Swimming clinic held

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 412, 12 November 1991, Page 12

Swimming clinic held

BY

JO

HOWIE

The Waiouru Amateur Swimming Club held an open clinic day recently. Swimmers and coaches were able to study video tapes on the correct techniques for different swimming strokes. Swimmers then attempted to master their style in the water. "The aim of the Club is to promote swimming and life saving," said Dennis Petersen, the Club president. This popular club has 100 paid-up members on paper, 60% of these attend swim club nights regularly. The classes are divided into five main categories, depending on each person's skill level. The beginner's class, Algae Nippers, concentrate on water confidence, then on to the Tadpole's class, followed by Shrimps, Dolphins, and Sharks. The more confident members from Shrimps, Dolphins, and Sharks are able to participate in carnivals in the local area. "We have maintained a good standard of swimming over the last year, and hope this will continue," Dennis said. "The carnivals are a great place for the chil-

dren to mingle and get to knov other swimmers from the area in a friendly relaxed environment. The Club anticipates regular clinic days, and monthly time trials. "The time trials are designed not as a competition of one swimmer against another, but as a means in which the coaches and the children themselves are able to gauge what improvement they have made over the last month in their swimming.We are trying to provide a good comprehensive swimming education for Waiouru children," Dennis said. The Club fees are $15 per person a year. To be an affiliated member of the New Zealand Swimming Federation, it costs $23. The swimmer will then be able to compete in the local carnivals. The Club will farewell Nina and Dennis Waru this month. The Waru's started the Club in 1988 when they wanted to teach their own children to swim. Membership grew, a committee was formed and the Club flourished. "The Waru's dedication and commitment will be a huge loss to the Club,. Nina, as a very experi-

enced coach, Dennis as a coach and Club Captain. We are looking for parental help, as four coaches will be leaving the Club in December. They are; Wendy Newman, Kaye Chivers, Kerry Fitzgerald and Nina Waru. "Mike Dench, Helen Mulvay, Nicky Witlow and Ivan Baird are our present coaching team, with some new recruits; Quentin Fogg, Toots Brown, and Peter Kalivati.