Pint-Sized Swimmer

When we attended the McGlashen Swimming Club sports last month, we were taken with the fact that one of the competitors was a toddler who looked to be no more than three years old..... perhaps four. Cheered on by the crowds, she finished a long (for her age) 33 yard backstroke race in good shape.

So we went back later and sought out the wee swimmer. She proved to be Vicky Wilson, youngest child of the club's president, Ivan Wilson.

"How about some pictures of Vicky in action?" we suggested, and persuaded Ivan to get her to show her paces for the camera.

But Vicky was in coquettish mood. She didn't want to have her picture took, no thank you. And when we got her in the water, the classic pose she adopted for the crawl (above) was her way of protesting.

But (left and below), when Vicky was competing in the club races, she looked like a young swimmer really going places.

Vicky is actually 4 years and 2 months old, and can do her 220yds. She started swimming when she was 3 years and 1 month old. Both Mr and Mrs Wilson are well-known Gisborne coaches and are shown at right with their family, Ann (13), Brian (1l), Michael (6) and Vicky.

As Jack Butler says, "Learn to Swim Week" goes on almost all the year in Gisborne. Jack is another who gives endless time to the task of teaching youngsters to swim. In the picture below one of his pupils, Janice Clayton, 5½ years old, is learning with the aid of a board,