ANNUAL HARBOUR RACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 283, 20 February 1928, Page 10

ANNUAL HARBOUR RACE

WIN FOR W. J. STEVENS E. V. CUNNOLD FASTEST TIME TWENTY-FIVE COMPETITORS A record entry of 25 competitors left the mark in the 10th annual harbour swim held by the Ponsonby Swimming Club on Saturday, the race being won by W. J. Stevens from the 3m mark. Twenty-one of the competitors finished the course, with E. V. Cunnold. an exdistance champion of New Zealand, getting the fastest time. It w r as a truly great race, but Stevens, who went to the front after a little over half the distance had been covered, never looked like being beaten. The course was an oblong one, and was from the baths down the harbour for a distance of 3,100 feet to a buoy, from there to the dolphin, 750 feet, from there up the harbour to the wall 3,600 feet, and from there to the punt at the baths 650 feet.

Miss M. Bell, on 9m, left the punt at 3.51 p.m. and set off on a good course for the first buoy. W. McGonagle. J. Barry, H. Lunn, L. Smyth, S. C. Dawson and R. Ashby were next away, in regular intervals. When A. E. Baird, on scratch, entered the water the 24 competitors were well strung out, with Miss M. Bell still in front, but McGonagle closing in. C. R. Watson, R. de Lorvee, R. J. Webster and E. V. Cunnold were moving nicely, Webster showing decided dash. E. Midgley was first to round the buoy, with Brooking close up. At the dolphin Stevens had joined the leaders. Baird was swimming a great race and had got well into the middle of the competitors. Going down from the dolphin to the breakwater wall proved the test. This was the longest distance without a turn. Many of the front markers fell back, and the back men crept up. Stevens was now well in front and going slowly but surely forward. At this stage Baird had passed 14 competitors, while Cunnold was swimming in behind Webster and Brooking.

Turning from the wall for the swim home. Stevens had a good lead from who was moving solidly to keep in front of Cunnold and Webster. Stevens went on to win comfortably finishing at 4.42 p.m. Brooking was next to finish, with Cunnold, Webster,, Midgley and Baird in that order finishing fast.

The Molloy Shield for the race was presented to Stevens and a special medal to Cunnold for the fastest time.

Results (corrected times): W. J. Stevens, 3m (44m 4s) 1 S. Brooking, 5m (46m 48s) 2 E. V. Cunnold, 15s (42m 10s) .. 3 R. J. Webster, 45s (42m 475) 4 G. Midgley, 5m (47m 595) 5 A. E. Bard, scr (42m 375) 6 The other competitors finished as follow: R. de Loree, 2m (45m 17s); G. Burgess, 3m 30s (46m 2s); C. R. Watson, 2m (47m 13s); W. Foster, 5m (50m 265); Miss J. Bell, x 4m (50m 575); A. Keane, 4m (50m 40s); R. Ashby, 5m 15s (51m 17s); J. Farrell, 3m (52m 335); D. Hyauiason, 4m (50m 495); T. Lowe, 4m (51m 555); S. C. Dawson, 5m 30s (54m 9s); Miss M. Bell, 9m (51m 555); H. Rocard, 4m 30s (62m 225).