SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 19454, 12 January 1927, Page 10

SWIMMING

FAREWELL DEMONSTRATION

After thirteen years’ valuable service as coach and custodian at, the Dunedin Municipal Laths, Mr E. H. Olds leaves to-morrow for Auckland, eu route to America to take up a new position, and in view of the thousands of_ school children he has taught to swim and the champions he has produced, it was only to Ire expected that there would he quite a good attendance at the baths last night, when Mr Olds and his family staged a farewell demonstration.

Prior to the display hy the Olds family two junior girls’ races were swum across the width of the baths, these being won hy Misses I*. Lang and C. Lang respectively. A junior boys’ 33 l-3yds handicap was won hv W. Jarvis (scratch), with It. Gedcles (3sec) occupying second place after a good race.

It is some time since Mr Olds gave a display of swimming and diving, but his demonstration last night gave those present an idea of the rapnbilitics of the departing coach. Ho performed various stunts while in the water, including the “porpoise” and the “pendulum,” neither of which is hy any means easy. A demonstration on the evolution of swimming illustrating tho various strokes proved most interesting, as did also tho exhibitions given by the Olds children. T>es. Olds, tho New Zealand junior hoys’ 220yds champion, and holder of several junior records, swam a couple of lengths on the crawl in fast time, and D. Olds, the intermediate crack and holder of several provincial titles, swam a length on the crawl and a length on tho breaststroke, in which he is expected to make a bold hid for intermediate honors at Auckland next week. The eight-year-old Miss Nancy Olds gave a pretty display of diving off both the low and lOtt hoards, and the baby of this aquatic family, wee Owen Olds, aged four years, also showed that it will not be long before he will be quite adept in the water. , , , Following the swimming demonstration, a fine collection of lantern slides was shown. These were collected by Mr Olds principally during a recent visit to America, and comprised some splendid views of the leading swimming baths of the United States, as well, as many of the leading American swimmers and Olympic champions. At the close of the entertainment Mr Olds thanked those present for their attendance, and expressed his gratitude to his friends in Dunedin for their efforts on his behalf, the singing of “ For he’s a jolly good fellow ” concluding the function.