MERCEDES GLEITZE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1931, Page 2

MERCEDES GLEITZE

SWIMS FOR 42j HOURS.

WELLINGTON, January 2

Having swum continuously, since 8.35 o’clock on New Year’s Eve, Mercedes Gleitze concluded her long endurance swim at 3.5 o’clock this afternoon in the Boys’ Institute Tepid Baths.

Miss Gleitze increased, the British

endurance record (held by herself) by half an hour,-. He best time foi continuous swimming was previously 4*2 hours, which she established in Dublin a day or so before leaving for New Zealand.

There was a large and enthusiastic crowd present, to see the, swimmer finish.- She was cheered, from time to time, over the last lap, and there was a scene of remarkable enthusiasm when the plucky swimmer was helped from the water to comfort. Miss Gleitze expects to be “up and about again” to-morrow, although sbe. will naturally spend a day resting, according to her usual custom. Miss Gleitze swam to music, and this was provided voluntarily throughtile swim by lodal pianists, singers, a. string band, and a quartet of Maoii singers, whose refrains ahd hakafe Miss Gleitze found most {Umpiring. In order to vary the ihUsbtes ill use, Miss Gleitze changed bet stroke from time to time, using the backstroke, breiiststrokej sidestroke, overarm, trudge, etc., all being used for si

spells. On the average .she did thirty-three strokes per minute. -

' Mr P. Carey, Miss Gleitze’s husband, who manages her swims, said that between 4.30 and 7 o’clock this morning his wife had had the worst attack of sleepiness she ever liad to contend ' with on an endurance swim. She had for her food during her swim chicken broth, hot milk, bacon and eggs, egg flip, Bovril, crayfish, hot lemon, and a. little cake. Large numbers of people attended the bath throughout the swim, including a large party... from Palmerston North, which came down specially to see Miss Gleitze make her attempt, and there was also a noticeable increase in the attendance late on Wednesday night to see Miss Gleitze swim 1930 out.

. She was loudly cheered as midnight passed. ..Some of the audience, apart from the officials, spent as long as 30 hours at the baths, merely going out fy>r meals, while others attended five and six times.

ANOTHER RECORD.

BY MISS cOpPlestOnE

HAMILTON, January 2. Lilly .Copplestone, entering the

water at Cambridge this morning}, swam 33J miles down the Waikato River to Ngaruawahia in ISA hours, breaking the Australasian record by 3i miles. She swam double tr.idgeon all:'the way, : aind was swimming strongly when she swished.'