WELL DONE

NZ Truth, Issue 1216, 21 March 1929, Page 16

WELL DONE

Swimming

Claridge s Great Feat SWIMS HARBOR (From "N.Z. Truth's" Wellington .Rep.) . Success only comes after valiant endeavor/and to C. Claridge, of ..' Wellington, goes the honor of be-, ing the first m recent years to swim the Wellington harbor. CEVERAL attempts to swim this tricky sheet of water have been made this season, and last Sunday, at the tail end of the swimming season,, :Ciaridge performed the feat. As a natatorial expert, Claridge has gathered m laurels and holds many fine records. His latest achieve- ' ment. gives him. the right to rank amongst the few great swimmers of the day. ' Starting off from the Eastbourne Ferry. Wharf m the city at. 12. 14 p.m., Claridge commenced his long swim of approximately seven miles with a powerful overarm stroke. . Conditions were not all to his likeing, and although the earlier northerly breeze died down when half the distance was covered, it soon sprang up again. A set m the tide and a heavy swell also troubled Claridge, necessitating a. change of course. - At 2.56 p.m. the. plucky swimmer . was abreast of Ward Island. Three quarters of a mile from shore Claridge changed to the . breast stroke for a while. Despite a freshening breeze he stuck to his task gamely and walked ashore at Rona Bay at 3.39 p.m. Crowds who had journeyed across the harbor by ferry greeted, the champion as' he walked up the beach. An hdur later and after a hot tub, Claridge faced the cro-wd at Day's Bay "Pavilion, -where the. Mayor of East-bourne-eulogised the unique swimming feat the swimmer had accomplished. "Stumpy's" feat m crossing this, at best, cold and tricky stretch of water m a shade under three and a-half hours, has created a standard of endeavor for all .the' younger fry who surrounded him m hero worship last Sundaj'. >

Taken immediately after he stepped ashore. "Stumpy" Claridge made no difficulty of his record swim across the Wellington harbor. . iiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiuiiiiuiiuiiiu'