SWIMMING

Hutt News, Volume 18, Issue 44, 28 February 1945, Page 5

SWIMMING

Y.M.C.A. CLUB

During the 1944-45 swimming season, the Y.M.C.A. Club has been in operation both at Petone,.|3aths and Riddiford Baths. The reason for this is the great increase of membership, mainly in our junior groups over the past season. The total membership now is 200 odd.

As there were so many who could not swim when they joined the club a panel of coaches was formed consisting of ten of the senior members, and these coaches were put through the new McCabe method of ing swimming by Mr. George educational officer to the Wellington Centre of the N.Z.A.S.A., and they were then placed in charge of a num ber of pupils who could not swim and did their best in the teaching line.

Used this way the McCabe method was very effective and &oon numbers of the learners began to move along in the water and before long were able to swim the width of the baths. In this way our swimmers helve gained more confidence and are now quite" at home in the water.

Those who could swim have been having coaching and are coming along very nicely and many have improved their stroke and style considerably. Although only a few are up to competitive standard yet, we hope to have in the near future boys and girls competing in the local carnivals. The Hutt Valley Y.M.C.A. Swimming Club is holding a carnival of its own on the Ist. March and as there are two Wellington Provincial Championship races to be held, very good competition should result. The carnival will be held at the Riddiford Baths and the programme is to be started with a game of water polo, and the programme includes an exhibiton of diving and clowning.