Schoolboy conquers Cook Strait
PA Wellington. A Dunedin schoolboy, Philip Rush, yesterday became the youngest person to conquer Cook Strait and beat the world amateur marathon champion swimmer in doing it. The 16-year-old covered the 21km from Ohau Point to Perano Head-in eight hours 56 minute.s arriving at the South Island at 5.14 p.m. *- .The marathon -champion, Mohammed El Messery, of Egypt, made land just 16 minutes later in nine hours 12 minutes. The next time the pair meet will be on the Egyptian’s home
territory. Rush and. the Cook Strait record holder, John Coutts, have been invited there for two races at an international meeting in May.
Coutts .set a record time for the crossing of six hours 44 minute.s in 1978. Yesterday ha and a fellow marathon swimmer, Chris Hurdley, kept the -pair company in the water while Keith Hancox and Barrie Devenj port, who have both completed the swjm, Watched from a boat) -Rush,- who-won- the last Ail New Zealand marathon series had already beaten Messery is a 20 mile event at Waihi.
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Press, 25 February 1980, Page 6
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176Schoolboy conquers Cook Strait Press, 25 February 1980, Page 6
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