ATTEMPT TO SWIM COOK STRAIT TO BE MADE NEXT YEAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18629, 5 December 1928, Page 6

ATTEMPT TO SWIM COOK STRAIT TO BE MADE NEXT YEAR.

MISS L. COPPLESTONE IS QUITE CONFIDENT.

“I am quite confident. I have been training pretty solidly and have improved wonderfully during the last fortnight,” said Miss Lily Copplestone, of Ashburton, in reference to the attempt to swim Cook Strait that she will make early next year; “but the main obstacle that will confront me is the intense coldness of the water.”

Miss Copplestone is being coached by Mr L. Moorhouse, of Christchurch, who represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games this year. Both he and Mr Tom Hartigan, of Christchurch (Miss Copplestone’s manager) are hlso confident that she will succeed.

The attempt will be made during January, from the top of Queen Charlotte Sound, and it is expected that the swim will occupy approximately fifteen or sixteen hours.

“From now on,” said Miss Copplestone, “my training will take on a still more serious aspect, and a twomile swim each morning will stand me in good stead. As far as the date on which I will make my attempt is concerned, that is still undecided. It will depend mainly on the tides. Miss Copplestone has received much valuable advice from her coach, who, when he was in England, gained many valuable hints from one of the swimmers who essayed the swimming of the English Channel.