SWIMMING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 871, 24 November 1916, Page 2

SWIMMING.

KEEPING THINGS GOING. So far this season, very little activity Las been shown by.the clubs, although several have arranged, or are arranging, programmes for the season, while others are considering ways and means of build- ' ing up their depleted membership by I recruiting among the boys, and so keeping things going while the older members are away. . It cannot be expected that the season will furnish much in the matter of carnivals, but club officials should not fall into the error of weighing too heavily the losses through members enlisting. It will not help to sustain or advance the spot, to sit. down and bewail depleted membership rolls and treasuries. There appears to be a too decided proneness to hang matters up and sit with folded hands, not because further activities are impossible (for they are not), but because those activities have become more difficult of prosecution. The new position calls for greater efforts, not for apathy. If it is impossible to carry on such comprehensive programmes as formerly,' the fact only demands a direction of effort to some alternative on modified programmes, which must be altered as to variety and conditions to meet the different circumstances. There is no reason why club members in their ordinary club events should not forgo the trophies that have been offered in the past. Indeed, a trophy of more sentimental value than the certificates that some of the clubs are offering could not well be wished. In a very few years, when the present strife has passed and normal conditions have returned, the certificates should constitute some of the most trca-. snred possessions of those who are lucky enought to secure them. But the big object, on which clubs should concentrate is the pushing of the sport among the boys. There are hundreds of boys who are keen and quite capable swimmers. If clubs will look to future gains and not. make the error of counting the present cost, they will find unlimited scope for their work among the boys. Of course, this will mean much time and trouble on the part of the officers, and perhaps some financial drain on the clubs, but all this should be regarded merely as the sprat thrown to catch the mackerel. The loss will be only apparent and temporary; the harvest will be certain and abundant. Clubs should, if possible, set up junior branches, devoted eutirely to boys, who, with a minimum of cost to themselves, could be brought into the sport, coached to efficiency, and imbued with that love of swimming that will make them useful senior members in the future. The big bar to this is, of course, the cost of admission to the baths (in the case of the Tepid Baths). In the absence of any arrangement for concessions in the fees for admittance, this scheme would lie impracticable from the financial point of view, but it should surely not be a very difficult matter to obtain a concession from the City Council sufficiently substantial to make the project workable. Something on these lines, though iu a modified form, is being done by the East Christchurch Club, which has taken seven of the best swimmers of the East Christchurch School admitting'them to free membership of the club and providing them with tickets of admission to the baths. Carnivals. As far as carnivals are concerned, little can be expected from the clubs themselves. It would be a great deal better if the centre, acting with the cooperation of all the clubs, were to run a series of carnivals throughout, the season, either bearing the cost itself or dis(ributing it pro rata among the clubs. There are quite enough swimmers left in Christchurch to provide very success ful carnivals if all combine to carry them through. A few ol ! the clubs may still be strong enough to essay carnivals independently, but in the majority of cases it is quite clear that, this could not he done, and it is better that the centre, supported by all the clubs, should provide a number of successful carnivals, at which all could compete, than that a few clubs should hold meetings and the remainder languish. Particular attention should be paid at these carnivals to the juniors, to whom a considerable portion of the programmes might be devoted. It might, indeed, be possible to put on some carnivals wholly for boys. Properly run, there is no reason why these carnivals should not be as attractive as those for the adults. Good swimming, as applied to carnivals, is almost wholly a matter of comparison, and with a lot of boys of uniform ability (even if that ability he poor) there would be no standard held up that would make the meetings seem drab. This season should be essentially a boy's season, and no efforts should be spared or sacrifices withheld that will tend to spread a knowledge of a love of swimming among the youngsters. The East Christchurch Club will hold two 33 l-.'Jyds events at the Tepid Baths at 8 p.m. next Monday. One is an open race and the other is for new members only. Already good entries have been received, particularly in the event for new members. It has been decided by the East Christchurch Club that all races this season will be on a basis of free entry. This is because certificates only are being issued to winners instead of trophies, as formerly. The vice-presidents' cup, that is to commemorate the members of the East Christchurch Club who have fallen at the front, has been obtained and handed to the cluli. Conditions will be laid down at the next meeting of the club committee. It is probable that the cup will be competed for in a series of events, and, in accordance, with the wish of the donors, the entrance fees will be devoted to some patriotic purpose.