TAMS 30

We are celebrating 32 years

TAMS is 32 years young this year and we continue to celebrate and acknowledge the many swimmers who have swum with us over the last 32 years.

Proud to Play 2016
Darwin Outgames - 2014
Ron
TAMS - Darwin Outgames 2014
Melbourne 2020 IGLA Championships

OUR STORY

“We should formalise the group because I wanted some permanency with it“

Ron Judd

Team Auckland Masters Swimmers (TAMS) got its start thanks to fresh-faced Ron Judd 32 years ago when he decided to formalise a group of LGBTQIA+ rainbow swimmers who would want to compete at masters’ level (aged 25-105). TAMS started at Auckland’s Tepid Baths in September 1991 and was formalised in early 1992.

“I decided that we should formalise the group because I wanted some permanency with it,” says Ron. “I was into competing and at the time you had to belong to a New Zealand Masters’ Swimming club to compete. I was part of the Waterhole Masters’ Swimming club before that, but it was a group that was very family orientated; as a gay guy, it could be a little lonely.

“I was aware there were a lot of gay guys out there swimming, so I had the idea to get a group together. There weren’t many gay community groups around at that time – you could go to gay bars, but that was kind of it. We were part of that rise of the gay community group.”

Once the group had settled into a routine, swimmers worked towards travelling to New York for the Gay Games in 1994. There the team competed in events, as well as the Pink Flamingo, a Gay Games tradition that combines outrageous costumes, music, dance and synchronised swimming with humour and satire, to make for an exciting, fun and somewhat revealing evening.

OUR TEAM

Jeremy Clarke

President

Philip Young

Secretary

Cynthia Borne

Lead Coach

Brett Ryan

Coach (Tuesday)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Swim events in New Zealand and around the world that some of our TAMS swimmers might participate. If you would like to meet us there, let us know!

Medals Galore for Gay Auckland Swim Team

Team Auckland Master Swimmers’ Christopher Preston tells express about the team’s success at this year’s International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championships.

The first Gay Games – held in Los Angeles in 1982 – proved to be so much fun the Americans decided to do it annually. It birthed the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championships (IGLA) and the West Hollywood Aquatics famously lead the charge. At the height of the AIDS crisis, they battled homophobia and hysteria, swimming through water overdosed with chlorine to compete with straight clubs all while losing teammates to the epidemic.

This year Team Auckland Master Swimmers (TAMS) took a team of two women and seven men ranging from late twenties to mid-seventies to the IGLA Championships held in Melbourne in late February. Between them, the team covered all four strokes, long-distance and sprint events. Head Coach, Cynthia Borne’s training programme crucially included relay practice, leading the team to great success.

Team Auckland enjoyed a spectacular win on the event’s first day in the 4 x 50 metre mixed freestyle relay in the 20+ age group, beating two other teams to take the IGLA record previously held by West Hollywood Aquatics.

“We were all thrilled, particularly Diana, swimming in her first-ever pool competition and taking her first start off the raised diving blocks,” Preston tells us.

Team Auckland scored a second gold medal later that day. By the end of the IGLA they had achieved 16 gold, five silver and four bronze medals – bringing them to twelfth on the club league table of 52.

“I joke with my older American friends every year about getting older and staying alive through swimming, how it gets harder every year… We agree that ‘turning up, starting and finishing’ is important. It’s incredibly inclusive and the slowest person in a heat is always applauded for their effort.” says Chris.

He is clearly proud of his teammates: “Terry has gone from a complete non-swimmer to an international competitor in a matter of months through sheer determination. He loved the challenge and had a sense of belonging to a team – great to be in an environment where the rainbow community is the norm.

“Duncan entered all three butterfly races, a brave choice. He was there to watch and learn. After going out a bit too fast on the 100 m Fly, he easily picked up the pace for the 50m and swam a relaxed 200m perfectly on the last day – wonderful!

“Ed has declared that this is his swansong but came away with a Bronze medal in the 100-metre Breaststroke so we may yet entice him back into the competition pool!”

Winning Mixed Relay Team

Perhaps even more important than the medals and competition are the social and entertainment aspects of IGLA. Chris tells us the highlights included: “A rooftop bar provided an opening party with a great view of the Melbourne skyline. Our women enjoyed the women’s dinner… The last day of IGLA always includes ‘The Pink Flamingo’, performed by those clubs with larger numbers. This year the Aussie teams satirised their sexist politicians, their newsreaders and ex-tennis-champ-turned-homophobe, Margaret Court. The standout was the Parisian Shiny Shrimps, who must have packed their costumes in excess baggage for their elaborate skit about global warming!” 

The IGLA Championship is due to take place in Salt Lake City next year. In the meantime, TAMS are getting back in the pool to prepare for the next New Zealand Masters competition, and are encouraging new LGBT+ swimmers to join them.

This article was originally published by Gay Express on June 4, 2020

SWIM WITH US

We train at Tepid Baths, downtown Auckland on Tuesdays and Thursdays 7-8pm. You can take a train to Britomart and walk approximately 7 minutes to Tepid Baths. If you drive, you can park at Downtown carpark which is just 2 minute walk from the swimming pool.

We have the lanes next to the windows (see the picture below). Introduce yourself to the coach who will give you further information on swimming with TAMS.

Thursday is our social evening whereby where possible a few swimmers often head for a post swim drink.


Lead coach Cynthia Borne giving training at Tepid Baths

GET IN TOUCH

Meet us at Tepid Baths on Tuesday or Thursday between 7 – 8pm, otherwise send us a message using the form below or visit our Instagram or Facebook page.

Tepid Baths address: 100 Customs Street West, Central Auckland. Phone: 09-3794745