CHANNEL SWIM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19626, 21 October 1933, Page 22

CHANNEL SWIM

GREAT ALL-NIGHT EFFORT. ENGLISH GIRL’S FINE FEAT. EIGHTH SUCCESSFUL WOMAN. LONDON, September 2 Miss Sunny Lowry, a 22-year-old Manchester girl swimmer, this week conquered the Channel. It was her third attempt. She started from Cap Gris Nez at 6.30 pm. on August 28. and landed at Dover at 10.15 a.m. on August 29, after a great all-night swim of 152 hours. This is the first time since 1930 that a cro s-Channel aspirant has succeeded. Mis Lowry is the eighteenth swimmer and the eight woman to do the swim. On landing at the South Foreland. Miss Lowry said:—“l was anxious to bring the record for the swim from the French coast back to England, but the last mile kept me a very long time. I feel fit, and was swimming strongly all the time. Next season I shall return, and intend to capture the record.” Jabez Wolffe. Miss Lowry’s trainer, jumped into the water as they approached land, and swam to the rhore to receive Miss Lowry. About 100 people were waiting to welcome her on the beach. Her trainer says he thinks she would have beaten Miss Ederle’s record had it not been for the conditions that had to be contended with in the last mile, which took about five hours to cover. “TJje sea became very choppy, and it was a struggle to get along,” he said. Miss Lowry has won 150 prizes for swimming, and at the age of 14 she saved the lives of two women who got into difficulties while bathing at a North Wales resort. The seven previous Channel successes by women were:— Miss Gertrude Ederle (August 6. 1926», 14h 34m: Mrs. M. G. Corson (August 28. 1926 >. 15h 28m; Miss Mercedes Gleitze (October 7, 1927), 15h 15m: Miss Ivy Gill (October 13. 1927'. 15h 9m; Mies Ivy Hawke (August 18 1928', 19h 16m: Miss Hilda Sharp (August 24. 1928», 14h 58m: Miss Peggv Duncan (September 10, 1930'. 16h 17m. As Miss Lowry was nearing her goal three other swimers entered the water near Dover in a race across the Channel for the Dover Town Gold Challenge Cup. They were Miss Mercedes Gleitze. Mr. E. H. Temme. and Mr. Charles Zibelman (“Zimmy”), the legless American swimmer. The cup will be awarded to the man or woman who swims from Dover to France in the shortest time this year. Mr. Temme abandoned his attempt at night when within three miles and a-half of Sangatte, on the French coast, when he hurt his foot against the ladder of the tug, which was accompanying him, and gave up. Mr. Zibelman also failed. He left the water at night owing to an attack of cramp, when nine miles off the South Foreland. after having been swimming for 13 hours. Miss Gleitze, who entered the water at 7.30 a.m. abandoned her attempt after 15 hours, when she was seven miles off the French coast. Wind and tide were then both adverse.