SWIMMING TROPHIES.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 March 1929, Page 6

SWIMMING TROPHIES.

PRESENTED AT LEVIN DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL. With swimming receiving so much attention both for its merits in physical development and its use in lifesaving it is very fitting that those who excel in the art should receive their full share of recognition. In this spirit a little gathering took place at the Levin District High School on Friday afternoon which served to show that the school is doing its part in the encouragement of this branch of athletics. This was the presentation of the trophies won at the recent school sports. Owing to the rain it was impossible to hold the function in the open-air in the presence of the whole school, and It therefore took place in one of the class-rooms. There were present the chairman of the School Committee, Mr A. W. Hutchings, and Mrs Hutchings, the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs T. Hobson), Mr J. Connor, headmaster of the Ohau School, and Mrs Connor, with the Ohau team that recently competed for the Robertson Shield, Mrs R. J. Foss, Mrs D. S. Mackenzie, Messrs J. W. Procter and Kerslakc (members of the School Committee), and Mr R. J. Foss, headmaster, and Messrs H. Donald and [I. Jones, of the school staff. (Mr Hutchings presided and extended a welcome to the Ohau visitors and referred to the good showing they had made in the contest for the Robertson Shield. They had very nearly won the oveut, and all hoped that next year they would take the trophy back, with them. 1 (Applause). Swimming was a clean and healthy sport and one of the children’s Instructors has recently told him that half an hour's swimming daily was worth all the physical exercises they could get in the gymnasium. It developed the muscles and body in a wonderful way and he mentioned as an example Annette Kellenmrn, who as a young girl was of poor physique, but who after taking up swimming became world famous in this branch of sport. Mr Hutchings gave the children an interesting account of expert divers he had seen at Colombo and in France, and also the -Maori boys at Rotorua. Knowledge of swimming was essential in New Zealand, where most of the largo cities were on the sea coast and the boys and girls were all anxious’ to got into the water. It was therefore right that the Government, Education Boards and School Committees < should do all that they could to on- 1 courage swimming. He was sure the boys and girls enjoyed the swimming baths very; much, and he suggested that they ask the Borough Council to make certain small alterations that would improve them very much. Their thanks were due to the many people who had donated prizes for the sports; to their instructor, ‘Mr H’owjard Jones, who took such a keen interest in their swimming sports and instruction, to Mr D. S. Mackenzie, who provided the learners’ medals; and to the Borough Council for its assistance with the swimming baths. At the chairman’s call hearty cheers were given for each of these benefactors.

The presentation of prizes then took place, Mr Hutchings first distributing the Mackenzie medals, in the form of new two-shilling pieces to all scholars who had learnt to swim since last year, and following this with the prizes won at the school swimming sports, the names of the winners in which were , published at the time. The boys and girls wore applauded as they came forward and received a few words of encouragement and commendation from the chairman. The Headmaster then referred to the interest taken in the school by the Levin Swimming Club in giving a cup for annual competition, with a small replica for the winner to hold. He said that, for the purjiose of deciding the winner, the school had been divided into three grades, with handicaps for age and efficiency. There were first those boys or girls under 12 on December 31st preceding the contest, next those not over 15, and then the.

older ones. In each grade there ■ were four events with five points for each,, so that it was possible for anyone to gain twenty points, or for a scholar in any of the grades to win the Cup, which would be held for one month, the miniature becoming the winner’s j permanent property. This year the 1 winner was June Hobson, who scored 13 points out of 20. (Applause). He called on the Mjiyor, who was the Swimming Club President, to present the Cup. In doing this, Mr Hobson said that it gave him much, pleasure as President of tire Swimming- Club to present the trophy and he was also proud that his daughter was the first to win it. Perhaps some of the others did not go in for as many events, but he' had always encouraged his children to enter in as many competitions us possible for the sport’s sake and not for the prize. The Swiming Club intende/d to present a (miniature Cup every year, or as long as the Club was in existence. In Levin they; nonld never tell how long these Clubs would, last. The Mayor mentioned that his: daughter had been second in the Manawatu Championship at Fox ton, which was open to competition by swimmersfrom Palmerston, Fell ding, Dannevirke, Foxtoii, Woodvillo, and Levin. Ho then handed over the Cup amidst applause. iThe next item was the presentation, by the chairman of the championshipmedals donated by Drs. L. J. Hunter and S. J. Thompson, and won by June Hobson 'and Cl if. lien tocos t. These were handed to the winners by Mr Hutchings, each winner receiving an. ovation. Mr Hutchings said it was a great pity that there were not more teams entering for the Robertson Shield. If such a school us Foxton were included, it might bring more competition. He next presented championship certificates to the winners of these races and said the children were encscbted to the Headmaster for having these permanent records of their success, which he felt, sure they would treasure in years to come. At his call cheers were given for Mr Foss.

The Headmaster said the Robertson Shield was presented in 1912 and it wa*' won in that yearly the Boys’ Training Farm. In 1918 it was won by Tokomaru and it then was won by the Levin District High School. Prom that time, with the exception of 1925, he very much regretted to say that no school had succedcd in taking it away. It would be a very fine thing for swimming if some other competitor wer& towin the Shield. They were very much indebted to the Ohan School for «thcbrave fight put up for the ..Shield.'dthis week. They were good sports down there, and if the other schools between Tokomaru and Waikanae would come forward and put up a light like Ohau, Levin would not hold the Shield very long. He read the list ,of . swimmers 'who had ’ competed for Levin in the past few years and regretted that only one of them had turned out to swim in the old boys’ race this year. Referring to the Swimming Club’s Cup, he said that whoever won it would only do so by hard work and training, but , if they made a good fight for it the competitors would please the Swimming Club and please the School. He thanked the Mayor and Mayoress and others present for their atendance and (ho gathering closed with three, cheers for Drs. Thompson and Hunter, the donors of the champion medals. ouosoquently the visitors were entertained at afternoon tea.