Hancox Plans 2-Way Cook Strait Swim

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30856, 15 September 1965, Page 19

Hancox Plans 2-Way Cook Strait Swim

(Special Correspondent N Z.P.A.)

LONDON, September 14.

Keith Hancox, who is hoping to make his second crossing of the English Channel—this time the “other way,” from Dover to France —on September 18 or soon after, will be back in New Zealand by October 23. He is determined to make a “double swim” of Cook Strait before the year is out.

“I am more convinced than ever that this is physically possible after my 15!hour swim across the English channel from Cap Gris Nez to Dover in rough water on August 7,” Hancox said. “In good weather a two-way swim of Cook Strait should be possible.” Hancox swam from the

North Island to the South Island in 1963, taking nine and a half hours. He considers that the English Channel is a tougher proposition.

Since his first swim of the English Channel he has not returned to his earlier strenuous training routine but is contenting himself with light training each day—so that he will stay in top form for his scheduled swim next weekend, which will be probably the last suitable neap tide of the season for would-be channel swimmers before temperature and weather deteriorate. If the weather is bad next week-end, Hancox hopes that he might try his fortune on the spring tide of the following week. Spring tides are said to be tricky but can help to set up fast times.

The temperature of the channel water at present is 60 degrees (compared to 57 degrees in London’s Serpentine where Hancox is still doing much of his training). Hancox has had “one little virus upset”—a cold—but is now in good health. Once again he will not bother to use the traditional coating of grease on his body when he enters the waters of the English Channel. He regards this measure against the cold as a “waste of time.”

“If you could wear a rubber suit that would be a different matter but then there is the likelihood of chafing.”

If Hancox succeeds at his task, he will become only the fourth swimmer to cross the English Channel both ways in the same year.

Thomson Playing.— The Australian golfer, Peter Thomson, has accepted an invitation to compete in the Piccadilly £16.000 world professional match-play tournament at Wentworth. Surrey, from October 14 to 16 He will be playing against seven other golfers, including Arnold Palmer, the title-holder.