YOUNG WOMANS FEAT

Feilding Star, Volume 5, Issue 1197, 6 September 1927, Page 8

YOUNG WOMANS FEAT

SWIMS BRISTOL CHANNEL

'THE 'TIDE OF SEVEN RIVERS

rNI ol' E A CHI EV EM ENT.

(Aust. and N.Z. Cable). (Received Sept. ti. 1 p.m.)

London. Sept.. A

Miss Kathleen Thomas, of Poiiarlh. a girl of 2d years, swam Hie Bristol t ’hannel for the lirsl time in history. The feat is regarded as equal to the English Channel swim. She started from Pennrth at 4.1 A o'clock in the morning and arrived at Weston,- Super-Mare, at 11..‘t0. a direct distance of 12 miles. But she swam nearer 20 miles, owing in dangerous currents from the seven rivers running into the Channo). ;is well as one ol tin* highest tides in the world.

All previous aliemitls luive always failed before half way was done. Miss Thomas's -swim was a -secret. Sin- refused to disclose her trainingplace. so as to avoid publicity and it. was not till slit- had nearly reached Weston that the crowd recognised what was astir.

Thou ib(' whole town rushed to tbe beacon to sec the Welsh girl land. She was perfectly fresh, after swimming strongly the whole way. excepting at one had patch in the c('iil res where the seven ditlerenl tides meet. .Through this she was directed by her brother, a Bristol Channel pilot.