History

The JASI Masters Swimmers Club is a swimming club targeted at Masters swimmers at the age of 20 and older. It is training at the Jellie Park Recreation Center in Christchurch, New Zealand. The club is part of the New Zealand Masters Swimming.

Jellie Park Masters Swimming Club was formed in October 1989. The formation of the Club coincided with the opening of the new indoor pool and modernised complex at Jellie Park Swimming Pool Christchurch. The administration contract for the day to day running of the pool complex was awarded by the Christchurch City Council, to Recreation Management Services.

Dave Henderson the manager of Recreation Management Services, and three staff members, Bev Strudley, Jack Graham and Pat Farr formed a swimming group. After a few initial training sessions a meeting was held and Jellie Park Masters was formed. The group was soon joined by a number of other keen swimmers, including Frank and Cynthia Butt, Paul McStay, Georgina Mather, Peter Fear, Clare Tucker, Ann McCulloch, Linda Bourke, Joan Best, Brian Hays, Gayle Hays, and Vicki Bailey to name a few. The first AGM was held in February of 1990 with an attendance of 30, and apologies from 12 other swimmers.

Elections were held for President, Secretary and Treasurer, a committee of 6 was also elected. President was Frank Butt, Secretary, Ann McCulloch, and Treasurer Claire Tucker. Committee members were David Mills, Gayle Hays, Vicki Bailey and Flora McDonald. Club Captains were Paul McStay and Georgina Mather.

The Club held its first unsanctioned Swim Meet in April of 1990 with entries from 112 swimmers. A profit of $309.73 was reported. By June of 1990 the Club Membership had grown to 96 with 52 members affiliated to NZMS. The Club had now grown to be called Jellie Park Aquajets NZ Masters Swimming, Christchurch. Jack Graham was coaching Club sessions as part of his coaching role with Recreation Management Services.

Mark Bone arrived in 1990 to take up the coaching duties at Jellie Park. Mark coached the Age Group Squads as well as the Masters Squad. Mark formed the Jellie Park Aqualand Sports Institute with the acronym of JASI.

By the middle of 1990 Anne McCulloch in her role as Secretary had became a driving force within the Club. Anne was a great organiser of swim trips and was able to get members to travel to Swim Meets near and far. Anne was ably assisted by her husband Allan who just happened to be a Tour Bus driver. Anne was also elected as the South Island Co-ordinator for NZ Masters Swimming at this time. The Club decided to produce its first polo shirts for sale to members.

In September 1990 Frank Butt resigned as Club President due to work commitments. Geff Williamson agreed to fill the position of President until the next AGM.

The second AGM OF THE Club was held at the pool on 2nd December 1990. The meeting was attended by 32 members and 14 apologies were received. By now the Club had become firmly established and membership numbers had risen to 117 members.

The Club held the South Island Short Course Champs in July 1991. There were 240 entries and the Meet was held Friday night and Saturday afternoon with ‘over the top’ starts and ran with military precision. This is still the largest Masters Meet held in the South Island excluding the World Championship events which were held in 1984 and 2003.

The following is a condensed history of the club, up until the present day, for publication in the New Masters Swimming History. A more detailed history of the club with individual members’ achievements and contributions to the club will be prepared for the Club’s 25th Anniversary celebration in 2014.

The Club changed its name at the 1992 AGM to Jasi Master Swimmers. The change of name was initiated by Mark Bone with the intention of forming a closer allegiance between his training squads and the Masters Squad. In 1994 Jasi Masters subsequently became Jasi Master Swimmers Inc. This name change occurred upon the club becoming an incorporated society and the adoption of a constitution to meet the requirements of the Club and the Incorporated Societies Act. In 2001 the Club established the Jasi Masters annual scholarship award, which is awarded to an outstanding swimmer in an age group squad. The award provides a financial gift to the chosen recipient to assist with swim expenses.

