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The Spike or Victoria University College Review 1945

Swimming Club

Swimming Club

The Swimming Club resumed activities this year after a decline of several years and a complete cessation for one year.

At the annual general meeting (chairman, Bruce Hands, club-captain 1942), there was such good attendance (twenty odd) that it was hoped the club would have a successful season and success at tournaments. The officers were elected as follows:—

Club-captain: B. B. Hands.

Men's Vice-captain: R. M. Daniell.

Women's Vice-captain: Margaret Beattie.

Secretary: G. S. Bogle.

A small committee was elected, of which Alison Keys was an active member during the season.

The club indeed flourished during the season. The average attendance at the Wednesday club- nights was about 16. The club became a bye word for innocent conviviality. It was the practice to march singing lustily to a milk-bar by the cable-car before dispersing. What friendships were formed under these amenable circumstances only a rash chronicler would dare tabulate.

The club took an active part in the carnivals of the Wellington Centre A.S.A. Margaret Gideon, Eileen O'Brien and Pat Gardner (all free-style exponents), represented 'Varsity on several occasions, Pat Gardner distinguishing herself in the strenuous Peck Shield harbour-race (last woman off, first woman in). Catherine Eichelbaum was second only to one in the Wellington Women's 100 yds. breaststroke championship. Of the men

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Jack Bennet and Bruce Hands gravitated towards the 220 yds. freestyle races, while the 100 yds. freestyle found Gib Bogle and Doug. Kerr beating each other alternately. Trevor Collier was a trier, too, but indisposition overtook him.

The club picked up less prize-money from handicap races than it should have, because of the inexperience and honesty of the secretary in submitting times.

At tournament the club had the pleasure of hearing our visitors say sympathetically that they couldn't imagine however we brought ourselves to train in the frigid waters of Thorndon Baths. Pat Cummins won the first tournament event for V.U.C. since 1937, when she beat the record-breaker from Otago over the 50 yds. freestyle. Cath. Eichelbaum came second to Marie Pasalich (New Zealand women's champion) in the 100 yds. breaststroke. Pat Gardner came second in the 100 yds. backstroke and Ken Staples second in the men's 220 yds. breaststroke. The other representatives from V.U C. were Marion Marwick (50 yds. freestyle). Dick Denton (Massey, 100 yds. freestyle), Gib Bogle (100 yds. backstroke), Doug. Kerr (220 yds freestyle), Jack Bennet (440 yds. freestyle).

Throughout the season the men's polo team had about as much success as most 'Varsity clubs, and a lot of fun, too. The team was grateful to Dick Daniell and Margaret Beattie, and particularly Alison Keys, who turned up to shout hurrah on Thursday nights.