OLD BOYS SURFERS

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1935, Page 2

OLD BOYS SURFERS

NEW PLYMOUTH SWIMMING CLUB. PREPARATIONS FOR NEW SEASON. Preparations for a new season in which the club will have the advantage of its own clubhouse on Strandon Beach were made by the New Plymouth Amateur Swimming and Old Boys’ Surf Club at the annual meeting last night. Mr. V. Garth presided over an attendance of nearly 20 members. The most notable feature of the ac-. tivities was the erection of a clubhouse on the Strandon beach, for which the club was indebted to supporters who gave financial assistance, stated the annual report. It was very pleasing to see the way the public was rallying to the assistance of swimming and lifesaving. The clubhouse should assist to keep club members together and to foster the spirit necessary to the progress of any club. The balance amounted to £l6 2s 5d compared with £l4 Ils 2d at the beginning of the season, and made the club’s position sound. The executive had pursued the policy of putting all funds available into the sport and the assets amounted to £l4O, a good achievement with subscriptions at 5s for seniors and 6d for juniors. Club nights continued to be successful and there was a number of new juniors each season. The results of the season’s aggregates were:—Junior girls, Miss S. Rutherford; junior boys, 3. Priest; intermediate girls, Miss E. Fox; intermediate boys, D. Gayton; senior girls, Miss W. Richardson; senior men, J. Neville. The club championships resulted:—Junior girls, 33 1-3 yards, Miss S. Rutherford; junior boys, 33 1-3 yards, C. Allen; intermediate boys, 50 yards, G. Rawson; intermediate girls, 33 1-3 yards, P. Mills; senior women, 50 yards, Miss K. Skipper; junior girls, 50 yards, Miss S. Rutherford; senior men, 100 yards, B. Milne; junior boys, 50 yards, J. Priest; intermediate girls, 50 yards, P. Mills; intermediate boys, 100 yards, G. Rawson; senior women, 100 yards, Miss Richardson; senior men, 50 yards, B. Milne; junior girls, 100 yards, S. Rutherford; junior boys, 100 yards, C. Allen; intermediate girls, 100 yards, Miss P. Mills; intermediate boys, 220 yards, D. Gayton; senior men, 220 yards, B. Milne; senior women, 220 yards, Miss Richardson; junior girls, dive, S. Rutherford; intermediate boys’ dive, L. Hannan; junior boys’ dive, C. Allen. The Smale Cup for the 100 yards’ championship was won by B. Milne. CHAMPIONSHIP BANNER. The club won the Taranaki championship banner for the most points secured in the Taranaki championships, and a high standard was also shown in J. Neville’s performance at the New Zealand championships at Auckland and by both his and B. Milne’s form in the Taranaki championships. D. Gayton’s win with fastest time in the Flannagan Cup was a meritorious performance. The club had a successfu" season in the surf. The senior team maintained the high standard set at Auckland when the national title was won, and in gaining third place in the final heat of this year’s New Zealand championships it had ably upheld the best traditions. The club congratulated the Fitzroy team on its splendid performance in winning the silver reel.

In the Taranaki championships held at Opunake the club won the Taranaki surf relay race championship for the Ballin Cup. The junior surf team had a more successful season than the senior team. Members of the junior team were mainly responsible for the win in the Ballin Cup, while J. Neville’s win in the junior surf race championship New Zealand was worthy of special mention. The following members represented the club in competitions—Seniors, C. Allen (captain), R. Gayton, N. Gardiner, K. Rea, W. Rimmington, T. A. Thomson, J. Davies, D. Dudley, C. Evans and B. Milne. Juniors, C. Whitehead (captain), J. Neville, D. Gayton, J. Simpson, R. Charters, J. A. Pankhurst, P. Aldous, D. Parsons, F. Ryan, J. Campbell, I. Des Forges and G. Rawson.

The club complimented the surf association on the splendid way it functioned during a very strenuous year, and particularly congratulated the secretary, Mr. R. Perkins on his sterling work. The club had in the past controlled the various water polo competitions held in Taranaki. After several years’ hard work these . competitions had been elevated to the position of provincial championships in their respective grades. When they assumed those proportions it was the committee’s opinion that they should be controlled by the head centre. It was therefore decided, after having obtained the permission of the donors, Messrs. Dalgleish and Garth, to present Lire cups to the centre. This presentation

was subsequently confirmed. The way in which the competitions were controlled by the centre was gratifying to the club and reflected credit on the organising ability of Mr. J. F. Devine. The club’s participation in polo was still as popular as ever, three teams having; been entered into the various competitions. The efforts of the senior B team under the management of Mr. R. Gayton were worthy of special mention. The club’s annual carnival and dance were again successful, resulting in a good profit.

Club members and even committee members had failed to some extent to appreciate the amount of work necessary for the smooth running of the club, and it was to be hoped that there would be more co-operation.

The club was unfortunate in losing Mr. C. Allen, one of the most capable and enthusiastic members. His departure for Christchurch left a vacancy that would be hard to fill. Mr. Allen had been perhaps the most energetic member the club had had. Messrs. K. Staunton and F. Steffenson were other enthusiastic members whose departure was a loss to the club.

The club congratulated Mr. Eggleton on the high honour accorded him by the Royal Life-Saving Society. No member of that society had more worthily upheld its traditions than he, and the club was extremely pleased to see his efforts given recognition. The club expressed appreciation of the assistance given by supporters. Special thanks were due to the borough council, the Press, Messrs. H. W. Brown, A. H. Blennerhassett, J. Power, P. V. E. Stainton, Mr. and Mrs. Gayton and Mr. and Mrs. Meuli.

The club was in a sound position, said the chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, having a credit of £l6 after handling over £l4O during the season. The election of officers resulted:— President, Mr. Harold Masters; vice-prfi-sidents, Messrs. H. S. Weston and H. W. Brown; club captain, Mr. R. Gayton; vice-captain, Mr. C. Whitehead; honorary secretary, Mr. T. A. Thomson; honorary treasurer, Mr. C. Evans; honorary auditor, Mr. J. A. Duffin; delegates to Taranaki Swimming Centre, Messrs. Whitehead and R, Gayton; delegates to the Taranaki Surf Association and Taranaki Life-Saving Centre, Messrs. Weston and R. H. Perkins; delegate to Old Boys’ Association, Mr. N. F. Gardiner; committee, Mrs. F. Gayton’, Miss K. Skipper and Messrs. D. Gayton, Gardiner and L. Hannan, with power to add. The secretary and treasurer were voted honoraria of £4 4s and £2 2s respectively - New members nominated were Messrs. J. Masters, J. R. Campbell, Kinsella, Erickson, A. Pillette, Aitken, J. and J. Jenvey and R. Brice and Misses Jenvey and Hull. It was pointed out that the club was still accepting women members. , It was suggested that a sub-committee be set up to look after the clubhouse. The proposal met with approval, the personnel being left to the committee to elect. Mr. Perkins urged the adoption of bylaws to provide for organisation in the case of serious surf accidents. The question was left to the committee.

The suggestion that the subscription rate for active surf members using the clubhouse should be made higher was referred to the committee to discuss, as was the general question of the use of the clubhouse. A vbte of thanks was passed to the Borciugh Council for its work at the baths. The arrangement of opening day and a programme was lefrtto the committee, with a recommendation that competitions be held. It was announced that Mr. C. Allen had stated his intention of donating a trophy for the club s champion beltman. Congratulations were extended by the meeting to those members who raised the money necessary for the erection of the clubhouse, especially Messrs. Gardiner, Garth, Rea and Allen.