Training and Coaching

The Club since its inception has held coached training sessions on Tuesday nights 6-7pm and Sundays 9-10am. The pool management has provided the Club with six lanes at each of these sessions and until this year also provided a coach at each session. Attendance has averaged between 20-35 swimmers per session. One session prior to the World Masters Swimming Champs Christchurch 2003 produced a turnout of 59 swimmers. Up until the present day the club has had to compete for space with other pool users and groups. Having been able to maintain these session times for nearly 25 years, is testament to the strength of and leadership of the Club, and recognition of this by management.

Coaches

Over the years the Club has been fortunate to have had a number of coaches, both professional and non professional, as part of the overall coaching program at Jellie Park. Generally the non professional coaches have come from within the ranks of the Club. The thanks of Club members is extended to the following people for the contribution they have made to improving the fitness and standard of Club members’ swimming abilities. Past professional coaches have been:

• Jack Graham
• Mark Bone
• David Bone
• Kim Swannick
• Peter Burgon
• Anthony Beks
• Jeremy Clement
• Victoria Clark
• Matthew Nash (present coach).

Club members who have acted as coaches have been: Lynn Anderson, Geoff Chase, Peter Johnston and Sarah Persico.

Swim Meets

The Club has run a number of Swim Meets since its inception as well as the NZ Masters Long Course Nationals in conjunction with other Christchurch clubs.

Events held have been:

• 1991 South Island Masters Swimming Champs
• 1994 NZ National Long Course Champs – Jasi & other Christchurch clubs
• 1995 South Island National Long Course Champs
• 1996 South Island Long Course Champs
• 2000 South Island Long Course Champs
• 2001 South Island National Long Course Champs
• 2005 South Island National Long Course Champs
• 2006 National Long Course Champs – Jasi & other Christchurch clubs
• 2019 South Island Long Course Champs
• 2021 South Island Long Course Champs (moved to 2022 due to Covid)
• 2022 South Island Long Course Champs

The Club was scheduled to run the 2011 National Long Course Champs, but unfortunately this event was cancelled due to the Christchurch earthquakes and the closure of the QEII Pool Complex.

A number of Club members have also attended and competed at National and International events including World Swimming Championships, in Rio De Janerio, Sheffield, Montreal, Christchurch, Perth, and Riccione.

Annual Trophies

The Club presents 3 trophies annually at its AGM:

1. Swimmer of the Year - donated by Anne & Alan McCulloch - 1990
2. President’s Trophy (for services to the Club) - donated by Frank and Cynthia Butt – 1990
3. Most Improved Swimmer – donated by Wendy Mondy – 1994
4. IM Award created by Susanna Gin and Peter Johnson in 2014. It is to be awarded to the club member who comes closest to (or breaks) a national record (in their age group) in 100 Individual Medley during the previous year.

Leadership

The club has been fortunate to have had, over the years, a succession of strong and supportive committees. As in any club Jasi has had a number of tireless workers willing to assist with coaching, swim meets and social events. Officers that stand out for length of service of three years or more are:

Membership

The Club has maintained a large membership with an average annual New Zealand Masters membership of 40 swimmers. Membership peaked in 1990 when there were 117 financial members. Total membership has averaged at a total of 70 members per year.

Club Venue

The club has been privileged to enjoy the wonderful complex at Jellie Park Aqualand. The facility comprises of two championship indoor 25 metre pools built in 1989 and 2007 respectively and a 50 metre non-championship outdoor pool constructed in 1960. The outdoor pool is open over the summer period only. Both indoor pools are well used by the public, swim squads, and other aquatic sports. Club members are often heard to remark that they have the best facility in the country.
In 2011 the club was asked by the Christchurch City Council to consider hiring lanes, providing its own coach and becoming independent of the Council’s swim squad programme. Initially it was thought that this may be the death knell of the club but this was not to be. With the support of the committee and its members, the club undertook to hire lanes and a coach. Twelve months later this has been a success for the club, as well as gaining our independence and our own coach. We have increased membership and have met the financial budget set by the committee.