LONG HARBOR SWIM

Evening Star, Issue 19793, 17 February 1928, Page 14

LONG HARBOR SWIM

AUCKLANDER'S SUCCESS •The longest harbor swim over attempted in Auckland was accomplished by Sir J, D. Foster, of the Ponsonby Amateur Swimming Club recently (say the New Zealand ‘Herald’). Mr Foster .set out from Point Chevalier at 11.50 a.m., and landed on Devonport Beach at 3.10 p.m. In spite of his fifty-three years, Mr Foster swam strongly all the way, and at the finish showed no signs of distress. Mr Foster is well known in local swdmming circles, as he officiates as a water polo referee at club carnivals. He also gives exhibitions of trick and fancy swimming. As a boy Mr Foster competed only in sprint races, and was very successful. When he was about thirty years of age he decided to take up distance swimming, and has many notable feats to his credit. In 1911 be swam from' one end of Lake Windermere to,the other, a distance of approximately fourteen miles. As far as Mr Foster is aware he is the only swimmer who has ever accomplished this feat. He also swam from Preston Docks to Victoria Pier, Blackpool, a distance of 23) miles, in nine hours On seven occasions Mr Foster has competed in the annual race from Grange to Morecambc, over a 10) miles course. In one race be was placed second, in another third, and in a third he was fourth. Since he has resided in Auckland Mr Foster has several times competed in tbc annual harbor race from Northcotc to Shelly Beach Baths. A large crowd assembled on the beach at Point Chevalier to witness the start. Mr Foster used the trmlgcon crawl, hut at times swam breast-stroke and on his back. Although ho was swimming against the tide for about an hour be made good progress. Ho originally intended to swim around Watchman Island, but encountered rough water, which compelled him to alter his course and swim inside the boat harbor at Shelly Beach, which was reached at 1.-15 "p.m. From this point ho made straight for the Stanley Bay wharf. This was the most difficult section ol the swim, as ho had to swim across current, but he arrived off the wharf at about'2.4o p.m. It was now a comparatively easy task to reach Devonport, as he was aided by the strong currents. Mr Foster reached his objective at 3.10 p.m., thereby taking 3h 20min to complete the swim. He was warmly applauded by the largo crowd on tlie beach, and surprised them by immediately doing some trick swimming. Mr Foster believes be swam about six miles. He considers that if a swimmer sets out for a distance swim lie should never go against time, as this causes exhaustion “ I hope,” he said; “ that after proving a man of my age can swim a distance of six miles, young swimmers will be encouraged to swim distances. I also hope it 1 will bo nu inducement for the holding of long-distance races If competitions were held it would be advisable to have a course marked out. The main point is to keep near the shore when in the channel, as the currents assist the swimmer.” Mr Foster was accompanied by Mr J. Stratton in a dinghy. The first .to congratulate the swimmer was Mr J. Donald, the wclLknown president of the Richmond Cruising Club. Mr Foster was conveved back to the .Shelly Beach Baths in‘Mr Donald’s launch, Marian D.