N.Z. CHANNEL SWIMMERS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28050, 18 August 1956, Page 2

N.Z. CHANNEL SWIMMERS

CONZA RETURNING HOME MISS SWEENEY TO MAKE ANOTHER ATTEMPT (N.Z. Press Asaociatton—Copyright) LONDON, August 16. The New Zealand swimmer Clarenci Conza is returning home after his failurt to swim the Channel. Conza said: "I would have to wait probably a further three weeks for favouraNs conditions for another swim.” “That would cost around £lOO, which 1 have not got. It would mean askjnf for more money from home, and 1 do not think it would be fair to do that* Conza, who was one of the eight started in the race, said that his pilot estimated that he was in the sea for just on two hours, but he remembers little about ha gallant try, which ended with him being taken out of the rough water after being very ill with seasickness. Miss Margaret Sweeney, the 26-year-old Aucklander, one of the swimmers who did not start in the race, said today that she is determined to swim the Channel before returning to New Zealand. “I will make the attempt at the fir»t favourable tides and weather, probably later this month or early in September," she said. Miss Sweeney was very seasick on the way across to France on Tuesday night, but she would have started in the race if her pilot had not stiongly advised her against even attempting to reach the beach to prepare for the Channel swim. Four long-distance swimmers walked angrily out of a protest meeting at Folkestone tonight. The swimmers walked out after Mr Butlin. sponsor of the Channel swim, said: “The real cause of the meeting is that the people who have complained have mostly—not in every case—been sponsored. They did not like the look of the sea. and did not go in, and they have to think of a very good stefry to tell their sponsors why they did not go in.” Answering criticism about the weather conditions. Mr Butlin said: “If you wwi for a millpond, then you would swim. If you are swimming the Chai* , you are challenging the sea, and you han got to take your chances.”