Miss Lily Copplestone

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6627, 14 August 1931, Page 10

Miss Lily Copplestone

LONDON. Miss Lily Copplestone, the Sew Zealand holder of the world’s long-distance swimming record for women, has arrived in England in order to swim the Channel. She intends to make her attempt in August. An Evening News correspondent who has interviewed her says that no prettier or more attractive girl has ever made an attempt on the ungallant Channel. She is sli mand dainty, and but for the look of athletic fitness which radiates from her, no one would suspect for a moment that she could attempt such a tremendous physical, feat as the conquering of the Channel. Miss Copplestone spoke of her experience in the water at Malta. ‘ Our ship called at Malta,’’ she said, "and a boy and I thought we would go for a swim. We jumped over the side, but no sooner had I struck' the water than I realised the ship was still moving.

"Then wo realised that the only thing to do was to swim to the shore — a mile or two away. Well, we got ashore, ran through the dock district in our bathing costumes, and then swam out to where the ship had stopped. We climbed up a ladder on the side of the ship and then had to go before the captain and be scolded for going ashore before being passed by the medical officers. He did scold us, but ho was very nice about it. After all, we had only intended to have a little swim round while the ship was anchored.’

Speaking of the Channel Swim she said: "With ms in New Zealand the swimming of the Channel is the great achievement of a swimmer’s life. So I am o-oing to do some smaller sw inis like the Firth of Forth and then go down and do mym best in the Channel.” Miss Copplestone was asked how she thought girls compared with men as Swdmmers. ",I think,” she said smilingly, "that girls are nearly as good as men, because they can stand the cold better, and also because men are inclined to be alarmed

by a pain that a woriian would not notice. Just look at a man when he has a cold m the head— he looks and feels as if he were going to die! Girls taka a cold for granted. The same thing happens in the water when a bad tack of cramp comes on. ”