HARBOUR SWIMMING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22809, 19 February 1936, Page 11

HARBOUR SWIMMING

THE-KELLERMAN CUP

C. M. ROBERTSON WINS TROPHY

FASTEST TIME TO J. BLAKELEY

Although the weather was overcast at the start, conditions otherwise were all that could be desired for the harbour swim for the' Annette Kellerman Cup, which was decided yesterday at Macandrew Bay. The contest for the trophy was inaugurated in 1922 for the purpose of stimulating open-water swimming, is an individual event, the competitors swimming tor their respective clubs; but it has j become the custom •to decide it in conjunction with the New Zealand Championship meeting, and it has thus become the classic of long-distance harbour swimming in New Zealand. Yesterday's field, which was representative of clubs in ail parts of the Dominion, drew a field ot 10, including three previous winners of the trophy, and . several'' well-known distance swhamcra who have competed in the race on former occasions. L. Yates, the holder of the trophy, J. Euu right, who won in 1925 and again in 1930, a.ud J. A. Youus, who was successful two years ago, were among the competitors, and, in addition, entries were forward from J. Blakeley, of Wellington, J. Barry and Miss P. Duncan, of Dunedin, all of whom have good performances in harbour swims to their credit. The, winner this year was C. M. . Robertson, of Westport, who swam a welljudged race throughout, and finished very fresh, another notable swim being that of Blakeley, who, off the virtual scratch mark, and conceding 11 minutes to the winner, took second place and registered fastest time. Considering the difficulties that faced the centre in organising such a race, everything went off without a hitch,, and this, in large measure, was due to -the willing co-operation of the officials : and members of the North-East Harbour Boating Club, who not only placed the facilities of: their boatshed at the disposal'of the competitors, but also provided dinghies and launches to follow the race. * f THE COURSE Diving from a boat moored at the buoy off Raynbird'e, the swimmers covered a straight course of a mile to a point opposite the North-East Harbour Boating Club's shed, and after rounding this they continued for another mile in a westerly direction to a buoy off Challis's. where they turned for the last time, and covered the final mile back to a finishing line on a punt moored off the club's boatshed. For the first two miles the competitors had the benefit of the last of the flood tide. For the first few hundred yards of the final leg, however, they had to swim against the tide, but the last half-mile of the course was swum in -calm, slack water; /' A REPRESENTATIVE FIELD The starters, in the order of leaving,were:—Miss 'P. Duncan (Dunedin), -. 191 min; C. M. Robertson (Westport), 131 min; M. L. Candy (Elmwood), 12min; L. Yates (Ohinemutu), smin; J. Barry (Dunedin), 4Jmin; D. Shanahan (Kiwi), 4min; J. A. Young (ChristchurchUnited), 3min; A. V. Osmond (Murihiku), 3min; J. Blakeley (Lyall Bay, Wellington);, 2Jmin; J. Enwright (Waitemata), 2£miri., r " : ROBERTSON'S FINE SWIM A few minutes after 11 o'clock the limit-marker. Miss Duncan,.was sent away on her long journey, and she had covered nearly a-quarter of a, mile before Robertson, off the 13iniin: mark, dived off. Miss Duncan .was taking an inshore 1 course, presumably to get the advantage of the flood tide, but Robertson and Candy, who left a mimite and a-half after him, were keeping well out. rnd making straight for the shed., By the time Miss Duncan was off Dublin Point both Candy and Robertsou had materially reduced the gap between themselves and the Dunedin girl, and were passing Company Bay wharf 'when the holder of the tophy, Yates, weift off with a hearty cheer to help him on his journey.; Barry, Young, Shanahan and Osmond left at brief intervals, and Blakeley. and Enwright. the virtual scratch men. were sent away shortly afterawards;- ... ■■ ■ -'<-- r ■'■ ''■' "•-

: As Miss. Duncan was- hearing the end of the first mile, which she had covered in about 30 minutes. Blakeley, Enwright, Young and, Osmond were almost together, abreast of; Dublin .Bay. Shanahan, at this stage.'; was leading Barry by about 100 yards.and was overhauling Yates, who wasigoing'.well;and'.;was taking what appeared to be a better course than the other pair. A .heavy drizzle began to fall as the leaders neared Macandrew Bay.

