KELLERMAN CUP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20317, 27 January 1928, Page 3

KELLERMAN CUP.

MISS L. COPPLESTONE’S EASY WIN. R. J. WEBSTER RETURNS FASTEST TIME. SUCCESSFUL HARBOUR. SWIM. .

Although a slight breeze ruffled the surface of the harbour, conditions were almost ideal for the Annette Kellerman Cup race, which was swum off yesterday. It was intended, if the weather had been calm to swim the race from the wharf to a beacon a mile and a-half out, and back to the wharf, but under the existing conditions, it was considered advisable to take the competitors to a point three miles down the harbour (about 200yds below , Challis’s jetty), and have them swim back. The following swimmers faced the starter; —R. J. Webster (Auckland) scr, J. Enwright (Auckland) C. J. E. MXean (Otago) 2imin, T. Champion (Canterbury) 4min, J. Blakeley (Wellington) L. J. Moorehouse (Canterbury) B|min, C. R. Riordan (Canterbury) 12min, L. J. Pithie tOtago) 15min. A. Hepburn (Wellington) 15£m'in, W. G. Morpeth (Wellington) 28min. Miss L. Copplcstone (Canterbury) 29jmin. At five minutes to eleven Miss Copplestone, the limit competitor, was sent oft on her long swim, and was followed a minute and a-half later by Morpeth. Then went Hepburn and Pithie, almost together, followed by Riordan, Moorehouse, Blakeley, Champion, MXe-n. Enwright, and Webster. For the first 200yds there was little change in the order of the swimmers, but at the quarter-mile Miss Copplestone and Morpeth had established a decided lead on Pithie, Hepburn, and Riordan, who, in turn, were a good 100yds in front of Enwright, Blakeley, Champion, and MXean. Webster, the scratch man, was swimming strongly, but had not improved his position. The next quarter-mile saw Enwright drawing up with Hepburn and Pithie, the two leaders in the meantime having maintained their advantage. Web- V ster joined MXean and Champion, who were a few yards behind Blakeley and Moorehouse, and this order as maintained for a few hundred yards, wnen Riordan retired.

The half distance saw the two frontmarkers still out in front, Miss Copplestone, who was swimming easily, having a lead of a furlong on Morpeth. Five hundred yards back, came Hepburn and Pithie, with Enwright gradually overhauling them. Still further back in a bunch were MXean, Champion, and Blakeley, with Webster 100yds behind. At this stage Moorehouse withdrew. Miss Copplestone reached the castle beacon with a good 200yds lead over Morpeth. Then came Champion and Enwright together, 600yds away, and Webster (who had improved his position considerably), MXean, Blakeley, and Pithie 100yds further back. Hepburn withdrew after covering two miles. Miss Copplestone was keeping a good course, and when in line with the three legs, had increased her advantage over Morpeth, who swam over close to the retaining wall, and appeared to lose a good deal of ground by doing so. The position of the reaguard in the meantime had changed round, and Enwright, Champion, and Webster were in the van of this division, the other three —MXean, Blakeley, and Pithie—being 30yds back. The gap between Morpeth and Enwright and Webster was gradually lessening as the firstnamed passed the three legs, and at this stage it could be seen that, barring accidents, Miss Copplestone must ■win, as she was then at the entrance to the steamers’ basin ; swimming as strongly as ever. Champion was lying in the rear of the second division, and MXean, Blakeley, and Pithie were about 200yds behind. At 12.33 3-5 the winner passed the finishing line, with 600yds to spare, and climbed into her dinghy unassisted, receiving a great ovation from the crowds which lined the wharves. Then came the question as to who would fill second place. Morpeth had a good lead over the others as they neared the steamers’ basin, but he was being piloted over a long course. Enwright and Webster (both strong finishers) were gradually wearing down the opposition ; so that it was almost a certainty that second position would be filled by one of these three. And so it proved. Entering the steamers’ basin the Auckland veteran made straight for the finishing line, whilst Morpeth went around the northern end of the basin, the former touching 100yds ahead of the Wellington swimmer. Webster, who returned fastest time last year, was fourth, then came Champion (last year’s winner), MXean, Blakeley, and Pithie, in that order. The following is the result: Miss L. Copplestone (Canterbury), 294 min, Ihr 38min 8 5-ssec 1 J. Enwright (Auckland), limin, Ihr 22min 28sec 2 W. G. Morpeth (Wellington), 28min, Ihr 50min Bsec 3 R. J. Webster (Auckland), scr, Ihr 22min 15sec 4 Also started: T. Champion (Canterbury), Ihr 27min 6sec; C. J. E. MXean (Otago), Ihr 29min 20sec; J. C. Blakeley, Ihr 33min 29sec; L. J. Pithie (Otago), Ihr 48min 4sec; L. J. Moorehouse (Canterbury), A. Hepburn (Wellington), C. R. Riordan (Canterbury) all retired. The following are the winners of the cup since it was first competed for in 1922: 1922, at Wellington, Miss Q. Nuttalll (Hawke’s Bay) ; 1923, at Timaru, C. Welson (Auckland); 1924, at Wanganui, H. B. Harper (Auckland) ; 1925, at Lyttelton, J. Enwright (Auckland); 192 mat Napier, A. Bolam (Canterbury); 1927, at Auckland, T. Champion (Canterbury). It will be seen that out of seven contests Canterbury and Auckland have each won the trophy three times, and Hawke’s Bay once. R. J. Webster, the scratch man, who returned fastest time for the race last year, also made fastest time yesterday. Throughout the arrangements for the race were excellent, and everything went without a hitch. A dinghy accompanied each competitor, and in addition, five launches conveyed officials and supporters to the starting point and over the course.

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS,

With the exception of the competitors in the Kellerman Cup race, swimmers had an “ off ” day yesterday, and no championship sessions were held. In the evening, however, a number of visiting and local swimmers and divers staged an amusing burlesque carnival, in which were included races for the carnival officials, several novelty events, and exhibitions of plain and fancy diving. There was a large attendance, and although the whole proceedings were more or less impromptu, this appeared to enhance, rather than detract from the evening’s fun.

Probably on the principle of keeping the best till the last, the Championship Committee has arranged a particularly interesting programme for this evening, when the finaj session of the New Zealand Championship meeting will be held. The final of the men’s and ladies’ diving championships will be derided, and with such exponents as R. Calder, J. Hicks, M. Walker, Misses Hood and (Foot, and Mrs T. Thomson competing, these events alone should be worth witnessing. Another attraction should be the appearance of the title and record holders, "Miss K. Miller, in the 440yds ladies’ championship, and as Miss Miller expects to leave on her Australian tour next week, to-night will probably bo the last opportunity of seeing her in action that the Dunedin public will have for some time. At the conclusion of the racing, the prize-giving ceremony will be held in the Embassy Salon, and will be followed by a dance, at which competitors and supporters will be the guests of the centre.