LIFE-SAVING

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1922, Page 10

LIFE-SAVING

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

WELLINGTON RETAIN SHIELD

COMPETITORS INCLUDE LADIES.

A turn to the more serious side of swimming—the ability to render aid. in case, of accident—was taken at Te Aro Baths yesterday afteTnoon, when teams from various parts of the Dominion contested the national still-water life-saving championship. To a large crowd of spectators the competition provided an excellent demonstration of the .great value of knowing what to' do when a ■ person is in danger of drowning. Four methods of rescue were given as a test {or the competing teams, each according to the state of the person in difficulty. Tho teams of four, carrying the work out in pairs (each competitor undertaking the role of patient alternately), went through the methods in a highly-credit-able manner, and left the judges to make their decision on the finer points rather than on correctness. The outstanding feature of the contest was the entry of a team of ladies (Wanganui A), and, although they could scarcely hope to keep pace with the men, they carried out their work admirably, and received a hearty ovation. It was the first occasion on which, a team of ladies had competed in this event, and it called forth some highly complimentary remarks from the judges. "The ladies' team," they said, "are to be commended for their very fine and even performance. They took particular care of their subjects, and their loss in time was greatly recovered by points given for efficiency." During the progress of the first method, one of the ladies became exhausted, and required to be assisted ;rom the bath, but the team competed ■gain, with the assistance of an emergency. Attached to the competition is the Wigram Shield, donated in 1912 by the Hon. H. F. Wigram, M.L.O. Wellington were the holders, having been successful at Dunedin last year, and on this occasion they retained possession by a good margin of points. . The teams were as follow :— Wanganui A. (ladies) : Misses A, Potaka, P. Svenson, 0. Tilley, and c! M'Kenzie-Forbes. ■ " Wellington A: L. Salek, W. M'Gill, A. Claridge, P. Edwards. Canterbury A: Meek, Collins, Bull, Davidson. Canterbury B: Atkinson, Herd, Coulter, M'Dowell. Wanganui, B: N. Marsden, Mayes, Wfiite, Dennan, Otago: MacKindoe, James, Allan, Murray. Napier: Lound, Russell, Collier, Arthur. Wellington B: J. Chapman, 0. Dormer, S. Atkinson, Evatt. The result was as follows:— Points. 1. "Wellington A ' [.... 73 3-sths 2. Canterbury B 61 l-sth 3. Canterbury A ...: '. 60 4. Wanganui B 57 |5. Otago '. 51 6. Wanganui A (ladies) 45 2-sths 7. Napier 42 1-Sth 8. Wellington B .12 3-sths Wellington B were disqualified on account of one subject assisting. Auckland did not compete. The large entry indicated that increased attention was being paid to this important branch of swimming. Commenting upon the contest, the judges stated that the standard of work was very good,. showing that the competitors had been carefully instructed and had given plenty of time to training. The standard was higher and the work better than last year. ,A new condition on this occasion was that the subjects were required to touch the edge of the bath, thereby preventing any repetition of the previous experiences of subjects being submerged at the finishing post. The work of the ladies reflected great credit on their instructors and themselves. . The judges were:—Messrs. J. A. Duffy, F. V. Apperley, and K. Bassett"; and the starter, Mr. Ralph Smith.