A century of swimming under the umbrella of the Cumbria Swimming Association has just been completed – and now a golden anniversary is being planned!
In 1923 the Cumberland and Westmorland Swimming Association was formed, and through reorganisation that changed to the Cumbria Swimming Association in 1974.
The whole concept of a county-wide swimming association being involved for 100 years was celebrated last weekend in Carlisle.
Now thoughts are turning to next year and how best to mark 50 years of Cumbria Swimming Association.
Ian Richardson, of Whitehaven, was heavily organised in trawling through various records and newspaper cuttings to pick out significant moments, and highlight leading individuals, over the last 100 years.
He has been speaking to Cumbria Crack’s John Walsh about some of those landmarks and achievements.
For instance Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley, co-founder of the National Trust and Canon of Carlisle Cathedral, having previously served as vicar of both Crosthwaite and Wray, donated a shield in 1910 for water polo.
Ian tells how there are no longer any water polo teams functioning in the county, but when it was introduced to last week’s festival gala it went down really well and efforts may be made to revive that particular field of aquatic activities.
His research into the history of swimming in the county also revealed that Wigton Water Polo team (top of the sport in Cumberland) had once entertained the Swedish national team, losing 6-1.
Luke Greenbank is probably Cumbria’s best-known swimmer at the moment, have won two medals at the last Olympics.
Well, in 1940 Cumberland could have had a representative at the Olympics in Helsinki which were cancelled because of World War Two.
Doreen Hutton was a Carlisle Border City swimmer and in August 1939 she swam in Germany representing England in a competition a month before War broke out! She would almost certainly have been included in the following year’s Olympics.
Ian also recalled how the Penrith club used to use the River Eamont before any permanent baths appeared.
