LIFE-SAVING COMPETITION.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1918, Page 8

LIFE-SAVING COMPETITION.

WAITARA WINS TABOR SHIELD. The Royal Life-Saving Socieiy (North Taranaki Head Centre) held iheir annual competition for the Tabor Shield at the East End beach yesterday afternoon. The weather was ideal for the occasion, and there was a large attendance of the public. The contest is for rescue and resuscitation work in the surf, and is open to any club affiliated with the North Taranaki Centre. Teams consist of seven members, who go into the water in the following order: (1) Subject; (2) support; (3) bellman; (4) first lineman and resuscitator; (5) second lineman; (d) third lineman; (7) rcelman. The distance of the subject is ! supposed to be not less than 125 yards from the water's edge, and a buoy was anchored out in the surf to indicate where the subject had to swim to. In the actual rescuing, the support (No. 2) secures the subject until the arrival of the beltman, when he takes charge of the "drowning" person, and the first?man takes a hand with the line, at the same time signalling (.ho reel man to commence winding in. The sixth man is supposed not to go out of his depth unless the subject is an unusually long distance out. Time is counted from the starting-out .if the support until he reaches the subject, and also up to the time the subject is brought from the water and laid on the sand, tha|j being considered to constitute the rescue. The total points possible u. obtain is 100, awarded as follows: Reel work 10, watery-work 40, discipline 1(), control 10, resuscitation 20, general efllcieney and correctness 10,

Three teams entered for the competition, and some very creditable work was done. The teams drew for places, and tlie, Kast End Club were the first to enter the water. They carried out the preliminary drill and the getting into position in an exceedingly smart fashion, and the support reached the '■drowning" mmi in the. very fast time of li|iin 54 2-5 see. Throughout [ho bringi|ig-i|i prpcess the team worked well togotht-r, and they succeeded in completing the rescue in the fastest time made during the afternoon. Tim New Plymouth Girls' High School tcum came next. It may be said that yiisturday was the first time a ladies' team had entered the competition. They looked very smart, the uniformity of the costumes giving a pleasing appearance. They went out in very good order, but had tin* misfortune on their return to lose hold of their subject, and though they regained her, they were, of course, manifestly "out of the running." In spite of this mishap, however, they completed the rescue in 7min !!14-ssec, and came within 11/,l 1 /, points of the second team. Waitara was the last team to go ill, and they had, of course, a disadvantage In the f.ioL that the title had made a little during the time the other teams wore working. There could be no doubt about (he manner in whh-h they set about their work, and though their time was a little longer than that of the Fust Knd team, their general work was cleaner and smarter in every wav. their victory being well deserved, and tliev wore accorded a hearty round of appluuse at the conclusion of thoir work, as were also the other teams.

Mr. P. A. Schwartz acted as judge, the timekeepers being Messrs. J. Bennett and E. Whittle

Following are the names of the teams and the points awarded: Waitara.—l D. Anderson, 2 O. IT. Bird, 3 Geo. Mcllar, 4 11. McGarvey (captain), 5 B. Baker t) 11. Ayi'«s, 7 R. Frost. Points: Reelwork 7i, waterwork 38, discipline 10, control !), resuscitation 17, general (I; total !)OJ. Time, 2min 21sec and .nnin -15 2-ssec. East End.—l A. L. Williams, 2 F. Parker, 8 A. Ilardgrave, 4 W. Hardgrave (captain), 5 P.. Sims, 0 C. Bailey, 7 W. Deane. Points: Reelwork 5, waterwork 35, discipline 8. control IU, resuscitation 17, general !); total 83.1. Time, lmin -15 2-ssec and ftniln 41 3-ssoc.

Girls' High School.—l L. Hnrlc, 2 Miss F. N. Fairbrother, 3 M. Brown, 4 F. Brown (captain), 5 R. Bee), (i A. Leslie, 7 11. (lassie. Points: Reelwork 7, waterwork 32, discipline !)J, controls, resnsei-tat-iqn lli.t, general 8i; total, 82. Time, 2niin Klsec and 7ini|| l!)4-5sec.

During the afternoon a programmo of other items arranged by the East End Reserve Committee was carried out, though tlie life-saving competiiion somowliat dislocated matters. The programme included .swimming and diving events in the river for boys a«d girls, and also some flat races for the little children. The exhibition of fancy diving and swimming which had been 'announced wag nqt given.

The Citizens' Band was in attendance, and played an enjoyabje programing of mpig.