HIS CHILDREN BLAZED THE TRAIL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 11

HIS CHILDREN BLAZED THE TRAIL

QWIMMING in Canterbury owes a debt of gratitude to Cynthia and lan Johnson, two young breaststroke

swimmers in the Fendalton club. Had they not taken up the sport, the Canterbury Swimming Centre might never have gained the valued

services of their father, Mr J. H. Johnson. His son and daughter's interest in swimming was the springboard that launched this popular official into his present sphere of activity. He has recently taken up the onerous task of centre secretary. He is already carnivals secretary and publicity officer on that bodypoets he will continue to fill in the meantime—has been a member of the management committee for two years and is actively concerned with the running of the calisthenics classes and the coaches’ discussion group. He is the centre's record clerk into the bargain. Many Offices In the Fendalton club he has been a committee member, delegate to the centre, club captain, starter and handicapper and he coaches a small squad of about eight or nine swimmers. A teacher at Heaton Intermediate School, he instituted last year a special learn-to-swim group of Standard VI children. He was chairman of the Intermediate Sports Council as W’ell last year. Swimming affairs consequently figure prominently in the Johnson household all the year round. In the summer there are carnivals to bfe attended, programmes

■ to be drawn up, swimmers to ■ be coached and learners to ■ be taught In the winter I there are calisthenics classes ' to be taken, discussion groups s to be organised. And running

, through the seasons is the , endless round of centre meetings. Npt that Mr Johnson dis- . likes his lot He is an enI thusiaat for swimming and , has often made work for ( himself so that the sport in i Canterbury can bgpefit

> In this respect, he has > thrown himself wholer heartedly Into the running of 3 the calisthenics classes and 5 the coaches’ discussion ’ group. He has been in calisthenics for three years, mainly assisting Mr L. Donaldson with the newcomers’ group, and was one of those instrumental in forming the coaches’ discussion group, following up the visit of the noted Australian coach, Don Talbot Calififhenict Since then he has started a calisthenics group at the Fendalton club for those swimmers who were unable to gain admission to the Canterbury classes. Mr Johnson has achieved a marked degree of success with his learn-to-swim group at school. He believes in putting all non-swimmen together, to make for greater confidence. The results have borne out his contention: of 30 children in the group last year. 25 could swim a width after six to eight les- : sons ' With calisthenics classes and coaches’ groups, Canter- ■ bury swimming is on the - right lines, says Mr Johnson. 1 But all-year-round swim- : ming facilities in Christi church are badly needed to complete the picture. There

is little or no time for stroke correction during the competitive season, he says. If a fault is not corrected—and winter is the ideal time to do it—it is liable to be overlooked and consequently perpetuated, where quick results are sought. Not the least of Mr Johnson's energies in swimming are devoted to the training of his daughter and son, both of whom display marked promise. Cynthia holds the Canterbury under--13 records for girls’ 110 yards breaststroke and 55 yards butterfly and as a junior last season gained a second and a third in the Canterbury championships. lan, also swimming breaststroke, gained two second placing® in the under-13 section at the championships. Rugby Coach Before he followed his children into swimming, Mr Johnson was a Rugby coach, an athlete and later a track judge for several years. He acted in this capacity at the Canterbury Centennial Games in 1950 and at two New Zealand championship meetings. But opportunities for spreading his sporting interests . pver a wide field have tong since purod. JHe is very much a one-sport l«an throe daya.