
TAMS 30
We are celebrating 30 years this year
We would like to celebrate and acknowledge the many swimmers who have swum with us over the last 30 years.

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 30 years ago when he decided to formalise a group of LGBTIQA 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

David Frost
Secretary

Cynthia Borne
Lead Coach

Brett Ryan
Coach (Tuesday)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Waterfall Creek, Wanaka Lake
28 January 2023
The Ruby Swim Event
Oriental Bay, Wellington
29 January 2023
Swim the Lighthouse
Masefield Beach, Auckland
5 February 2023
Chelsea Swim
Mission Bay, Auckland
11 February 2023
Bean Rock Swim
Westhaven, Auckland
11 March 2023
Swim The Bridge
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.
Pay a pool entry at reception then come through to the main pool. We have the lanes next to the windows (or look for the ‘Team Auckland Masters Swimmers’ lap lane signs). Introduce yourself to the coach who will give you further information on swimming with TAMS.
To encourage people back to the pool, we’re waiving the coaching fees from January through to March 2023. Turn up, pay the Tepid Baths Entry fee and then you’re good to go.
As a reminder, Tuesday and Thursdays, 7-8pm. Thursday’s is still a social evening whereby where possible a few swimmers often head for a post swim drink.

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