Two Women To Attempt Cook Strait

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 519, 23 November 1928, Page 6

Two Women To Attempt Cook Strait

Hard Task Ahead of Stunt Swimmers

MERCEDES GLEITZE’S QUEST

Mercedes Gleitze

At last- a combined assault is to be made on Cook Strait. Indefatigable Mercedes Gleitze, the London typiste, apparently is not satisfied with her conquests of the English Channel and the Straits of Gibraltar, and is coming out to New Zealand to show Dominion swimmers just how strait swimming is done.

But she is not to be without competition. Lily Copplestone, now living in Ashburton, has been fired by Miss Gleitze’s plans, and will make a bid to cross Cook Strait and secure distinction lor New Zealand. These long swims are interesting from the point of view of endurance, but they are properly regarded as stunts. The only attempt at the strait since European occupation of New Zealand was made by an Aucklander, R. J. Webster, in February last. He failed because of the intense cold. What Miss Gleitze will be able to do—and for that matter, Miss Copplestone—remains to be seen. Miss Gleitze first became famous as a swimmer when she attempted the English Channel in 1926. After several attempts she managed to cross on OctoShe tried to swim the Strait of Gibraltar six tifiles before success came. Since then she has been trying to cross the Iri&li Channel, but the conditions have proved too much for a swimmer who obviamazins determination. Cook Strait will probably provide the hardest swim of the lot, and NeAV Zeazanders will not be greatly surprised defeat*® ® UZe llas to acknowledge _ Maori legend—generally with au!L n *. lc . groundings—says that Cook Strait has been crossed. There is the canoe°it a fn laVe t Wh ° lea »“ d a canoe at the entrance to Wellington swam to Blind Bav in who S w 'h fslan d. There was a woma „ 3JV?’ X Vltn Child tied to her back With ilax, took a A\ffiole day to «Avini from D'Urville Island to Kapiti She net le fo VifF' an l corrl P let «'J the journey to the mainland. pointed ?f le il Ze wIU be keenly disapto v™ iff comes all the way out will* be interested 1 to f see sw?mme? s . featS ° f P~-civ,„fa££ from SS tha°? Ple J tor,e ' inte “ds to start Sound A ,° £ ■ Que ™ Charlotte sound. At the beginning of this vear for a'Tnara Annette Kellerman Cup tor a marathon swim. During tlie n isi Cant e erb ars . she has '™" TMvardL’ championship® 4411 yards. .20 yards, 100 yards ion yards back-stroke, and the‘dive” She is very well known in Christchurch swimming circles. -nristcnurch