SWIMMING MARATHON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19731, 2 September 1927, Page 11

SWIMMING MARATHON.

GERMAN WINS IN CANADA. COLD DEFEATS MANY RIVALS. (Received September 1, 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z.-Sun. TORONTO, Aug. 31. The second Canadian National Exhibition Swimming Marathon across Lake Ontario, a distance of 21 miles, was today won by the German swimmer, Herr Ernst Vierkotter, in llh. 43m. The winner swam the English Channel on August 30, 1926, in 12h. 30m. More than 200 competitors started ;n the race, tho prizes for which totalled £IO,OOO. Mr. William Wrigley, junior, and the Canadian National Exhibition authorities each contributed £SOOO. Last year's winner, George Young, the Canadian champion, gave up shortly after the start, when Vierkotter was leading. The cold waters of the lake also defeated many others of the world's best swimmers. Only 50 of those who started remained in the water after six hours. Many of the favourites retired early. Young, who was seized with cramp, was followed out by E. D. Keating, Harold Waters (New Zealand), Byron Summers, John Challoran and George Clayton. Vierkotter led by three-quarters of a mile after 14 miles had been covered. Georges Michel (France), who swam the English Channel on September 10, 1926, in the record time of llh. 5m., finished second. At the close of the race the winner was two miles ahead of the 12 nearest competitors. He finished strongly, then tjod water, bowed and threw kisses to the spectators who lined the shore. William Erickson (New York) was the last to finish, but he won the third prize, as, owing to withdrawals, only three completed the course.