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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 12, Issue 1 (April 1, 1937)

New Zealand Life-Saving Championships

New Zealand Life-Saving Championships.

Bad weather this summer—if it was really our summer—marred many sporting fixtures in New Zealand, but for real hard luck the palm must be handed to the New Zealand Life-Saving Championships, held at Lyall Bay. Elaborate arrangements had been made to give the public a treat long to be remembered. But the Old Man who controls the weather decided that it was time Wellington had a southerly storm. How it blew, and how it rained! But neither rain nor wind could keep the enthusiasts away, and a fine attendance of the public saw something extraordinary in water work. Australia was represented by a team of champions who monopolised the placings, but as they were not eligible to hold the titles, the first New Zealander to finish was awarded the title. One particularly popular win was that of Dick Pelham, former Rugby football representative with the Maori team in France and England. Pelham won the Individual Championship. He proved himself to be New Zealand's finest surfer. A veteran swimmer Pelham is yet a young man in years, and blessed with mercurial enthusiasm, his good nature has made him a popular figure in swimming baths and on football fields.