SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1693, 8 March 1913, Page 12

SWIMMING.

fßr "Splash."]

THE ART OF LIFE-SAVING. A Shield, for Encoiiragoment. The Wellington Head Centro of the Koyal Life-Saving Society deserves the thanks of ono and all in its endeavour to teach the art of life-saving, and restoring the apparently drowned. The centre is a strong body, and has as its chairman a real enthusiast in Mr. G. S. Hill. ■ I'or some time past this body has been giving a good deal of attention to tho schools, and the boyS are displaying considerable interest in the work. It seems essential that those who indulge in swimming should bo acquainted with at least a general knowledge of tlie procedure in the caso of necessity. With the object of further encouraging sbliool boys to pick up the art of rescuing a drowning person, the centre has presented a shield. A Word of Advico. If every swimmer knew how to approach an' apparently drowning person fatalities would, of course, be much less than they unfortunately are. If the subject of rescue persists, in struggling, . stand . off until until a favourable opportunity, and then catch hold of the person from behind. Never, approach, an. apparentlydrowning person, from in front. This may seem to some a little old and trite, but lioiv many really know it? ' The Polo Championship, The water polo championship is rapidly drawing to a close, and the interest growa apace. Swifts and. Old Boys, who drew in the first round, met again on Monday evening) it rattling (jurno resulting. Tho issue was. in doubt right up to the finish, when with the scores equal, the struggle become so desperate that neithct sido was aware that tho referee had blown his whistle for "tiijie." Jjfevy; who is uii» questionably the cleanest and cleverest back in Wellington, played a great game for Old Boys. Smith (Swifts), in consis quenco of an injured leg, was naturally not up to form; but, nevertheless, ho marked his man (Capper) quite ; ivell enough to stop.him from scoring,, Newman was a power, of strength in the Old Boys' forward line, although in both his 6cores there was a big percentage of luck. Both individually, and collectively this teams played excellent,,polo,, ami tho Score (1 all) is quite, a.truo indication'of the respective merits of the, teams. The Old Boys-Thorndbn. game on Tuesday night dees not call for much coin--liient, except that the Thorndoii meii appear. to know as. much. about handling the ball.as the writer knows about 'driving au aeroplane. M'Nab (Thorndon) seemed only Vo have one aim in life, and that was to put his opponent (Capper) under the water, and lceep him tliere. Ho was so successful in this that tho referee liad 110 alternative, but to order him out, and, accordingly, M'lsnb came out. On Wednesday night tho Swifts men turned tho tables on Wellington by defeating them by 1 goals to 2. Morpeth, Hanna (in-goal), and Murrell played splendidly for Wellington,, as did Moore and M'Grath, of the winners. M'Grath's two goals wero exceptionally good shots. Some Splashes., "Splash" lias been asked to remind the swimming frateriiity that their _ assistance is required iii_ connection with the swimming gdla to be held on Lyall Bay beach on Easter , Saturday. The Swifts' Club (ladies' branch) decided its annual carniviil. on Saturday last l>efore a. good muster, of interested spectators. The, success of the carniviil was largely due-to tho enthusiasm of the youngor girls. The Old Boys' championship was. .decided during tho week, the winner turning lip in C. V. Fbrdham. Newman was runner-up, If the Wellington Centre would one day persuade itself into putting some netting over the polo goals at To Aro Baths tho p<Jlp-playing community would bo'mighty, pleased arid thankful, The Swifts' mile comes off to-day. The club have set as a Standard SOraiu.. Anyone breaking that time will, it is understood, be duly rewarded. An extraordinary thing about Donovan whining the liiile last Saturday afternoon was that, he swarii 1500 yards on his back. He is much faster at his back stroke than at any other. To-day,, at Thorhdon Baths, the annual swimming sports of St. Patrick's-College will be nels, under the management bf the Thorhdon Swimming Club, who have also airauged a short pr'ogr'ntiinie, -including diving and a nolo match.. Tim following, events., will lie ddcidedVr.'iOyds. championship, neat dive (under 15), neat dive (0ver.,15), 100 yds. open handicap, 10yds. breast-strike championship, 50yds. junior handicap, and, 50yds.. consolation handicap., . The Thorhdon Club are providing afternoon tea. aiid members are invited to bring their lady'fricjids.

PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATES. Proficiency certificates to bo issued by the New Zealand Swimming /Association, uiuler the authority of Mr. , Thomas Shields, local representative, h'avo been won as follow:— v . ,1100 yds., Gladys Williams (Mount Cook School); 1200 yds., Alice Batchelor (Miss Carr's); ICOOyds.,. Valencia Lapworth (Clyde Quay). ■ 800 yds., Dora Wilson (Ift: Cook); Eileen Tivolney (Girls' College); Redvers Haymcs (Jit. Cook). "OOycls., Hugliline Lapworth (Clyde Quay). 600 yds., Vera Greenfield (Mt. ; Cool;); L'athall Stuart (sft. Cook): Freda SomerVille (Clyde Quay); IftTggie Cleland (To Aro). . • . 550 yds., Daisy Gough (Jit. Cook); 500 yds., Lila ' Campbell (lit. Cook); Doris Lock (Clyde Quay); Margarie Cliartres (Clyde Qu'av); Una Bezar (Neivtowii Convent); Mavis Jl'L?#n .(Clyde Quay) j Isabella Camplwll (Technical School). . 450 yds., Jessie Corkill (Miss Baber's); Lena Flimmer (Clyde Quay); Rita Murdoch (Berhampor'e). . , ■ „ . , 400vds„ Linda Hickey (Clyde Quay); 'Phyllis Nash (NewtownConvent); Monica Twotn'ey (Newtown Convent). BOOydk, Doris Domnth (Ncwtowii' Convent); Irene Ellis .(Mt."Cook). . 200 yds., Olive Smith.(Mt. Cook); Gladys Campbell (Mt. Cook); Gertie Tandy (Boseneath): Edith M'Millan (Mt. Cook);.. . Mr. Shields accounts for the sliorl/age of boys, who have come under liii? superintendence to finality for.distance certificates. bv mentioning that a large number of boys have qualified under the eye of their teachers, who have authority to sign for distances covered. VICTORIA COLLEGE CLUB. A handicap of 150yd5.,-held at Tliorndoh Baths .yesterday, under the control of the Victoria College Club resulted *is follows: —J. N. Bullard, 1; A. MacNiib, 2; ,P. Grey, 3. . Time, 2min. Osec. Also started: Clark, 18sec.; Ronayne, 18sec.; Adams, 18sec.; Kay, SOsfc'c.j Mason, 25sec.; Grevilie, 30sec. i