Swimming Season 1924

Owing  to the  epidemic of " 'flu "our   promising   batch  of  " Tad-poles "  never had  a  fair chance of  developing  their swimming legs,   but they  managed to  add  a quite   exciting event  to the  sports,  by a hotly-contested life-buoy   struggle     across    the   pool, ending   in   five  points   scored   for  his House,  by  Elliott, mi., to  which another was    added   by    Peacock,    mi.,  while Rounce  gained  two for  School  House. The diving, on the whole, is  improving steadily;    there   is,   however,   still   atendency  to  take  too   long   in coming up  to  the surface  in the " in  and out" dives,   which  should   be   made  quite distinct  from  the " plunge " dives, and hands  should be  kept   together  as  well as feet, in order to  cut the  water  cleanly. In swimming under water  it must  be remembered   that  one's   right   arm  is generally  a  bit stronger  than  one's left, so that  there  will be  a  natural tendency to  swerve  away to  the  left, unless  one keeps  this in  mind  and puts   a  slight extra flip  into   one's  strokes  with   the left hand. Byrd's    back    stroke  with    alternate arms    is   certainly    something   worth having    a   good    effort    at   acquiring, but, whether   the   arms  are used alternately or  both  together, they  should be brought  back  as close  to  the side  of  the head as  possible,  in order  to  gain the benefit  of  the full  sweep of  the stroke. INTER-HOUSE SWIMMING SPORTS. The   Inter-House    Swimming   Sports were   held   at  the    Bathing    Pool   on Thursday and Friday, July 24th and 25th.So evenly were certain representatives of the   various Houses  matched in  the diving   competitions,   that  the   judges were  compelled to demand  extra  rounds before awarding  places. Great    keenness  was   exhibited    by competitors, and   some good swimming was   seen.     Many  boys   show   distinct promise   in  diving,  if   only  they   will practise  and concentrate  on  any  faults they may possess. The "150   Yards  Senior" race  was closely  contested, and  especially   exciting was the  finish  for third  place.    Popular events   were " the   Life-buoy   Parade for Beginners,"  in  which, unfortunately, one  of the  competitors  was disqualified at the winning post on a technical  point;" the   Senior  Under-water"   race,   in which  a  fine  exhibition was  given  by several boys ;  and " the  House  Relay," a   race    which   showed   that  a   very commendable  and healthy  rivalry  exists between the three Houses. Franklin    won   the    swimming   cup, given by  Mr. and   Mrs.  Meaby, with  again  of two  points  over School House—and,   at the  conclusion of  the  events on the   second  day, Mrs.  Meaby presented the cup  to W.  G.  Naismith, the head of  the House. One good purpose  will   be served  if this   annual    competition    acts   as      a. stimulus  to non-swimmers,  so that  the yutilise the  summer  holidays in  learning how   to  swim,  after   having  had   this striking  demonstration that  what  other scan train  themselves to do by concentration  and  endeavour, they  also  can do, if  they  will, for their House and  for their own  pleasure. A list  of the  events and  points  gained is appended.