Big Crowd At Town Wharf Jollity

Northern Advocate, 21 February 1939, Page 6

Big Crowd At Town Wharf Jollity

Scenes of jollity prevailed at the Town Wharf Basin last night, when members of the Whangarei Swimming, Cruising and Rowing Clubs entertained a large crowd for sevei’al hours. It was a special function organised by these clubs in connection with Fitness Week. Scheduled to start at 6.30, the programme drew several hundreds of people, who witnessed a varied selection of competitions and stunts. Floodlights illuminated the water, and a number of yachts and dinghies bearing Chinese lanterns made a picturesque showing. Varied Attractions.

Erected on a barge drawn out into the water was a derrick which provided means of high diving for swimming club members. Some spectacular dives were seen, a large number entering for the competitions in this section. Swimming races were indulged in along a stretch of water between this barge and a smaller one further up the river. Municipal Band members were in attendance, and a bright musical programme supplied by them was augmented by radio music spread abroad through amplifying apparatus. The Rev, Sanft, Methodist Minister at Hikurangi, kept the crowd in good spirit as community song leader.

Boat Scuttled. Although some delay occurred in commencing the official programme, there were a few impromptu bright moments, particularly when a dinghy shipped a big sea aboard and slowly and gracefully disappeared under its two occupants’ feet. They were fully clothed, but were good swimmers and, while one retrieved the oars, the other located the tow-rope end and brought the upturned craft ashore. So pleased were they with the success of their impromptu event that they did so several times throughout the evening.

Yachtsmen resembling life-boat crews, wore the latest lifesavers, watertight jackets padded with Icapoc, and capable of keeping an 18 stone man afloat for about 20 hours. Several members of the local Cruising Club have purchased these lifesavers, and iast night they demonstrated the ease with which they could be worn for swimming etc. Competition Results.

Results of the various events were:— Swimming:— Girls (junior) about 40 yards: D, Kenneth Bsec., 1: R. Beale. Isec., 2; E. Pattison scr 3. Time, 4Csecs. Boys (junior) about 40 yards: T. Tupp 6sec„ 1; R. Rice, 4sec.. 2; O. Haigh, scr. 3. Time 32 secs. Girls (intermediate) about 40 yards; P. Bauer Ssecs 1, F. Reid 3secs 2, M. Ward 2secs 3. Time 32secs. Boys (Intermediate) about 40 yards; A. D. Thrketo Isec 1, R. Muir scr 2, D. Redwood Isec 3. Time 26 2/ssecs.

Men (open) about 120 yards: First race: K. Proven, 3sec., 1; D. Haigh, 35., 2, J. Richards 7secs 3. Time, 94secs. Second race: R. Nichols 9secs 1, N. Chisscll 6secs and C. Bevington scr equal, 2. Time: 98 secs. High Diving:— K. Provan i J. Howie 2, N. Chissell 3. Relay race three laps, about 120 yards: Rolfe Smith; R. Nicholls, K. Provan 1; D. Osborne. A. Larcombe, J. Howie 2.