GRUELLING SWIM

Evening Star, Issue 21945, 4 February 1935, Page 11

GRUELLING SWIM

BATT CUP WON BY J. BARRY ALSO TAKES TIME HONOURS decided over a two-mile course at Macandrew Bay yesterday,’ the Otago Centre’s annual Batt Cup swim proved one of the most gruelling in the history of the race, for although the overhead conditions were ideal the tide rip in the vicinity of Butler’s Point and Company’s Bay troubled the majority of competitors, many of whom retired at this stage.

The race was won by one of the backmarkers, J. Barry, of the Dunedin Club, who was recently runner-up in the New Zealand intermediate boys’ 100yds championship and is only sixteen years of age, being still a pupil of the Christian Brothers’ High School. Barry was awarded the cup last year, but on that occasion he was called from the water on account of the conditions and of,the falling of darkness. His swim yesterday represented one of the best performances yet put up in the history of the event for besides taking an exceptionally good course and showing splendid judgment he maintained a good even pace all the way on the outward journey, and then with the advantage of the tide came home in great style. It was a very popular win, and he took fastest time honours also, with a good margin to spare. Apart from the award performance last year, this is the first time a competitor in the" Batt Cup race has won the race and put up the fastest time on the same occasion.

Second place went to Brian Kerr, of the Dunedin Club, off the 13min mark, and his success was none the less popular. He swain very strongly all the way, but did not have the assistance of a pilot boat, and lost considerable ground.near the turn, though he was not distressed at any stage of the race. The New Zealand intermediate boys’ champion, S. W. Jarvis, who is not yet sixteen years of age, swam well from the scratch mark for third place, and second fastest time, the Dunedin Club thus having the distinction of providing the only three swimmers who completed the arduous course. Jarvis also took second fastest time. Mr W. A. Jenkins was the starter, Mr S. Brown timekeeper, and Messrs I>. C. Bannatyne, W. H. Matthews, and K. C. Isaacs judges, Mr D. T. Woodfield being the call steward. The success of the race was assured by the willing co-operation of the North-East Harbour Boating Club which provided launches and dinghies for the patrol of the course, special mention being due

to Mr W. Rowlands, who patrolled the course with his launch “ Stella.” THE RACE DESCRIBED. Miss P. Duncan, who was off the limit mark of 23min, was despatched at 11.5 and set herself a course well out from the shore, finding it hard work against the incoming tide. She was followed five minutes later by Miss 0. Ferguson, and then came W. H. ; Goss (14min). By the time B. Kerr, G. Ellison, and J.’H. Robertson (all off 13min) were sent on their way. Miss Duncan had gone no more than 250 yards against the tide, Miss Fergusou having picked up on Miss Duncan and being about thirty yards to the right, but nearer to the shore. Kerr followed a course close inshore, and he and Ellison quickly drew up on the long-mark-ers. H. Pateman (12min) was followedl by J, Clulee and C. M'Gregor (9min),and E. T. Dansey (6min). "When J. Barry (4imin) was sent away Kerr had covered a good 300 yards, and he was moving to the head of the field by the time the scratch man, S. W. Jarvis, left. . ' „ , Nearing Butler’s Point, a half-mile’ from the Macandrew Bay boat sheds,; the tide rip was taking its toll of the longer handicap swimmers, and hy thi* time it was evident that the issuei would be contested by the more experienced competitors, who were showing; judgment in the course they were following. Kerr, keeping well inshore* held a lead of 100yds at Butler’s Point* and employing the back stroke waa swimming very powerfully. Next came Ellison, who was now' beginning to find the conditions troublesome, and was not far ahead of Barry, who was more than, holding his handicap over the scratchi man, S. W. Jarvis. Barry was swimming a very even stroke and maintaining a regular pace, being about 200yds ahead of Pateman, Clulee, Goss, Misa 0. Ferguson, and S. W. Jarvis, the others being out of the picture and most of them retiring round about this point. Still hugging the shore, Kerr was about 200yds ahead of Ellison at the Dublin Bay hoatsheds, Barry passing Ellison about this stage. Then came Pateman about 250yds hack, followed closely by Clulee, Goss, Miss Ferguson* and Jarvis, who were fairly well together. Kerr led by 100yds from Barry approaching Company’s Bay, Ellison being 300yds back, and it was evident that the contest now lay between Kerr and Barry, though some distance back Jarvis was still going strongly. Veryj sound judgment was shown by Barry, and his pilot (A. J. Leeden) approaching the Company’s, Bay wharf, since Barry cut off a big slice of distance by swimming between the piles and coming out on the other side about 80yds ahead of Kerr, who found the going hard against the tide rip at this point. Barry made for a point well past the Rainbird buoy, and getting the full advantage of the incoming tide made for home swimming strongly and well, Kerr being 200yds back by this time, and Jarvis easily 600yds away.Barry finished strongly over the last quarter of a mile, and won by a good 700yds from Kerr, Jarvis being another 500yds back third, the only other swimmer to finish the arduous course. The winner’s time was Ih llmin 3sec, and he also took fastest time. THE PLACINGS. J. Barry (Dunedin), 4Jmin, Ih llmin 3see J B. Kerr (Dunedin), 13min, Ih SOmin 31seo ... ... 3 S. W. Jarvis (Dunedin), acr, Ih 26min 48sec 3 Also started: R, T. Dansey (Dunedin) 6mih, J. Clulee (Dunedin) and C. M'Gregor (Kiwi) 9min, H. Pateman (South Canterbury) 12min, G.Ellison and J. H. Robertson l3min,. W. H. Goss (Dunedin) 14min t - Miss O. Ferguson (Dunedin) 18min* and Miss P. Duncan (Dunedin) 23min, FASTEST TIMES. J. Barry (Dunedin), Ih llmin 3*ec J S. W. Jarvis (Dunedin), Ih 26min 48sec ... , ... 3 B. Kerr (Dunedin), Ih SOmin Slaeo 9