Swimming Gala – Scouts
Despite the fact that swimming was a popular activity with the Scouts, the District Swimming Gala got off to a rocky start. It took a few years before more than a handful of Groups took part in the event.
In 1922, two years after the creation of the Finchley Local Association, and having negotiated the sole use of the Finchley Baths for one hour every week, the District started a swimming club. Boys still had to pay a nominal fee as well as an annual one to belong to the club.
Later that same year a ‘Fun Gala’ was held, but there is no record of a winner being declared or a trophy being awarded.
The Clarke Shield
This Gala was deemed to be fairly good although not very well supported. As a result, two years later arrangements were made to hold an inter Troop competition. With only three Troops entering consideration was given to cancelling the event. However, with the pool having been booked and tickets having been sold, it went ahead. A Shield, to be presented to the winners, had also been donated, by Mr H. H. Clarke about whom we can find no information.
Although the official results have not been found there are two sources that confirm that the 10th Finchley won the competition. Firstly, in their book ‘History of the Tenth Finchley’ there is the following sentence: “The two sporting events secured for us the ‘Lane’ and ‘Clarke’ Shields.’ Secondly a press report in 1934 states “The 10th had held the Shield from its inception in 1924 until 1927, since when the 2nd Finchley have been the holders.”
The winner of the Clarke Shield in 1925 was determined not just by the results of the Gala but also by points gained in races throughout the year and for the number of boys able to swim a certain distance. Efforts to fully understand this have not proved successful – suffice to say the 10th Finchley were awarded the trophy.
From 1926 onwards the winners were always the Group that scored the most points at the actual gala, although it is thought that the final points score was, for a few years, adjusted slightly to take account of boys that had been taught to swim.. It should perhaps also be mentioned that like the Athletics competition there were different age categories for each race.
The 10th Finchley retained the Shield in 1926 and 1927.
In 1928 a new name was added to the Clarke Shield when the 2nd Finchley won the competition. As can be seen from the press cutting the 6th Finchley made their first appearance in the competition. It was, as usual, down to whether the 2nd Finchley or 10th Finchley would win.
The 2nd Finchley retained the Clarke Shield in 1929. In addition to the 2nd, 6th and 10th the 4th Finchley and 12th Finchley were also represented. The 2nd were also the champions for the years 1930 – 1933.
In 1934 the Shield changed hands when the 10th managed to win. Fortunately we have found a press cutting that provides a short report and the results of the events.
The 10th Finchley retained the Shield in 1935 but in 1936 it was again the turn of the 2nd Finchley. In 1937 the 2nd and 10th tied for first place and the Shield was held by each of them for 6 months. In what turned out to be the last Gala before the Second World War (during which the competition was not held) the 2nd Finchley were again victorious.
When the Swimming Gala was revived in 1945 it was decided that each of the three Classes should be treated as separate competitions with the winners of each Class holding the Clarke Shield for a period of 4 months each year. As a result of this change Class A and Class B was won by the 2nd Finchley with Class C being won by the 4th Finchley. It was the first time that a different Group’s name appeared on the trophy, and as the 2nd had held it since 1938 they kindly allowed the 4th to take ownership for the first 4 months.
The 1946 Gala was supported by 8 Groups which naturally resulted in a record number of competitors and spectators. Classes A & B were won by the 10th Finchley with the 11th Finchley winning Class C. The local press said ‘The Standard of swimming was high and the competition keen’.
Nearly all the Groups entered in 1947 and involved heats that were held at the Squires Lane baths on 23rd June. The finals, on 5th July, were held at the Wood Green Swimming Baths. Unfortunately we have been unable to ascertain the names of the winners for each of the Classes. It is also thought, but not verified, that Cubs were invited to take part in their own races.
Rovers were invited to join in the 1948 Gala which resulted in a review of who could win or part win the Clarke Shield. Following a slight tweak in the age ranges for each Class it was decided that the results from Classes A & B would be combined to determine the winning Scout Troop, Class C would be for Senior Scouts and a new Class D would be for the Rovers.
Preliminary heats were again held at the Squires Lane Baths before the finals on the 30th October, which were again held at the Wood Green Swimming Baths and on that occasion there were more than 500 supporters. The 2nd Finchley and 20th Finchley jointly won the Scout Section, the 2nd Finchley won the Senior Scout Section and the 15th Finchley won the Rover Section. The overall winners of the Cub events is not known, nor is it thought that there was at that time a trophy.
The 1949 Gala was supposed to have taken place on the 8th October but there was apparently some concern about the condition of the pool at Wood Green. As a result, and after discussions with the medical authorities, it was decided to cancel that year’s Gala.
Following the resignations of some of the Sports & Competitions Committee there was concern that the 1950 Gala would need to be cancelled. However, at a meeting of the District Executive ‘Pop’ Barclay of the 10th Finchley agreed to deal with the arrangements. Mr Pryor of the 2nd Finchley agreed to assist. The event duly went ahead at the Wood Green Swimming Baths and was well supported.
During 1951 J Richardson and J Mountain, Scouters with the 4th Finchley, volunteered to take over the organisation of the Gala and it is known that they did this successfully for at least 3 years.
Press reports for 1951 and 1952 have been found but not for 1953.
Although it is known that there was a Gala in 1954 the results have not been found. Fortunately the 1955 results were published in the District’s AGM report which also mentioned that it was hoped that additional trophies could be obtained so that the individual Sections could have their own Shields.
The ‘hope’ for new trophies was realised, meaning that 1955 was the last year that the Clarke Shield was shared between the Scouts, Senior Scouts and Rovers.
The first of the two new Swimming Shields was the ‘Fouracre Shield’ for Senior Scouts which was presented in honour of Robert Fouracre, the Group Scout Master of the 2nd Finchley, who tragically died following a cycling accident in 1933.
The second Shield was the ‘Kelsey Shield’ for Rovers, which was presented as a token of esteem to Frank Kelsey who was the District Chairman for 22 years.
The 1956 Gala was held at the end of October at Wood Green and the Clarke Shield, now solely for Scouts, was won by the 2nd Finchley. The 10th Finchley were the inaugural winners of both the Fouracre Shield and the Kelsey Shield.
More to follow
Gallery