84 | Staggering success for Chch pool company Poolside Christchurch picked up seven gold awards at the 2025 New Zealand Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA) Awards of Excellence, and going on to be crowned Best Pool Store in Australasia at the SPASA Grand Final Gala in Melbourne. POOL INDUSTRY Poolside Christchurch T T Kelly Deeks Poolside Christchurch has cemented its place as the country’s leading swimming pool and spa business, winning seven gold awards at the 2025 New Zealand Swimming Pool and Spa Association (SPASA) Awards of Excellence, and going on to be crowned Best Pool Store in Australasia at the SPASA Grand Final Gala in Melbourne. General manager Antony Dale says this was a milestone year for the awards, which for the first time combined entrants from both New Zealand and Australia. “To come away not only with six golds, but also the overall Australasian title is a massive achievement for the whole team,” he says. “It shows that what we’re doing here in Christchurch is setting the standard across the industry.” The Poolside Christchurch team’s expertise was recognised across the board, with awards for Best Pool Store, Best Mobile Service Business, Single Location Pool Store, and Professional of the Year. Key staff members also took home top honours, with service manager Alastair Wood named Professional of the Year and In-field Service Technician of the Year, retail manager Lee Houghton awarded Retail Service Technician of the Year, and in-field technician Patrick Steele recognised with the Rising Star Award. The awards highlight the calibre of Poolside Christchurch’s people. Alastair, a Scotsman with 24 years’ experience in the pool industry in both the UK and New Zealand, is widely regarded as Christchurch’s most trusted pool technician. Lee has been part of the business for 13 years, and is well-known for her friendly, practical advice to pool owners. Patrick, who joined just 18 months ago, has quickly become an invaluable part of the team with his strong technical background and thirst for knowledge. “It’s like a rugby team,” says Antony. “You can have a player of the day, but without the rest of the team they can’t shine. We’ve got a really solid, consistent crew, and these awards are a credit to every one of them.” Antony says Poolside Christchurch’s “superpower” lies in its scientific approach to water testing and management. “Anyone can hand over a sheet of paper with test results,” he says. “What makes us different is that we take the next step – we give customers clear, practical advice on what to do and why. “Because we have such detailed records of every pool we service, we can diagnose issues properly and solve the root cause, rather than just treating symptoms.” This commitment to expertise has seen Poolside Christchurch become the go-to pool- care provider in the region, with hundreds of pools under regular servicing contracts. The company uses the premium BioGuard chemical range, which Antony says delivers the best results in water clarity and equipment protection. Poolside Christchurch has been helping local pool owners for more than 47 years. The business was purchased by Richard and Lynda Roche in 2014, and under their stewardship it has quintupled in size, moving to its current Blenheim Road site in 2018. Antony, who stepped into the general manager role in late 2024, says his focus is on maintaining the strong platform the owners have built. “They’ve created something really special here, with great products, great people, and great customers,” he says. “My goal is to keep building on that, always striving to do things better, and helping Christchurch pool owners get the most enjoyment out of their pools.” “What makes us different is that we take the next step – we give customers clear, practical advice on what to do and why.” For Poolside Christchurch, the record-breaking awards haul is less about the trophies and more about validation of the business’s purpose. “At the end of the day, our job is simple.” Antony says. We help people enjoy their pools and spas.” PC REPAIRS BUSINESS IT COMPUTER REPAIRS LAPTOP & PC SALES thecomputerdoctor.co.nz 03 377-77-99 123 Blenheim Road, Christchurch Your trusted IT partner for nearly three decades the computer doctor ! TCD ELECTRONICS MYCOM ELECTRONICS MYCOM Voted Best Pool Store in Australasia! Your pool deserves the best too! 03 978 1504 poolsidechristchurch.co.nz ASK US ABOUT OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICE PACKAGE Keep your pool sparkling, healthy & stress-free - all year round
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