DISTANCE SWIM IN SYDNEY HARBOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 65, 18 March 1931, Page 1

DISTANCE SWIM IN SYDNEY HARBOUR.

MERITORIOUS EFFORT BY MISS COPPLESTONE. (Special to the “ Star.”) SYDNEY, March 10. A great recetpion was accorded Miss Lily Copplestone at the conclusion of her six mile swim down Sydney Harbour. The distance was completed in 3 hours 6 minutes 21 seconds, and she had no difficulty in defeating her opponent, Miss Irene Rolfe, of Sydney, finishing seventy minutes in front. Miss Copplestone thoroughly deserved the hearty cheers which greeted her meritorious performance. Sharks are plentiful in Sydney Harbour just now, and it would have been unsafe for the two girls to make the lute protection. To that end rather attempt without being afforded absoingenious shark nets were constructed, and these were drawn behind two launches. The girls swam within the enclosed area. This - proved to be a great drawback as far as Miss Coppiestone was concerned, as it slackened her speed. When she called out for the launch to go faster it could not respond. The shark danger was exemplified when a 14ft tiger shark of the man-eat-ing type was captured close to the course during the progress of the race. The genera! conditions for the swim were ideal. From the start the New Zealander took the lead, and, swimming strongly, she maintained it throughout. She had to swim hard against a strong current, but that fact did not seem to worry her in the slightest. There was a heavy swell as she passed between the Heads, but going like a machine she overcame all obstacles and then settled into the last and easiest stage of the journey.