SNZ Events
Epic Swim
High Performance
SNZ Events
Epic Swim
High Performance
New Zealand’s oldest swimming club celebrates its 135th anniversary this weekend.
Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club was formed on the 11th of October 1880 (10 years before the national association and 20 years before the Canterbury centre was formed), at the home of Arthur Francis in Manchester Street to serve the central city areas.
In its long history the club has operated out of several different facilities. When it was formed the club used the baths at East Christchurch Primary School then moved to West Christchurch School (now Hagley Community College) and remained there for six decades.
Later it used the Addington School pool where it had an imposing two storey pavilion that burned down about the late 1950’s, but also used the old Tepid Baths in Manchester Street and Centennial Pool when it opened in 1950.
The club went into recess for 10 years from 1970 to 1980. From 1980 they began meeting at the Centennial Pool in Armagh Steet until 1996 when the pool was demolished and a new indoor pool built.
During 1996 to 1997 the club met at Waltham Pool over the summer months and then moved to Christ’s College school pool in 1998.
For several decades the club also ran an annual quarter mile race on the estuary.
The club’s Patron, Brian Rattray, 75, has been a member all his life and continues to coach and support some of the up and coming swim teachers at the club that come off the Swimming New Zealand Swim Teacher Award Course.
Other long serving members include Neil Lanyon who was a Committee Member from 1948 and Treasurer from 1980 to 2014 and also Elsie Horner who was Secretary from 1985 to 2013.
The club has also been home to a few New Zealand swimming greats.
Len Moorhouse represented New Zealand at the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games and was only one second off the world 100 yards backstroke record at his peak.
In the 1930’s George Low had the distinction of holding both the New Zealand 100 yards backstroke and New Zealand middleweight boxing titles.
Grant Forbes represented New Zealand as a breaststroker at the Commonwealth Games in 1982, 1986 and 1990. He also held multiple national titles in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke between 1980 and 1986.
Another great New Zealand athlete who once swam for the Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club is Gina Crawford, née Ferguson. Gina swam competitively until the age of 17 and is now a professional triathlete competing in World Triathlon Corporation Ironman and Ironman 70.3 triathlons.
The club was set up to teach children to swim and give them basic water safety in order to reduce the number of lives lost by drowning. This basically remains the same today with the added emphasis on technique and swimming for enjoyment and fitness.
Today the club offers low fee coaching to youths and about 50 members enjoy club nights every Tuesday at Christ’s College indoor pool.
Promising young swimmers are encouraged to join competitive swimming clubs.
The original minute book and records were given to Christchurch City Council archive department for safe keeping.
Timeline
1880 – Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club formed 11th October and operates out of East Christchurch Primary School
1881 – Club holds its first races on 24 March. Four lengths for professional swimmers and two lengths for learners.
1892 – Became affiliated with the NZ Amateur Swimming Association
1896 – Held first exhibition of life saving and resuscitation
1970 – Club went into recess
1980 – Club out of recess and begins operating out of Centennial Pool
1996 – Begins operating out of Waltham Pool in summer months
1998 - Moved to Christ’s College school pool where it remains today
