LONG-DISTANCE SWIM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 277, 13 February 1928, Page 11

LONG-DISTANCE SWIM

SIX MILES IN THREE HOURS A VETERAN’S FEAT After swimming strongly the whole distance, with x few changes of stroke, Mr. J. D. Foster, of the Ponsonby Amateur Swimming Club, yesterday completed the longest harbour swim ever attempted here. Setting out from Point Chevalier at 11.50 a.m., Mr. Foster completed the course, of approximately six miles, and landed on Devonport beach at 3.10 p.m., having been 3 hours 20 minutes in the water. He was not distressed, and was quite fresh when he left'the water. Well known in swimming circles, Mr. Foster, as a boy, contented himself with sprint racing, but when 30 he took up distance swimming. He has many long-distance events to his credit. In 1911 he swam from one end of Lake Windermere to the other, an approximate distance of 14 miles. He also swam from Preston Docks to Victoria Pier, Blackpool, a distance of 23J miles, in nine hours. *On seven occasions Mr. Foster had competed ip the annual race from Grange Morecambe, over a 10£ mile course. Since he has been in Auckland Mr. Foster has been a regular competitor in the Harbour Race. In his swim yesterday he was watched on his start by a large crowd of people. He commenced with the trudgeon crawl, and at times used the breast-stroke and back-stroke. He reached the boat harbour at Shelly Beacli at 1.45 p.m., and, then made straight for Stanley Bay wharf. Crosscurrents were now encountered, and this was the most difficult part of the swim. Going strongly, however, be forged on, and arrived off tlie wharf at 2.40 p.m. The swim from here to Devonport was comparatively easy, as Mr. Foster had the current with nim. At 3.10 p.m. he walked on to the beach at Devonport, and was warmly applauded by a large crowd that had assembled. Mr. Foster was in excellent form, and immediately did some trick swimming to show that age is no bar to longdistance swimming. Mr. J. Stratton accompanied* the swimmer in a dinghy, and Mr. J. Donald conveyed him back to the Shelly Beach baths in his launch Marion D.