DOWN THE WAIKATO.

Auckland Star, 2 January 1931, Page 3

DOWN THE WAIKATO.

M!SS COPPLESTONE'S SWIM.

TWELVE MILES BEFORE NOON

COMPLAINT OF COLD WATER

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, this day

Miss Lily Copplestone to-day undertook an endurance swim down the Waikato River from Cambridge to Ngaruawahia, a distance of approximately 25 miles. She left Cambridge wharf at 7.20 a.m., accompanied by a young man from Auckland, Mr- C. R. Watson. She started with an easy trudgeon stroke, doing 5S to the minute, and passed under the Hamilton traffic bridge a few minutes before mid-day, having taken 4 hours and 40 minutes to swim the intervening. 12 miles. At Hamilton her pace had dropped to 43 a minute, but she was still swimming strongly, and, though looking very blue, she told a "Star" representative she was confident she would reach Ngaruawahia. She complained that the water was very cold, but said she expected to reach Ngaruawahia about 4 o'clock.

Miss Copplestone had invited Miss Mercedes Gleitze to accompany her on the present swim, but Miss Gleitze was unable to accept the invitation, owing to arrangements already made. To-morrow night Mis* Copplestone will, leave for Wellington; where she will attempt to lower Miss Gleitze's rocord in swimming the harbour there.