The Alexandra Swimming Club will celebrate its 100th birthday this year, with preparations underway to mark the milestone. 

The long road began a century ago, when the club was formed on 9 Feb 1920, with its inaugural meeting held in the Council chambers. 

Back then, it was originally named The Alexandra Coronation Swimming Club. 

Alexandra Swimming Club President Nigel Ellett said the club has come a long way since its inception, with society and culture changing significantly. 

“The first club rules set up rigid standards for bathing attire with neck to knee costumes to be worn at all times and slips for male swimmers when public were admitted to the pool. 

“Very different to today where Swimming NZ has policies regarding race suits.

“All sessions were strictly segregated with men, boys, ladies and girls all allocated separate sessions. 

“Today the club trains five times a week and all sessions are mixed with all ages and both male and female.”

“In our 100th year our celebrations were somewhat restricted with COVID 19 - however our club was having an amazing season,” Nigel said. 

“Senior swimmers had qualified for national competitions and the last swim meet before lockdown was the Junior Festival where Alexandra placed first nationally in their category.

It was the only club in the country to achieve 100 percent personal bests across 43 swims at the event. 

The Junior nationals had over 1,300 swimmers compete in four locations.

“As already noted Alexandra Swimming Club really does punch above its weight - for a regional club we have amazing results in national and regional swim meets. 

“Our club has a good membership base but is always looking for more members. 

“The squad is coached by Shane Allan, who this year was named Swimming Otago Coach of the Year, an award well deserved and the club is really proud of. 

“Shane's experience means the club thrives and the way he includes all swimmers in training means we have a great team ethic, it is awesome to see Senior squad members support our Junior swimmers in training and at meets.”

It’s been a big year for Alexandra Swimming Club, as well as its 100th anniversary, coach Shane Allan (pictured) received the Swimming Otago Coach of the Year Award. Photo courtesy Swimming Otago. 

Alexandra is affiliated to Swimming Otago, and swimmers have great opportunities and experiences swimming at meets across the Otago region. 

Local swimmers also compete in the same meets as the likes of Erika Fairweather and Caitlin Deans who are both looking to achieve Olympic qualification this year. 

“There are not many sports where we are able to compete with National champions.”

The celebrations were momentarily put on hold earlier in the year due to COVID-19, but the club is now ready to party. 

The club has the outside pool booked at Molyneux Aquatic Centre for its birthday celebrations, set aside for swimmers both present and past members

“Events have been selected by two of our Senior Squad swimmers, who also are part of our committee to provide a swimmers perspective to the club. 

“We are also planning a 100km relay swim where we complete the challenge non-stop with a maximum of two swimmers in the pool at any one time. 

“This is being used to raise funds for the club to replace training equipment and we have an amazing response from local companies sponsoring the swimmers per kilometre swim. 

“It will be fun and for those not swimming we hope to hear many stories from people who have been part of the club, we have been scanning the hand written records and it is great to see results of parents of today's swimmers who have competed for the club.

The club trains five times a week and people can turn up at the training sessions to discuss getting involved with Shane Allan or any of the committee members who may be at the pool 

“We thank the local community for supporting our club, our annual swim meet coming up in Feb 21 has been sponsored by Amigo's who have also provided sponsorship for a swimmer of the month, to help focus our swimmers on training for our meet and upcoming national events. 

“Our 100km relay has been supported by local businesses also which has been fantastic - our club is able to thrive thanks to the generosity of our community.”

If anybody wants to get involved with swimming they can contact the club via email and through the website.

If you are a current or past member of the Alexandra Swimming Club, get in contact with Nigel or email [email protected] to confirm attendance.

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