THE ST. CLAIR TOURNAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 7468, 12 March 1888, Page 2

THE ST. CLAIR TOURNAMENT

It was the ill-fortune of the promoters of Saturday's swimming tournament to pick on the worst day, in respect to weather, experienced at St. Clair since last winter. An exceptionally high tide caused tho sea to break over the baths for an unusually long period, and this necessitated a delay of half an hour in starting. When, at three o'clock, a beginning was made, the rain commenced to descend in a continuous downpour, driving many away altogether, and thoroughly wetting those who remained in the possession of what little shelter was formed by the rocks and the shed. The attendance was satisfactory at the outset, however, over LI 3 being taken at the gates alone, and many tickets that were disposed of were not presented ; so that there will probably be a decent surplus to hand over. The Caversham Band was in attendance, and played until the bandsmen were forced by the rain to cut and run. The members of ,the South Dunedin Fire Brigade were present, and lent valuable assistance to the committee. The 100 Yards Handicap was swum in heats. Dick Grimmett was put out in the first, owing to his bad luck in getting the worst of the perturbed water. Talbot, the other scratch man, did not start. J. M'Dougall (I2sec) won by about five yards from p. J. Ness (Bsec), w ith J. H. Clarke (lOaec) ttiird. Time, Imin 34sec. The second heat produced a good finish between T. Grimmett "iSsec) and' W. Eobertson (lOsec), the latter winning mainly through his judgment in keeping in ,tho wash of the water. Time, Jmin 47sec. The first and second in each heat met in a final heat later in the afternoon, when Tom Grimmett won from Ness by about a couple of yards, Ness just beating M'Dougall for second place. Ness swam the side stroke for half the distance and used the breast stroke to come home with. Grimmett, on the other hand, kept one style throughout, and was going as fast at the finish as when he dived off.

In the plate diving there were only three competitors—N. Pizey iF. Foster, and A. Mitchell. ; The two last named tied with eleven, a capital performance' In rough water; and on meeting again Mitchell brought up ten to Foster's four. Foster claimed to have picked eleven plates from the bottom—the twelth had been broken in its descent—but unfortunately let all but four slip through his fingers before showing them above the surface.

There were four competitors for the undressing in the water contest. W. M'Auliffe completed the task in lmin 20sec, J. Smith in lmin Usee, N. Pizey in lmin 45sec. First prize was awarded to Smith and second to Pizey. The lastnamed did his work more neatly than any of the others, as he had more clothes to disburden himself of, and brought them all ashore in one parcel, whereas the others handed up each article separately. Foster did not keep clear of the bottom; hence his work was disregarded by the judges. Six started in the 50 Yards Back-swim-ming Race, and Talbot ran away with the first prize with the greatest ease, his time being 46sec. A. C. Macgregor finished second, and R. Aitken third. This race should have been a handicap. The 100 Yards Race for Boys under sixteen years, resulted in M. Henderson winning easily from Kirk and F. Jones. Dick Grimmett had a walk over for the 200 Yards Champion Race, neither Talbot nor Ness caring to compete. The race for school boys under fourteen years had twenty-one entries, but only ten undressed for it, and they were despatched in one heat. H. Maitland came in first, with L. Gillandera second, and C. Davies third.

The life-saving contest was a time com-: petition to see who could make the quickest job of bringing out a dummy cast into the water. F. H. Reidle beat J. Smith by ' about a couple of seconds, E. Grimmett being third. Four men tackled the greasy pole, and; this fun-produfcing competition resulted in i J. M'Dougall winning from J. Gau,lt, with j R. Kirby third. M'Dougall made a capital i slide along the spar, but did not capture the j flag. " ' ! There were four Btarters for the 150 .Yards! Handicap. T. Grimmett (lOsec) won very j easilyfrom Jas. Hegarty (15sec), J. H. Clarke; (12sec) being third andT. Macarthur (Issec) last. Hegarty swam very well considering that he is quite a lad. Lieutenant Outram, of the Caversham, Brigade, won the Firemen's Race of 50 yards, but did not have more than a couple'of yards to spare, H, Wilson being a good second. Smith was third, There were ffoifstarters. ' ''' ,

Only one pair came out to contest the tilting competition, and everybody concerned was heartily glad to see T. Grimmctt quietly succumb after one bout with J. Gault; this bringing the proceedings to a close.