SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2826, 18 July 1916, Page 7

SWIMMING.

' *'•' ■ ■ -.■ - ■ - SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALS. Yesterday Mr.' H. C. W. Blick, chairman of the Wellington Centre of th 6 New, Zealand Swimuiing Association, accompanied by Mb. T. Shields, the indefatigable swimming instructor, visited a.mo of the State schools of the City to present the medals won during the past season. I'he distances swum over by candidates were 50yds., 75yds., 100 yds., and 150 yds., and championship gold modals were allotted to the best boy and girl competing. Tho results were as follow-.— _Boys—l, W. AlGill • (Mount Cooi; Boys'); 2, Bert Summws (Clyde Quay). ' Girls—l, Norah Watsoii (Terrace); 2, — Ballard (Mount Cook Girls'). The medals ■ were presented by "Mr, Blick, who, in congratulating - the winners, referred to the sport of swimming as one of the healthiest and cleanest under tho sun,.and one which should bs cultivated by every boy and girl 'in the community; , .At tho different schools' Mr. Shields also added a few remarks, informing tho children not only of tho joy of being able to swim, but its utility in the preservatioD of life. Mr. Shields also informed the children that tho City Council had become so impressed with tho importance of swimming, that it had decided to give free admittance to the baths for a year to every boy or girl who could swim a-' mile, as an inducement to all young people to take up the sport. It was a handsomo concession, and one that was well worth trying for by every boy and girl attending school in the district, and ho was sure the council's, offer would give a big impetus to swimming during the coming summer. Mr. T. R. Fleming, Chief Inspector, who happened to be visiting one school officially, supplemented the remarks, of other speakers by dwelling on tho splendid work that had been done in "Wellington by Mr. Shields in encouraging and teaching the boys and girls to swim. It was becoming recognised more andihore every day what a, valuable acquisition the art of swimming was to anyone, and ho hoped that the children would-take up that fine sport with ardour during the coming season. Its practice would help to keep them fit physically, which .in itself was an aid to other educational studies.

The only school not visited yesterday was tho Terrace. Miss 'Watson will be presented with her gold medal this morning.