COOK STRAIT SWIM

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 30, 5 February 1931, Page 9

COOK STRAIT SWIM

R. J. WEBSTER'S ATTEMPT HARDENED TO COLD WATER

(From Our Own Correspondent.) NELSON, 4th February. The rigorous winter of the Owen Valley was not ■ allowed to interrupt the training of E. J. Webster, the long distance swimmer, who since last March hns been training with a view to making an attempt to cross Cook Strait about the middle of this month. With ice on the backwashes and rainpuddles, and sometimes with snow ov the ground, Websjer could be seen, oarefooted and clad only in swimming shorts, making his way across the paddocks for his daily swim in tho Buller Biver. Two years ago, when Webster made his first attempt to cross Cook Strait, the cold water proved too much for him, and he found it necessary to give up after covering 8 miles. Determined to become accustomed 'to the cold water, Webster went to the, Owen Valley to work on the Midland railway construction, and' daily after work, in any ' weather and with the river in any state of fresh or 'flood, he plunged into tho water coming direct from the snowtops. Getting into the current he would swim against it for half-hour periods. After putting up a good performance last Monday in swimming in a heavy sea from Port Nelson to Tahuna Beach in 45 minutes, Webslter left Nelson last, evening on his way to W-uganui, where he will take part in the Bridge to Bridge (2$ miles) swim next Saturday. Mr. M. Blomfield, Webster's trainer, sails for Wellington by to-night's boat. After his Strait swim Webster will make an attempt to break the Ndw Zealand distance record of 38 miles in the Waikato Eiver recently established by Miss Lily Copplestone. After the New Zealand championships and Kellerman Cup< race at Wanganui it is probable that he will race E. C. Claridge, the Wellington swimmer, from Somes' Island to Day's Bay in the Wellington Harbour. Webster will commence the Cook Strait swim from Mau Island, Wellington Head (South Island), and will, if successful, land at Cape Terawhiti, which is 12} miles distant. His trainer considers it will be necessary to cover 15 to 16 miles, counting the distance the currents will carry, the swimmer. Mr. John Tate, of Island Bay, who has a good knowledge of the currents in the Strait, has'been engaged to accompany Webster in 'bis launch.