TROPHY FOR SURFERS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28270, 7 May 1957, Page 13

TROPHY FOR SURFERS

Sir Willoughby Norrie 9 s - Offer (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, May 6. A trophy similar in status and meaning to the Ranfurly Shield and the Plunket Shield will be presented to the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Association by the Governor-General (Sir Willoughby Norrie). The trophy, which will probably be a cup. will be awarded annually to the district association or province whose club teams are most successful at the New Zealand surf championships. The Governor-General’s offer of a trophy was received to-night by the council of the New Zealand association. A letter signed by the Governor-General’s Official Secretary (Mr D. E. Fouhy) said, in part: “Their Excellencies were very pleased to have had the chance of attending the New Zealand surf life-saving championships at Lyall Bay, and thoroughly enjoyed witnessing the events conducted in their presence. They were most impressed at the number of competitors and the efficiency displayed in the rescue events.

“As the Governor-General is patron of your association, he would like, if it were the wish of your council, to present a challenge trophy to be competed for each year, which might be known as the Norrie Trophy. If this suggestion is acceptable, his Excellency would be very pleased to receive your recommendations as to the conditions of the competition.”

Suggested Conditions Mr B. J. Mclvor, chairman of the council, expressed the thanks of the association. After discussion, it was decided that the GovernorGeneral be advised that the council proposed the following terms: The Norrie Trophy will be awarded annually to that district association whose teams gain the greatest success in a selected group of New Zealand men’s, women’s, and junior titles. It is proposed that these shall be the six-man, four-man, march-past, individual surf race, teams’ surf race, and beltmen’s championships. The total of these events is 15, being six in each of the senior and junior divisions, and three in the women’s section. Council members noted that the Ranfurly and Plunket Shields were each presented by former Governors-General, and expressed appreciation that on this occasion the honour had been offered to the surf movement.