke First heat. W. Dyson (Otago) 1, K. Spry (Wellington) 2, L. Smith (Waniganui) 3. Time, 3min. 6 4-ssec. Second heat. —J. C. W. Davies •(Taranaki) 1. K. Shaw (Southland) 2, H. Horsfall (Canterbury) 3. Time, 3m in. 9 l-ssec.