LEARNING TO SWIM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23260, 1 February 1939, Page 20

LEARNING TO SWIM

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN CO-OPERATION NECESSARY FURTHER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The complete co-operation of every member of swimming and life-saving clubs who is a proficient swimmer is essential during February to ensure the success of the national "learn-to-switn" campaign, which opens to-day. Volunteers have been nominated by various clubs, but their assistance "ill he far from enough. Accordingly, swimmers arc urged to make it a selfimposed duty this month to teach someone among their acquaintances to swim. The campaign affords the best possible means of popularising the sport. Whatever club members do to help "ill cause a strengthening of their particular club's position, in which all will share later. Surpassing any such personal benefit, is the pride of having contributed to the safety of human life. The champion swimmers of Auckland will compete at the Waiteniata Amateur Swimming Club's carnival in the Tepid Baths to-night. A lengthy programme, appealing to all swimmers, will be held there next Tuesday night by the North Shore Club. DOMINION TITLES EFFICIENT 01? G ANISATION Those present at the New Zealand junior and intermediate championship meeting in Rotorua last week were left with two deep impressions. One was ail admiration of the excellent ability of contestants; the other was appreciation of the efficiency of the Bay of Plenty Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association in organising the meeting. No previous intermediate and junior meeting has been so great a financial success. Iwo officials especially were popular with visitors. They were the carnival director, Mr. L. M. .Joblin, and the honorary secretary to the Bay of Plentv Centre, Mr. D, Ewart, the 18-years-old national diving champion. The latter reinforces his ability as a competitor bv being a competent administrator. After performing his duties splendidly, Mr. Joblin left Rotorua on Monday on transfer to Khandallah School, Wellington. He has been one of the officials chiefly responsible for building up the Bay of Plenty Centre in the two years of its existence, and it will miss' him keenly. All followers of swimming will hope that his energy and enthusiasm will he directed toward lifting the sport in Wellington. In some respects the swimming at the meeting was superior to that at previous carnivals. What really made the carnival so interesting was the keen competition, there being numerous wildly exciting contests for championships. Close racing is most desired by spectators, who are not usually concerned whether a performance is good in relation to records. The crowded accommodation on each of the three nights was evidence of the public's interest. In the competition for the War Memorial Shield, for which only wins count, Bay of Plenty and Otago tied with seven each, after an exciting contest, the issue not being decided until the last event. Southland followed with four wins. Auckland was among the least successful, having but one win. Except for K. AYilliaius. quarter-mile intermediate champion, all the Auckland representatives were beaten decisively. Nevertheless, in a few years some of those who failed on this occasion, especially the younger ones, may be prominent in senior championships. The Aucklanders had the education of observing that the contestants most successful, notably Miss C. Garvin and J. Whiti, were swimmers with good styles, which reflected sound coaching. In the Auckland team there was good yet raw material. Without exception, every member needs to be carefully encouraged and instructed to cultivate a correct technique, as their styles are principally retarding them at present. SOME BAD FAULTS POOR BODY BALANCE Bad faults were noticeable—faults which, if not removed promptly, will prevent the young competitors from ranking as champions in future. There were numerous instances in free-style and backstroke of poor body balance, of body twisting and rolling, of incorrect kicking and feathering arm drives. The Otago and Bay of Plenty representatives were by no means free from fault, but generally their stroke work was of a good standard and their success may be regarded as the outcome of the vigorous coaching policy of the centres to which they belong. Largely responsible for the Rotorua swimmers' skill was their coach, .Mr. J. B. Perrin. All his victorious swimmers being Maoris, their inherent ability has obviously been a solid foundation for his theories. The intermediate sprint champions, Whiti and Miss Garvin, already rank with the finest of New Zealand's swimmers. Sprinters of the calibre of P. Hanan, N. Crump and R. B. Frankham would have to exert themselves to the utmost to register 57 l-os in the Blue Bath, yet this was Whiti'k time for 100 yards. When Whiti swims his body is in a high, planing position, and he employs an arm-drive tl.at is steady and direct from the moment the hand enters the water until it leaves it. Like most of Mr. Perrin's pupils, he has a quick recovery with the arms. He is 16 years of age.