SWIMMING CLUB

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXI, Issue 10923, 24 September 1932, Page 3

SWIMMING CLUB

Review of Season’s Activities

important event for JAM ARY.

The following report will be preted to the animal meeting of the ca Amateur Swimming and T ?' saving Club to be held in the Coronation Hall on Tuesday evening Executive has pleasure in wine before you the First Annual PU m-t and Statement of the Club’s pepou a.uu of our club began Vke place during the 19 31 Christ inas-New Year holiday, _ when L c p Stratford, an executive of Jlr Auckland Swimming Centre, tlie ,.' ld Head Centre of the Royal Life-Saving Society, and Educational nLr tor the Province, interviewed Z Secretary of the Tauranga Row- ! Club, Mr C. E- Armitage. and suggested the idea of forming a SUing and life-saving club m Tauranga- To Mr Stratford we owe Z birth of an idea, which later maHMised into the formation of the Tauranga Amateur Swimming and tife-Saving Club . A preliminary meeting of the onwing Club Executive was held, at h Mr C. F. Stratford was preV f Air C Tonkin presided over sent. *'* | the meetingThe Rowing Club possessed sever- , B trong and enthusiastic swimmers, nd the outcome of the meeting was 1 a further meeting of all interted in the movement was held on January 15, 1932. in the Tauranga Rowing Club’s auxiliary shed on the waterfront, near the Muncipal Sea Baths. Thirty-one interested persons were preesnt at the meeting, ‘nd it was unanimously decided that a swimming and Life-Saving Club he formed, and that a general meeting of all interested in the Club’s formation, be held in the Rowing Club’s shed on January 18, 193 2, at 7.30 p.m. jj r C. Tonkin presided over this meeting, at which there was an attendance of over fifty persons. Mr c f. Stratford, representing the Auckland Executive of the Royal Life-Saving Society and the Auckland Swimming Centre, was present, and advocated that swimming and life-saving activities be incorporated in the one club. On the motion of Mr H. P. Butts seconded by Mr G. L. Armitage, it was resolved that a Club, to be called the Tauranga Amateur Swimming and Life-Saving Club, be formed. The following officers were elected patron—Hon. C. E. Macmillan, M.P. > President —Mr H. P. Butts. Vice-Presidents —Messrs J. Proctor and H. S. Riggir. Senior Captain—Mr K. Taylor. Ladies Captain—Miss M. Bates.

Junior Captain—Mr W. Hare. Executive Committee —Miss B. Turner, Messrs F. Bates, M. F, Rhodes, R. Mirrielees, N. West. Secretary and Treasurer —Mr G. L. Armitage.

Hon. Auditor —Mr B. P. Andrews. After the election of President, Mr H. P. Butts took the chair, and assured members of his desire to forward the interests of the Club in every way. Votes of thanks to Mr Tonkin for presiding earlier in the evening, and to Mr Stratford, for attending the meeting, were carried by acclamation. ' Mr Stratford, in replying, said that the Club would receive every help and encouragement from the Auckland Executives of the Swimming and Life-Saving Centres. It was intended to send Milford or Takapuna Surf Teams to the Mount at Easter for the purpose of giving demonstrations and instruction.

A vote of thanks Avas passed to the Rowing Club for the use of their building. The meeting Avas very enthusiastic, and it Avas felt that the Swimming and Life-Saving Club would be able to do a great deal in advancing aquatic sport in the tovyn. During the year eleven Executive meetings were held, all of which were well attended. Vacancies on the Executive during the year were filled by Mr Sneddon and Mr A. Breward.

The baths question has proved a difficult problem; so far our efforts ■ to obtain seating accommodation in the baths, for spectators, have not met with success. The difficulty has ■Mill to be overclme. The baths in i their present condition are suitable tor teaching the Club’s members to swim, but eminently unsuited for the purpose of holding carnivals, or inviting outside swimmers; the baths being merely an enclosure, and not baths in the true sense of the word. The Club is affiliated to the South Auckland Amateur Swimming Association, and the Te Puke Suh-Cen-be. of the Royal Life-Saving Society. °ur delegate on the South Auckland Amateur Swimming Association is Itr C. Mcllraith, of the Hamilton Old Boys Club, Hamitlon. Mr • Mcll/utth visits Tauranga regularly in Pursuance, of his professional duties, uud is thus able to keep in touch with us.

