ENDURANCE SWIM

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11404, 3 January 1931, Page 7

ENDURANCE SWIM

MERCEDES GLEITZE PUTS UP BRITISH RECORD. IN WATER CONTINUOUSLY FOR ■ 42i HOURS. . CPress Association.} WELLINGTON, Jan 2. Having swum continuously since 8.35. on New Year’s Eve, Miss Mercedes Gleitze concluded her long endurance swim at 3.5 "o’clock this afternoon in the Boys’ Institute tepid baths. She increased the British endurance swimming record by half an hour. Her best time for continuous swimming was previously 42 hours, established, at Dublin a day. or so before leaving for New Zealand. There was a large and enthusiastic crowd present to see the swimmer finish and she was cheered, from - time to time over the last lap. There was a scene of remarkable enthusiasm .when the swimmer finally rested. Miss Glcitzo expects to he up and about again to-morrow, although she will naturally spend the day resting. According .to her usual custom, Miss Gleitze swam to music, and this was provided voluntarily throughout the swim by local pianists, singers, a strong hand and a quartet of Maori singers whose refrains and liakas Miss Gleitze found most inspiring. In order to' vary the muscles in use, Miss Gleitze changed her stroke from time to time, the back stroke, breast stroke, side, overarm, trudge, etc., all being used for short spells. On an average she did 33 strokes a minute. . Mr. P. Carey, Miss Gleitzc’s husband. who. manages her swims, said that between 4,30 and 7 o’clock this morning his wife had the verst attack of sleepiness she ever had to contend with in an endurance swim. She had for her food‘during the swim chicken broth, hot milk, Bacon and eggs, egg flip.’ Bov’ril, crayfish, hqt lemon and a little cake. Large numbers of people attended the baths throughout the swim, including a large party from Palmerston North, which came down especially to see Miss Gleitze make her attempt. . . There was also n. noticeable increase in the attendance late on Wednesday night to see Miss Gleitze swim' 1930 ont. She was loudly cheered as midnight passed. Some of the audience, apart from officials, ' spent as long ns thirty iiqurs at the‘baths, merely going out for meals, while others attendee] five and six times."

LILY COPFLESTONE PUTS UP RECORD. " COVERS m MILES IN 8} HOURS. ('Press Association.) . ... J. HAMILTON. Jan. 2. Lily Copplestone, entering tlie water at Cambridge' this morning, swam 335 miles down the Waikato river to Ngarnawahia m 81 hours'' breaking the Australasian record, by 35 miles. She swam the double trndgeon all th? way and was swimming strongly, when finished.