Sportsman's Notebook “TOO MANY FAILURES” IN LIFE-SAVING EXAMS.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29606, 31 August 1961, Page 6

Sportsman's Notebook “TOO MANY FAILURES” IN LIFE-SAVING EXAMS.

A feeling that there are too many life-saving examination failures and that this is because candidates are presented before they are fully prepared is expressed in the annual report of the Canterbury branch of the Royal Life-saving Society. The report also says that too many examinations are being crowded into the March-April examination period. This, it says, is partly because of the early closing of the Centennial Pool, but the main cause is late application for examinations. "It would seem that some candidates are held back while others are endeavouring to catch up with their work. 1 * says the report. "This is unfair to the former, who should be permitted to sit their examinations when ready, and the latter should not sit until probably a much later period." The report says that the crowding of too many examinations in,to the March-April period is seriously straining the facilities at the Centennial Pool and is also placing a heavy burden on the examiners. The Canterbury branch is ever trying to overcome these problems, and to this end forms of application and forms notifying examination arrangements have been printed. Ap. plications will not be entertained if they do not give at least three weeks’ notice. The report adds that because of the number of candidates who fail in the scientific tests, it has been | decided that these will be i taken first, and if the candidate fails the examination will be abandoned. * * *

Visit Contemplated A visit to the Cheviot district. probably Gore Bay is contemplated by the Canterbury Surf Life-Saving Association next summer Considerable interest was aroused in the district by a talk and demonstration of resuscitation given by Mr Allen Lee, the association’s chief instructor, to organisations in the area. A demonstration surf carnival is envisaged at an opportune time.

The Canterbury association held two carnivals at Gore Bay soon after the war, and botfo proved extremely popular with surfers and residents alike. A further demon, stration is certain to be fully supported by Canterbury surfers.

Australian Move

Memories of the visit of the Australian surf team last summer were revived by letters received from Mr Mitchell, president of the Canterbury association, from some members of the team. One in particular, from Jon Donohoe, the team captain, was of interest, as he mentioned the adoption by Australia of the four-man alarm drill as used in New .Zealand for many years. • It' was opposed by the Australian authorities until recently. This new move by Australian surf authorities will be viewed with pleasure by New Zealand Of particular value to small clubs, fourman competition has been tried and found successful in this country for many years. * *. ■ *

Schools’ Tournament

Forty-seven schools will take part in the Canterbury Public Schools’ Amateur Sports Association’s annual tournament at Rugby Park on September 6 and September 7. The entries are: basket, ball. 165 teams; Rugby, 168 teams; soccer. 23 teams. This is an increase of 37 teams over those which took part in the tournament last year. * s? >;t Cricket Gain

A prominent Pakistan test cricketer. Duncan Sharpe, will play for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield compe. tition in the coming summer. Sharpe, who is living in Ade. la'de. played for Pakistan in ?asa t a? 1 ree . tests a£ ? ainst the 1959-60 Australian touring team, led by Richie Benaud In the first test at Dacca he made 56 and 35