TheTe Puke Sub-Centre was formW at a meeting held on February s 1932. its formation Avas mainly due to the untiring and enthusiastic efforts of Mr C. F. Stratford. *hose irrestible enthusiasm carried toward the life-saving movement to 'fiwess, and this year it has been de£oitely decided by the Auckland jtod waire of the Royal Life Savto Society, to hold the Auckland Provincial Championships for lifetoiog in seven-men events at the "toint, Tauranga, some time during touary, 1933, The trophy for the Championships, a Shield in the form 0 life belt, has been donated toough Mr T. H. Greufell, of Mes--98 Atacky, Logan, Coldweli, Ltd., of Speedo sAvimming coshes,, and is being completed at janT* Walker and Hall’s in Eng-

Considerable impetus was given to e movement by the visit of a life- ' T iog team of ten men from the ***Dana'Surf Life-Saving Club, relenting the Auckland Head Centhe'Royal Life-Saving Society, «»Wanga at Easter, when eight J-®bers of the affiliated Clubs, five Te Puke and three from the were awarded the Bronze pillion. The delegates on the "■Centre during the past season

were Messrs H. S. Riggir and G. L. Armitage, the President of our Club being ex-officio a Vice-President of the Sub-Centre.

The Sub-Centre’s delegates on the Head Centre were Messrs Percy Kay and H. G. Sidford, who were reelected for the ensuing years. Our membership during the past year was 50, and it is expected that this year will see the Club in a strong position. The Executive has drawn up a. set of rules, ■which will be presented for your consideration, and read separately after this report. During the year our members attended six swimming carnivals, two at Cambridge, one at Matamata, one at Paeroa, and two at Te Puke. The most notabl]e performances were:

Cambridge.—M. F. Rhodes second hi 50 yards in South Auckland Championship. Mataraata. —A. Day first in 33 1-3 yards intermediate boys; tiny tots, G. Riggir first; dual relay, won by Miss E. McCardle and Dan Neilson; 33 1/3 yds. Ladies’ Handicap, Miss A. Bradmore, first, 50yds. Ladies’ Handicap, Miss M. McDonald. Te'Puke.—A. Day first, boys under 17; Bay of Plenty Relay Cup Championship won by Tauranga (M. F. Rhodes, F. L. Clark, W. Edwards. Dan Neilson): Ladies’ Dive, Miss M. McDonald; Ladies Relay won by Tauranga (Misses M. Bates, M. McDonald, E. McCardle and S. Young); Bay of Plenty 100yds’ Championship, F. L. Clark , tied with W. Pile of Te Puke; dual relay Avon by Miss McCardle and Dan Neilson. The keen and enthusiastic interest taken in the sport by our ladies’ captain, Miss M. Bates, has accounted for the success of a number of our lady swimmers in competitive swimming during the past season, and our Executive sincerely hope that the ensuing season will again see our enthusiastic lady members holding their own. The Club has sustained a severe loss in the departure of Messrs C. and F. Clarke. Both Avere enthusiastic Avorkers, the former haA’ing devoted much dime to preparing plans for proposed improvements to the baths, and the latter’s efforts, especially Avith the younger members, having borne valuable fruit. The Executive Avish to place on record our appreciation of their services, and Avish them success in their neAv sphere. Funds were raised during the year from the holding of a dance in the Town Hall. Special thanks are due to Mr R. J. Kerridge, who allowed the Club the use of the Hall free of charge. Two picture benefits were also held in the Regent Theatre by the kind courtesy of the Manager, Mr CharleAvood. The funds now in hand according to the Statement of Accounts, is £4 8s 2d, Avhich, after the amount of 17s 6d appearing in the Balance Sheet 'as outstanding, has been paid, will leave a balance of £3 10s 8d in'the Post Office Savings Bank to the Club’s credit. The Executive Avishes to thank all those enthusiastic supporters avlio have so greatly assisted the Club during the past year, particulaily the Press for the Publicity giA'en to the Club’s activities.

The Executive also wish to extend to our President and Chairman, Mi H. P. Butts, their sincere appreciation of his services during the past season.