Swimming THOSE TEPID BATHS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 103, 28 October 1933, Page 24

Swimming

THOSE TEPID BATHS

By "Header."

NEED OF FACILITIES

ASSISTANCE TO SPORT

To read that the season is going strongly in other centres, that successful carnivals have already been, held, and that the competitors have been returning really good times servos to emphasise . the disadvantage that local officials and swimmers labour under through the lack of up-to-date facilities. Indeed, it is often wondered how the sport manages to survive with the limited season usually prevailing here, and those in control are surely to bo congratulated on at least holding their end up when there is so little in their favour. Swimmers, too, are to be commended in keoping the game going, especially when there are other attractive summer sports offering.1 There is not the slightest doubt that those centres blessed with tepid baths arc far in advance of other places, both in the quantity and quality of their swimmers, and this is not to be wondered at, when facilities for them arc provided at night time and right throughout the year. Competitive swimming requires training equally as strenuous as any other sport, in some cases more so, and this is where the local swimmer is at a big disadvantage. Ho has to try and cram into the space of a few weeks the training that outside swimmers have been able to indulge in months before. It is not to be wondered that his performances during the season cannot, on the average, compare with his more fortunately placed opponent. Almost in the middlo 'of winter we have read of the lowering of records by swimmers in other \ provinces, and the reaching of that standard necessary to accomplish such feats is due to the regular opportunity for training and keeping in racing condition that up-to-date tepid baths afford. A few seasons ago Southland, as a swimming centre, was practically non est, and what few races were held were usually won in times that would bo laughed at today in the same district. Since the erection of tepid baths at Invercargill, however, a rapid improvement has been noticeable in the performances of the southern swimmers, and within the space of a season.or two young swimmers capable of winning national championships were being produced. That standard is still being improved upon, and in the course of time the centre will be recognised as one of the major centres. A similar improvement in standard would be apparent locally if the same facilities were available. In addition, a large number of those who play other summer games would, bo induced back to the sport by reason of being able to participate at night time. This is the happy position that other centres are in, and it is long past the time that Wellington should be similarly placed. : •