SPORT OF SWIMMING

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1929, Page 4

SPORT OF SWIMMING

"."'l PAST SEASON IN TAKANAKI FITZROY SURF CLUB ACTIVITIES. ATTENTION TO LIFE-SAVING. The following review of the activities of the Fitzroy Surf Club is contained in the club’s annual report, which is to be presented at the annual general meeting to-morrow night:—* Only one swimming carnival was held by the club this year. It was highly successful from both a financial and the spectators’ point of view. Everything went off well and we received splendid support from the various clubs in Taranaki. Their support was reciprocated by members of our club who were present at at least, one carnival ct every other club. At our carnival tlr.s ■ ! season wo had the added attraction of the ono mile.. Taranaki championship, with ten entries, it proved a wonderful race between two of our own members, C. IL Plumtree and K. Staunton, who gained first and second places respectively. Almost all the honours gained by reaf son of placing in races were gained by these two members, who in addition to annexing the mile championship also won the 890 and were the only two finishers in the Flannagan Cup open water swim. While other' members of the club were perhaps not quite so successful in winning races, great credit must be given them for the mannei in which they supported the pastime, swimming time after time when they knew they could not win. We lost this year a very keen and very efficient swimmer and life-saver in Mr. D. von Stunner. He was a splendid worker and we* were .. son:y to lose him. GOOD WORK-IN LIFE-SAVING. In life-saving, which really is the most Important part of swimming, the club again acquitted itself very well. In the Tabor Shield contest the A team gained second place. The land drill was ndt | good enough but in the water a line display was given.' Great credit and our sincerest thanks must be given to our captain, Mr. P. W. Wright, who did his utmost to get the team into training. He did not receive the support from the team he should have done, and it may now be said that there will be included in this year’s team no ono who cannot attend all practices punctually and regularly. On two occasions when Mr. Wright called practices ho was the only one present. The B team was successful in annexing the Taranaki pennant for the second time in succession. It. gave a splendid exhibition, and every member acquitted, himself well. To the B team we tender our heartiest congratulations; - ■j. ■ In addition to the success in compete tions, the club - was very prominent in rescues on the various beaches. ' In this connection wo may mention Noel Gard-' iner, whose effort on the East End beacli won, for him,, honourable ; recognition 'if dm tlie head centre of the Royal Humane Society. , Thia..reel;'is, 1 ij i m.fair\ condition;,.J>ut w.c, ‘badly want a new line. The executive earnestly suggests to the incoming committee that 'the delegates to the .Lifesaving Centre approach the. centre for a reel. The social side of the club’s activities was decidedly . disappointing. We held two dances during the year, and both of them-were failures. The dance held after the Tabor Shield competition received practically no support, and our. annual dance was a heavy financial loss. The annual picnic wits very enjoyable to those who went,, but although many said they were going and arrangements were made for them, they were not present when the bus left and considerable expenditure was wasted. < The actual financial membership and • the members who swain under the auspices of the Fitzroy Surf Club differed greatly. Stiff, the membership is increasing, and this season the total was over ’ M Owing to the heavy drain upon the club’s finances as a result- of the losses at our dances we find our finances in much the same position as last year. The finances of the club are in quite a healthy position but we should have liked to have had a much larger balance than we actually haye. The actual ppsi-tion.-show’s a credit of £l9 10s lid. There ai’bja'. number of members’ subscriptions still: outstanding. We should like to bring home to members the necessity for paying these : subs. They are every l reasonable and‘ the Club has considerable outgoings. The ladies are very good in this-respect, the chief offenders being the male members. WATER POLO SUCCESSES. . Th© club fielded a' very strong water polo team this year, and were runnersup in the Dalgleish Cup, drawing with Inglewood in New■ Plymouth. In the play-off they were defeated by one goal to. nil at Inglewood after a great struggle. The team was successful in a competition at Stratford in winning a miniature cup. The club was unfortunate in encountering bad weather for many of its club nights, while on others carnivals were held.' Even so, the practices were not well enough attended, and it is the intention of the borough council' to disallow club nights if clubs cannot get a good nnfster. . •" Once again our thanks are due to the small band who help so well in all bur ■ functions. Mrs. Bennett must be especially thanked for her assistance. Mr. Stephenson, our president, has assisted us greatly, and in many ways benefited the°club. He is always willing to preside at our meetings and give up his rooms for our meetings, often to his. own inconvenience. In conclusion we should like to congratulate the club members on the splendid way in which they pulled together to make such a successful season. The club, after many years of more or less haphazard man: gement, is now-established on a firm foundation and we can now confidently look forward to a very happy and successful' year together.