Surf Lifesaving

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 57, 25 February 1949, Page 5

Surf Lifesaving

N.Z. Official On The Whakatane Club *

(By “Splash”) This week one of the high officials of the New Zealand Surf Association, Mr R. Pelham, Wellington, visited Whakatane in the hope that he might be able to see members of the Whakatane Surf Club in action. Unfortunately, a run out could not be arranged during Mr Pelham’s stay but he had some interesting remarks to make on the Whakatane club. “We have heard a lot about your club in Wellington,” he said to. “Splash.” “Especially about your girl’s team which, I understand, is reported to be one of the strongest in New Zealand.” • Mr Pelham said that Wellington clubs were keen to see the Whakatane teams in action and he hoped that some arrangement might be able to be made to do so. He paid a tribute to Ohope Beach which, he thought, was one of the finest in the country. It was necessary to have a patrol there and it was the hope of the New Zealand Association that the Whakatane club would continue to flourish. Mr Pelham was only on a short visit to Whakatane, stopping en route to Waihi, where he is to assist in selecting a New Zealand Surf team to tour Australia, during the New Zealand Surf Championships. Bay Of Plenty Cup , Competition Now in strict training for the Bay of Plenty Cup, members of the Whakatane* Surf Club have now reached a stage where they are conjfident they can compete with credit • in this competition.

The event is to be held at Gisborne on March 13 and it is planned to send a girl’s and men’s teams. The cup is held by Gisborne and has not been competed for since before the war. Teams expected to take part are Whakatane, Gisborne and Wainui. Mt. Maunganui may enter but has yet made no definite decision.