Flannagan Cup saved
When one of the country’s oldest swimming events was threatened with cancellation, the Taranaki community sprang into action to ensure the survival of the Flannagan Cup.
After reports that the 101-year-old event would be shelved were made earlier this year, Swimming Taranaki and a core group of like-minded people responded to the news that the future of the cup was shaky.
Local businessman Neale Parkinson was among that group and said shelving the event would have disappointed a number of people.
‘‘This iconic event celebrated its magnificent centenary in 2016, yet instead of fuelling interest and support for another 100 years, the event found itself in real doubt for 2018, due to a lack of an organising committee,’’ he said.
‘‘The Flannagan Cup is a firm fixture on the list of swimmers and multisport participants throughout the Taranaki region and we couldn’t disappoint our many entrants.’’
Now, with the support of a number of local businesses, the Flannagan Cup won’t be going anywhere and is confirmed to be held on Waitangi Day, 2018.
‘‘We are also focusing on putting processes in place so that the Flannagan Cup will not be under threat of disappearing from the Taranaki sporting calendar in the foreseeable future,’’ Neale added.
The Flannagan Cup is named after the man who donated the trophy, Patrick Joseph Flannagan, who died in 1933 aged 61. He was an avid swimmer, patron of the East End Surf Life Saving Club, life member of the New Plymouth Old Boys Surf Life Saving Club and helped set up the Royal Life Saving Society in Taranaki.