Swimming

The Balmain swimming Club was founded in march 1884. After the formation of the Balmain Club at least three other social swimming clubs were operating in Balmain. Those clubs were known as the Balmain East Club and the Gladstone Club, but it is not known where these clubs actually participated. The third social club was known as the Morts Dock Club. It is believed that swimming, as a recreation in these early days, was taking place in the actual Morts Dock, when it was not being used for ship repairs.

The opening of the new shark-proof tidal baths was a large reason why the Balmain swimming club was formed. Balmain Club members were very prominent in forming the NSW Amateur Swimming Association. With members representing the Colony of NSW in the half-mile championships of Australasia.

There was controversy among swimmers as to who was the first in Australia to adopt the double overarm or trudgen stroke. Records show that Mr. Peter Murphy of Balmain was the first to employ the stroke in a race.

The game of ‘Aquatic Polo’ in the early 1880s was much more ‘rough and ready’ sport than today's rules allow, and was usually played with twelve men a side. As the club advanced to the 20th Century membership grew as did the variety of events and activities available to members. Long distance swims, sprints, diving, aquatic polo and even the plunge. The club won their first grade NSW polo premiership in season 1895/96 with the team comprising P.Murphy (Capt.), Jas. Taylor; S. Davis, D. Boyd, J. W. Johnston and T. Kinnimont. They repeated the victory three years later, actually beating a Balmain B team four goals to one in the Final. Both teams again made the Final next season indicating the great depth of the players at that time.

Entering the Pool

The steps from Elkington park with cut rock and vegetation make the entrance to todays pool.

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In 1895 the association granted permission for schoolboys to compete in club races.

During the first world war the club's membership depleted from 38 to only 18 members active by 1915. By 1938/39 there were 80 members and after the Second World War it dropped again but increased to 134 in 1946.

By 1974 the emphasis in the club swung towards the younger children as the swimming section got larger. With junior teams in the mid-70s representing State. By this point membership grew to 300.

Wally Pont Memorial Shield

Annual competition amongst club members to win the award.

Water Polo

Inside the pool

The space where many waterpolo tournaments and swiming carnivals played out

Most notably R. R. Craig was the real star of the Club, he won the 220 yards Freestyle Championship of Australasia in 1900 and altogether, during an eight season period, captured four State titles and was selected in Western Districts, State and Commonwealth teams. He was the first Balmain player to gain a place in the State Water Polo team in 1898/99. One of the few members who received Awards of Merit for Life Saving. Made by the National Shipwreck Relief Society “Awarded to R. R. Craig, together with the Society’s Medal, for his courageous action in attempting to rescue and recovering the body of a diver named John Roderick who was cleaning the ways to float the Manly Steamer ‘Kuring-gai’ at Morts Dock when the air-piper became jammed under the vessel”

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The Gladstone and Morts dock clubs only planted another three seasons in the 1900s with Balmian growing in popularity.

In the early part of the 1900s Balmain Water Polo teams began the great Club tradition that was to carry over the next 80 years with prominent performances in all grades. In 1930 the water polo teams were runner up in 1st and 2nd with the 3rd Grade ‘A’ Team going just the one step further to take the final.

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1st Grade polo team repeated premiership victories in 1937-38 The most significant era was in the 1965/66 season when the Balmain Mens, Balmain and Birchgrove Ladies combined. Sharing the training pool helped both the men and women and Club premierships and championships were enjoyed by players in all grades.

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Balmain were fortunate that one of the greatest goalkeepers ever moved up from Melbourne and joined in 1967. Mick Withers went on to four State teams and ‘68 and ‘72 Olympics as an adopted son of Balmain.

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Early in 1968 Balmain 1st Grade coached by Gordon Ameddee, took on a Czechosolvakian team that had been untroubled by the State squad. Nobody expected Balmain to win against a side that contained so many players who were almost full-time professionals, but a record crowd of about 1400 turned up just to see the great Czechs in action.

Action they got as the game proved to be one of the greatest clashes ever seen. In those days the rules allowed a little more contact. One player, Stawb decided the only way to test the international team was to play as fast and physical as the laws would allow. The Czechs had a habit of diving underwater, only to pop up in front of the goals to take the final pass. It was a habit they soon broke because in the murky sea water they always seemed to find a Balmain player just at the spot where they wanted to surface.

Hard Physical defence was the tactic that prevailed and when the smoke cleared, the pool announcer calmed down and the referee rescued, an honourable 8-8 draw prevailed. Both teams were satisfied and all adjourned to the David Woods residence. No other team in Australia was able to repeat the result during their tour. It was no fluke that Balmain went on to win the premiership that season with an undefeated record.

With Ian Mclauchlain, Mike Withers and David Woods making the ‘trio of Tigers’ at the Munich Olympics in 1972.

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References