Howick Pakuranga celebrate 50 years

Counties Manukau swim club Howick Pakuranga (HPK) has recently celebrated its 50^th year.

The anniversary celebrations saw more than 180 past and present members including swimmers, officials, volunteers and administrators come together to share the tales of its history and recognise those who have done so much for the club.

The celebrations were well attended with a number of attendees getting a better understanding of the history and development of the club,” said Director of Coaching at HPK Horst Miehe.

“Those that were the authors of the improvement in the club got to enjoy the clear strides forward we have taken based on their foresightedness.

“We also celebrated swimmers of the decade, key staff members and officials who have made a difference.”

The club first came together under president Mrs Eve Bailey in October 1965 however it wasn’t until February 1966 that it became incorporated and took on the name Pakuranga Amateur Swimming Club.

That name stuck with the club until September 1980 when it then became known as the Howick Pakuranga Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club (HPASLSC), which still remains the official name today although most will be more familiar with Howick Pakuranga or HPK.

Originally based out of Pakuranga College the club moved to Howick Intermediate in the 1960’s before moving again in 1987 to the new facility at Lloyd Elsmore.

While the club’s home base is still at Lloyd Elsmore the brand new installation of a gas heater at Pakuranga College in 1997 saw the club make a return to its original haunts and make the college their principal training facility.

From 1999 to 2001 the club saw a number of firsts, they partnered up with their first sponsor (Honda), had their first swimmer break a New Zealand record and their first international representative.

Jumping forward a few more years to 2004 the club produced its first Olympian, Rebecca Linton.

There have been many people behind the club’s growth and success since its inception, including Jackie Clark who joined the club in the 1980s from Canterbury club Wharenui and went on to be the brains behind Swimgym, the learn to swim arm of HPK.

Since its beginning in 1987, where it ran out of one facility, Swimgym has grown to now operate out of four locations including the original Lloyd Elsmore location as well as Howick, Papatoetoe and Otara.

In their continuing success the club this year has celebrated even more achievements with swimmers from the club competing at both the Paralympic and Olympic Games, and the year is not done yet.

Next month Daniel Hunter is set to compete at the FINA World Championships (25m) after breaking a number of New Zealand short and long course records this year.

Visit the Howick Pakuranga website here and the Swimgym website here.