Whakatāne Swimming Club is resurrecting a long-standing local tradition, a business house competition that began in the early 1950s.

With the club’s 81st birthday approaching, members have been reflecting on its proud history. During a recent dive into old records, a forgotten Business House Trophy was discovered, inspiring the decision to bring the event back to life.

The revived competition will be held on November 20 at the Whakatāne Swimming Club rooms.

The club’s origins date back to 1944, when a group of parents started a “learn to swim” group at The Heads. It was soon relocated to the river for safety reasons. From those humble beginnings, the club has grown to around 130 members, producing top-level swimmers who have competed at both national and international levels, including Brenon Horan and Toni Jeffs.

The Business House Competition became a highlight of the 1950s Whakatāne sporting calendar and remained fiercely contested until the early 2000s. Now, the old trophy has been dusted off and is ready to bear the name of a new champion business, joining past winners such as Post Office Girls, Scraggs Electrical, and Surf Life Saving Whakatāne.

Club Captain Steve Williamson said excitement was building for the event’s return.

“With the old trophy up for grabs, we’re looking for a fun, competitive evening and we’re giving local businesses an edge,” he said. “We’re running a silent auction where teams can bid for one of our top senior swimmers to join their line-up.”

Among those up for grabs are Chloe Gladwin, a swimmer with national and international experience; Zandre Herbst, a 50m freestyle champion; and Issak Faisst, known as a “hard-charging underwater machine.”

The event format features 4x50m freestyle relays, with plenty of laughs, competition, and a BBQ to fuel both swimmers and supporters.

For businesses looking to be part of history, email the club at [email protected]