100 miles swim record broken

Press, Issue 33840, 12 May 1975, Page 16

100 miles swim record broken

Although the Canterbury team was inside the old world too miles record when it completed Its marathon swim at the Wharen ii Pool on Saturday evening. It was an hour and 20 minutes behind the new holder. Otago. The Otago and Wellington teams finished within five minutes of each other, but Otago had the faster time of 24 hours 46min 33sec, taking Ihr 46min 15sec off the previous time held by an Auckland squad.

The “Swimathon” record attempt was made in five different cities to raise funds to aid the New Zealand team to the world championships in Cali, Colombia, in July. Otago and Wellington both had an advantage over Canterbury and Auckland in that they swum in 25m pools. Canterbury swum at Wharenui which is a 36 2-3 yards pool, thus the teams in the 25m pools were getting an extra dive start every 100 m, and about a second advantage from each extra dive. “Swimathons” were also held in Auckland and Hamilton.

Mark Treffers, the New 2 land representative w , organised the attempt, said he had no idea how much had beer raised, and it would be about two weeks before the swimmers sponsor cards were returned AU the swimmers lasted the distance, and it was left to the New Zealand representative. Susan Hunter to swim the last length.

SORE MUSCLES The swimmers had been able to sleep during their six-hour spells, but by the end several were complaining of sore stomach muscles and shoulders probably the result of about 240 dive starts each during the 26 hours.

For the Wharenui members of the team there was little rest They were swimming in a carnival against an Australian club last evening.