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Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz |
Judging by reports, the Eastern Region Surf Lifesaving Championships' return to the main beach at Mount Maunganui over the long weekend, was a roaring success.
Formerly known simply as the NRC's (Northern Regional Championships) before a name change with the realignment of SLSNZ, the two-day event has always ranked second in numbers and stature to the SLSNZ National Championships.
The NRC's were first held over fifty years ago and made the Mount its home apart from a sojourn at Waihi Beach in the surf carnivals early history.
Two years ago, the newly named Eastern Regional Carnival moved up the coast to Whangamata, but the lure of a far greater inter-structure at the Mount saw the Auckland Anniversary holiday weekend event return to its traditional home last weekend.
Surf lifesaving started in Australia in 1906, with the first club formed in New Zealand in 1910 following the establishment of the Lyall Bay Club in Wellington.
Mount Maunganui was the first Bay of Plenty Surf Lifesaving club, established in 1929. However there had been an earlier surf rescue service, which was eventually disbanded, with the current Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service rising from a public meeting called on the 5th December 1929.
The first recorded major surf carnival at the Mount Main Beach was the 29th January 1933, when the Surf Lifesaving clubs of Auckland (District) conducted the inaugural competition for the Speedo Shield.
In 1952, a book called 'Surf Lifesaving in New Zealand 1910 – 1952” was written (and published) by Norman Ingram.
The book shows that a Te Puke club was established in 1932, followed by Tauranga Girls in 1933. Other Bay of Plenty clubs to come into existence before the Second World War were Opotiki (1933) Whakatane and Thornton (1934) and Waihi and Papamoa (1935).
On the 16 February 1936, the Auckland Provincial Surf Lifesaving championships were held at Ohope beach, Whakatane. The program makes interesting reading and provides a snapshot of surfing in the 1930s.
The Program was as follows: (1) Surf Belt Race, (2) Girls Land Drill Championship, (3) SLSA Pennant Competition, (4) Surf Teams Race, (5) Pillow Fight (rules – competitors must dislodge their opponents), (6) March Past Championship and Grand Parade, (7) Auckland Provincial Championship for Rescue and Resuscitation, (8) Girls Rescue and Resuscitation Championship, (9) Surf Belt Race, (10) Single Man Rescue and (11) Musical Flags.
Competing teams were Eastern United (blue diagonal gold stripes), Tauranga Girls (blue, sky blue and white), Whakatane (green, gold and white), Piha (black, red and green stripes), Waihi (blue, white stripes lightning), Milford (black and white), Mount Maunganui (green and gold), Waitemata (white zigzag, gold and blue stripes), Milford Girls (red and white), Waitemata Girls (blue, gold and white), Takapu (white, blue and gold), Opotiki (maroon and gold) and Papamoa (blue and white).