December 1932 - Southgate County School

Southgate County School Magazine 35
ing first place in team race and breast stroke, and were placed in
the first three for all the other events. In the Combined Gala of
the North and South Middlesex Secondary Schools, held at Great
Smith Street Baths, Southgate was placed first, special successes
being team race second, breast stroke first (Lorna Ray) and
diving first (Dorothea Motley tie with Minchenden). The Junior
Team (Margaret Smith, Lavinia Collison, Hilda Palfreman,
Daphne Heslop) were not so highly placed. However, considering
their ages, they did very well, and with practice and experience
should bring success to the School next year.
We were fortunate in having the services of Mr. Brickett as
coach, although the attendances were somewhat disappointing.
If we are to win the Howard Button Trophy and Junior Shield
next year, we must take full advantage of the tuition given and
work hard.
* * *
SWIMMING (BOYS)
The arctic weather that usually characterises the beginning of
the English Summer was well in evidence at the beginning of this
season, and consequently interest in swimming did not become
at all general till long after the beginning of the Summer Term. .
There were, of course, the few hardy enthusiasts who swim in
the open baths throughout the winter; they turned up as usual
at the beginning of the term; but beginners this year were noticeably
reluctant to come forward and be taught to swim even
when the weather conditions became kinder. Comment was made
under this heading last year that more non-swimmers ought to
try to learn to swim; and during the past year the response from
non-swimmers was most disappointing. Many members of the
Second Forms, whilst frankly admitting that they could not
swim, made no effort to come and learn. It is to be hoped that
now they are in the Third Forms they will realise that everybody
should be able to swim. It is also to be hoped that the new
Second Forms will show somewhat more enterprise than their
immediate predecessors.
During the summer, for the first time, swimming matches
were arranged with another school. Tolling'ton were the victims,
and both the matches, the first at Wood Green Baths, and the
second at Barrowell Green, were won by a comfortable margin.
The Swimming Gala this year was completely different from
previous galas, for the boys held their events on the same afternoon
as the girls, events taking place as far as possible alternately.
No particularly outstanding performances were recorded,
but the main features were the success of the Whites, who won
easily by 46J points to the 21 of their nearest rivals, and the relay
race held against the girls; swimming five lengths to the girls'
four, the boys only just failed to catch up. The School Championship
race for the quarter-mile Cup was won by J. Sweeney and
seven other competitors finished in standard time.