SYDNEY HARBOUR SWIM.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18821, 9 March 1931, Page 7

SYDNEY HARBOUR SWIM.

MISS COPPLESTONE’S FINE PERFORMANCE. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyrlpnt (Received March 8, 11.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 8. The exhibition swim from Neutral Bay to Manly, a distance of seven miles, in which the New Zealander Miss Copplestone, and the Bondi girl Miss Rolfe participated, was completely successful to-day. Miss Copplestone finished at 5.25 p.m., an hour and a quarter ahead of Miss Rolf. She received a tremendous ovation from 15,000 people who lined the Manly waterfront and waited in the broiling sun. The weather conditions were ideal for the plucky swimmers. The waters of the harbour were calm and warm, but Miss Rolfe suffered from cramp, which steadied her up, and she lost time, and eventually arrived at her destination about 6.40 p.m., when there were not many people about. Sharkproof nets of large dimensions were towed beneath the girls the whole way. Scores of launches and other craft, loaded with sightseers, followed the swimmers.

Miss Copplestone employed the overarm stroke nearly the whole way, and finished strongly. She was helped out of the water, carried to a car, and conveyed to a leading Manly hotel, where she was given stimulants and clothing and invited to rest. The crowd surged round her in a most embarrassing manner and maintained lusty cheers and congratulations. Miss Copplestone’s swimming time was about 3hrs. 6min. 21sec. Miss Rolfe took 4hrs. 25min.