“LEARN TO SWIM” WEEK OPENS

Southland Times, Issue 23376, 7 December 1937, Page 5

“LEARN TO SWIM” WEEK OPENS

Bia Attendances At

6atlis

PERSONS OF ALL AGES INSTRUCTED

Over 670 persons attended the Municipal Baths yesterday for the opening sessions of “Learn to Swim” Week in Invercargill. This number was made up of children from the North, Middle, Waihopai, Waikiwi and St. George schools, St. Catherine’s College and the Southland Girls’ High School, and by adult learners of all ages. Satisfaction with the numbers that had attended the baths during the day was expressed last evening by the president of the Southland Swimming Centre (Mr H. W. Ashley). “The week promises to be a great success,” he told The Southland Times. “And there is no reason why it should not. It has been well organized and every facility is offered those who wish to learn to swim.” “Learn to Swim” W’eek was declared officially open at the general public hour last evening by the Mayor (Mr John Miller). He explained that a campaign to encourage everyone to learn to swim was taking place throughout New Zealand this week. The project had been inaugurated by the National Committee of Swimming and LifeSaving. There was a great need for more people to be able to swim, he said, and in Invercargill, where there were such splendid baths, the number of swimmers should be bigger. “This week is not only for children, but people of all ages,” the Mayor continued. “The different clubs are putting their hearts into making the project a success. In the baths this evening there are 25 instructors, which shows the keen' interest members of swimming clubs are showing in ‘Learn to Swim’ Week. And the public appears to be alive to the benefits offered. By 4 o’clock this afternoon, 390 persons had attended a coaching course. That was a good start to the week, and I hope it will meet with the success it deserves, and that all those who cannot swim will learn and patronize the baths in the future.” At the end of the public coaching hour last evening, a 50 yards freestyle open handicap swimming event, the first of a series of races to be held during the week for aggregate prizes, was decided. Big entries were received for the race, and it was not until five heats and two semi-finals had been swum that the winner was found in A. V. Osmond. The detailed results of the race were: 50 YARDS OPEN freestyle—First heat: A. Brown 1, G. Asher 2. Time, 0.40. Second heat: J. Coatsworth 1, B. Hannon 2. Time, 0.39 3-5. Third heat: A. V. Osmond 1, C. Martin 2, A. Wilson 3 Time. o.33sec. Fourth heat: J. Couling 1, L. Gellatly 2. Time, 0.28 1-5. Fifth heat: R. Glennie 1, M. Jones 2. Time, 0.30 1-5. First semi-final: Coatsworth 1, Martin 2, Osmond 3. Time, 0.29 3-5. Second semi-final: Brown 1, Jones 2, Couling and L. Gellatly 3 equal. Time, 0.33. ,r o Final: Osmond 1. Brown 2, Martin 3, Gellatly 4. Time, 0.33. PROGRAMME FOR TODAY The sessions at the baths today will be as follows: 6.30 to 8 a.m., general public coaching; 8 to 9 a.m., learners, with centre instructors; 9 to 9.30 ajn., Technical College pupils; 9.30 to 10.30 a.m., Waikiwi and Waihopai schools; 10.30 to 11.30, North school; 11.30 to 12.30, Middle school; 1 to 2 p.m., general public coaching hour; 2 to 3 p.m., St. George School; 3.15 to 3.45 p.m., St. Joseph’s school; 3.45 to 4.15 p.m., St. John’s College; 4.45 to 5.45, children’s session; 7 to 8 p.m., women’s session under women instructors; 8 to 8.45, life-saving for secondary school girls; 8.45 to 9 p.m., swimming races for women and girls. The instructors for today are: Diving, A. Crosby and Miss A. Mair; freestyle swimming, F. W. Springford, D. Davis, A. Aitken, C. Bates, A. C. Millar, J. Alexander, Misses N. Basstian, M. Ford, D. Mulvey and Y. Webb; backstroke, Misses J. Macdonald and N. Basstian; breaststroke, Misses A. Kennedy and C. Lynch, and B. Phillips and E. C. Marshall; life-saving, A. J. Kingsland and Miss N. Basstian.

Messrs A. J. Kingsland and A. W. Wesney will be in charge of the instructors.