Miss Duncan rounded the pile marking -the first leg of the course about 50 yards ahead of Robertson, and Candy was 300 yards behind, about 200 yards in front of Yates, Shanahan and Barry. Off Colinswood. Robertson had drawn slightly ahead of Miss Duncan, and at this stage Candy had just completed his first mile, while Yates, Shanahan and Barry were still about 100 yards, from the mile pile. , The limit swimmers had been about 50 minutes on their • way when the rain cleared off, and the sun shone strongly, making conditions much more pleasant than in the earlier stages, of the race. Enwright, Young and Osmond retired in the.'-vicinity of the first mile post, the only one of the back-markers still left in being Blakeley, who was swinging along at a great pace, and was swimming level withi Shanahan. Yates was 20. yard s( behind this pair, and Barry a similar distance from Yates. Candy had dropped back. ■'... ' - ■ -

• Exactly, an hour/after starting, Kobertson rounded the two-mile buoy, and entered, on the final leg of the journey. Miss Duncan was now 300 yards back, with Blakeley coming up fast 70 yards behind her, Yates 50 yards back, and Barry. 150 yards away from him. Miss Duncan and Blakeley completed the second mile together, and immediately after, rounding the buoy, Blakeley headed the limit-marker. Shanahan and Candy retired after completing half the distance, leaving only five- competitors in. After the buoy had been turned, Robertson's .pilot took him slightly inshore and so gave him the benefit of comparatively slack water, while Blakeley, who was further out. had a hard 10 minutes battling against the last of the flood tide. Robertson was now in sight of Home, and swimming as strongly as when' be started, he surged along to the finishing line, and touched with 250 yards to spare from Blakeley. Yates came next, 300 yards back. Two hundred yards behind Yates came Miss Duncan, who received a cheer for her plucky swim, and Barry was a- similar distance away from Miss Duncan. -, -" . ■ Following are the results:— C. M. Robertson (Westport), lhr 32min 45sec 1 J.. Blakeley (Wellington), lhr 24mm 5756 c •• •«•• • * •• * L. Yates (Ohinemutu), lhr 29min ''SSsec •• •••• •• •* ■• •• • • *" Miss P. Duncan (Dunedin), lhr 47min o*7cp/» '.. .» .. •• ■ . •• • • •* ■ * J. Barry" (Dunedin), lhr -33 mm Slsec .-.' •"• .... J These were the only competitors to finish. * WINNERS TO DATE Following are the winners to date:— 1922—Miss L. Nuttall (Hawke's Bay). 1923—C. Wilson (Auckland). 1924—H. B. Harper (Auckland). ' 1925—J. Enwright (Auckland). 1926—A.T. Bolan (Canterbury). ]927—T. Champion (Canterbury) 1928—Miss L. E. Copplestone (Canter"l929—C E. Claridge (Wellington). . 1930—J. Enwright (Auckland). 1931—A. Hepburn (Wellington).. . 1932—Miss H. E. Ellis (Canterbury). 1933—Miss M. B. Mathieson (Otago). 1934—J. A. Young (Canterbury). 1935—L. Yates .(South Auck'and). 1936—C. M. Robertson (Westport). PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES 'At the conclusion of the race the visitors and competitors were entertained at a function in the Macandrew Bay Hall, and the occasion was taken by the commodore of the North-East Harbour Boating Club (Mr W. T. Rowlands) to present to the winner the Kellerman Cup and the

medal which goes with it. The special medal given by the Otago Swimming Centre for the competitor registering fastest time will be presented at ..the final' function this evening. . _ . Mr Rowlands congratulated the winner on his success, and said that his club was pleased at being able to assist the Otago Centre in conducting an event that bad come to be looked on as the premier distance event in New Zealand swimming. Commenting on the represetative nature of the field, the speaker said that the entries included one, lady competitor, and it was interesting to note that on several occasions the cup had been won by a lady. The North-East Harbour Boating Club was willing at. all times to co-operate with the centre in conducting such races. On the call of Mr Rowlands, three cheers were then given for the winner and for the competitor gaining fastest time. The president'of the Otago Swimming Centre (Mr W. A. Jenkins) expressed the gratitude pf all competitors and officials for the valuable assistance that had been given by Mr Rowlands, hia committee, and members of the club, through whose co-operation the conduct and organisation of the race had been so sueCGSsful. i * f At the conclusion of the presentation the visitors and competitors were entertained at luncheon by the Ladies' Committee of the centre, assisted by a number of ladieß from Macandrew Bay.