CHANNEL SWIMMING

Otago Witness, Issue 3782, 7 September 1926, Page 30

CHANNEL SWIMMING

ACCOMPLISHED BY GERMAN. NEW RECORD ESTABLISHED. LONDON, August 30. A German named Vierkotter swam the Channel in 12h 42min, starting from Cape Gris Nez at 1.35 in the morning, and landing at South Foreland Light. He is the sixth man to succeed since 1875. He creates a new record. The previous best was by Tiraboschi in 1923, whose time was 16h 33min. Vierkotter was accompanied by a French tug, a motor boat, and a rowing boat. The sea was choppy near the end. The other men to swim the Channel were Captain Matthew Webb, Thomas W. Burgess, Henry Sullivan, Sebastian Tiraboschi, and Charles Toth. Miss Ederle’s time was 14h 34min. VIERKOTTER’S INTENTIONS. LONDON, August 31. Vierkotter announces that he will return next year in an attempt to establish better time He will also attempt to swim to Dover and back. He will bring his wife, who, he hopes, will beat Miss Ederle’s time. Vierkotter, who is 25 years of age, holds the championship of the Rhine, in which he swam 66 miles with the tide in 10 hours 36 minutes. He used the crawl stroke with a strength and speed in his Channel swim that amazed the experts. FREEDOM OF MANCHESTER. LONDON, September 2. Violent Socialist opposition in the Man. Chester City Council resulted in a very narrow majority in favour of granting the Freedom of the City to the delegates to the Imperial Conference. Members declared that the frequency with which the honour was given had reduced it to a farce. FRENCHMAN’S UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORT. PARIS, September 5. Michel, the French Marathon swimmer, began his attempt to swim the Channel from Grumes on Saturday evening, A strong wind blew up two hours later, and Michel was persuaded not to continue.