SCHOOL SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 18331, 19 July 1923, Page 12

SCHOOL SWIMMING

OTAGO EDUCATION DISTRICT. CERTIFICATES AWARDED. Certificates awarded by the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association to pupils attending State and private schools and colleges in the Otago district have been distributed by Mr E. H. James, educational officer for the Otago Centro of the association. These certificates aro awarded to school children as follow:—Learners’ certificates to any boy or girl swimming 50yds; certificate of proficiency to any boy or girl swimming a distance of 220yds, and a merit certificate to any boy or girl swimming a distance of 880yds or over.

The number of certificates issued this year is nearly double that of any previous year, totalling 514, as against 285 last year. A number of schools which had never held these swimming tests before qualified this year, which goes to show that tho method adopted by tho N.Z.A.S.A. to encourage school educational swimming has proved a great success. This is a big argument in favor of the Government grant being reinstated on account of tho expense involved by tiro association in supplying these certificates. In perusing the large list of applications for certificates one is struck with tho great number of girls who have gone through the tests, which indicates that New Zealand has every chance of maintaining the high position held now through its lady swimmers. Following is a summary of the certificates awarded to the various schools in the Otago district:-

182 159 173 614 Total Certificates granted, 514.

Among the meritorious performances may tie mentioned Miss Hetty Kelly (Archerfiekl School), aged twelve years, who was awarded a certificate" for swimming two miles; Miss Audrey Nisbet (Archerfield), nine years, for 50yds; Gordon Ritchie (Arthur Street), twelve years, one and three-quarter miles; Albert Price (Arthur Street), thirteen years, two and a-quarter miles; Eric Munro (Arthur Street), ten years, 880yds; .Brian Kerr (Maori Hill), ton years, 440y<ls; J. B. Davies (John M'Giasban College), eight years, 50yds; F. M. Paape (Otago Boys’ igh School), 6,050yd5; J. M. Sherwood (Otago Boys' High School), 5,550yd5; Miss Jean McCulloch (Oaniaru South), ten years, ono mile; and Miss Sheila M'Cnlloch (Oamaru South), nine, years, 400yds. The record of long-distance swimming over a mile is a lengthy one, and the names are too numerous to mention individually.

The Waitaki Boys’ High School heads this year's list with 72 certificates. Oarnarn South School being next with 53, then Otago Hoys’ High School with 52, Alexandra District High School with 51, Otago Girls’ High School with 42, and Archerfield School with 41.

Tlie average attendance at the John M‘Glashan College for the year was sixty-two, which shows that practically one in every three pupils gained a certificate. Alexandra District High School had an average attendance of 191, and the percentage of pupils gaining certificates was very creditable. Either of these schools should run close for the special certificate granted by the New Zealand Swimming Council lo the school gaining the highest number of certificates in the dominion. The number of certificates awarded to school pupils for the past year in other provinces is not yet known.

O P s . -. 03 0 C T. it II. 2o 31 •3 s few S co o 73 H co Archerfield 18 10 13 — 41 Alexandra D.H. ... 19 12 20 — 51 Arthur Street 3 — 9 — 12 Albany Street 4 3 S - 12 Cavcrsham 5 3 - 8 Green Island 1 2 - 3 Maori Hill 7 6 3 - 16 Morniirgton 3 2 4 ~ 9 Moray Place 18 4 1 - 23 John M'Glashan 12 5 5 - 22 Oamam Middle 3 2 3 - 8 Otago Boys’ High ... 10 7 35 - 52 Oamaru North 12 14 ~ 26 Oamaru South 14 23 16 - 53 Otago Gilds’ High ... 17 15 10 - 42 Port Chalmers D.H. 1 1 - 2 Ravcnshourne 1 5 1 ~ 7 St. Hilda’s College ... 2 I 9 - 12 St. Dominic's 5 pi- - 13 St. Clair ... 16 ll 1 - 28 Duntrnon 2 - 2 Wailaki 10 30 32 - 72