The Oyster Derby

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 915, 7 March 1930, Page 8

The Oyster Derby

FAMOUS INVERCARGILL RACE OX Saturday, March. 1, Invercargill celebrated not only its elevation to the status of New Zealand's seventh City, but also the decision of its most popular annual sporting ..event —the running of the famous Oyster Derby. This race, the only one of its kind in the world, is observed with all due pomp, ceremony and enthusiasm by the capital city of Southland.

The event owes its existence to the initiative ot Mr. J. J. W. Pollard, editor of the ‘‘Southland Times,” Invercargill’s morning newspaper. Under the pen-name of ‘‘Shaun O’Sullivan,” he has glorified the exciting -adventures of Derby competitors for a number of years, until the Oyster Derby has become part and parcel of the Southern city itself. Each year the stirring events of the great race are chronicled in verse and prose by “Shaun” through the columns of the “Times.” Written in Saga form by the originator of this remarkable race, these records are clipped and treasured by the participants in the Derby. To be the winner of the contest is the hall-mark of fame in retail fish circles. The rules of the great sporting event are very simple. The open season for the luscious and famous Foveaux Strait oysters (the best in New Zealand, say Southern connoisseurs) commences on March 1, and on that date the honour of beiDg the first to cover the 18 miles separating the Port of Bluff from the capital city, and deliver the first oysters of the season at the “Southland Times” office is keenly contested by Invercargill fishmongers, all of whom are eligible starters. Last week’s race was an exciting one for the 1930 honours. In the small hours of last Saturday morning the Bluff oyster fleet slipped out to sea and manoeuvred for advantageous positions. Dawn found them still toiling at the trawls . . . and it also found the fish merchants of the City of Invercargill pacing to and fro on the quay at Bluff. They gazed anxiously to sea, or glared at competitors who appeared to have inside information regarding the pos’tion of the oyster fleet. The sight of a small launch in the offing started the rumour that “Son” Tall (well known in oyster and boxing circles in Southland) had secured the services of a speed-boat to snatch a sack of oysters from his firm’s vessel at sea, race the fleet to port and his competitors to Invercargill and thus win the coveted Oyster Derby. It

was even suggested that he might go right up the Invercargill estuary with his precious load and land it at the mouth of the Puni Creek in the heart of the city. . . . Anxious merchants tested the engines of their cars and prepared for action. Irwin’s boat was first to arrive and one Thompson, the 1929 Derby winner, seized the first two sacks thrown on the wharf. With a roar and a cloud of dust his car flew Invercargillwards. He was followed a few minutes later by his son, with another four sacks. “Ange” Pasco, Invercargill’s veteran fishmonger, seized the first sack of oysters from his speediest boat, and in another cloud of dust his sou flew for the city. “Ange” decided to concentrate on being the first merchant to delfver a large consignment of oysters in Invercargill. He succeeded fairly well, reaching Invercargill before noon with 32 sacks. There was no glut in the market as he was anxiously looking for more before the middle of the afternoon. Thompson, senr., reached Invercargill without mishap, delivered his bona fides at the “Southland Times” office at 9.35 a.m., securing the Oyster Derby for the second time in succession and probably establishing a record. Thompson, junr., arrived 10 minutes later to claim second place. Another five minutes passed and then spouts of steam and occasional jets of hot water from the car’s radiator announced the arrival of Pasco’s first sack. The rest of the field simply weren’t in the hunt. The winner of the Derby was beseiged by congratulatory customers and oysters were in keen demand all day. ... And on Saturday evening Invercargill celebrated the Oyster Derby and the new status of the capital of the province by devouring oysters together with the necessary liquid trimmings, as only Invercargillites, Imbued with a rightful pride in their city, can do. Is it not the seventh city . . . and what province can produce such excellent oysters, anyway? J.R.S.