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The Gisborne Photo News

 

23

Poverty Bay Swum For The First Time

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Don Butchart relaxing in the Waikanae Surf Clubhouse immediately after his historic swim.

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The enormous crowd which gathered on Waikanae Beach to welcome ashore the 18-year-old wanganui swimming hero, Donald Butchart, as the first person to swim Poverty Bay. At sea are some of the fleet of vessels which accompanied the swimmers during the race.

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Twenty-three top-flight swimmers dived from the Harbour Board's tug Hikurangi, anchored off Young Nick's Head, at 11 a.m. on Boxing Day, and stroked strongly through the water towards Waikanae Beach, five and a quarter miles away. They were competitors in the first trans-Poverty Bay swimming race.

A strong westerly wind sprang up, churning up lively four to five foot waves, and driving many of the swimmers well off course.

Three hours after starting, only two remained.

As the exhausted swimmers were brought ashore in ever-increasing numbers, it appeared inevitable that the race would be a failure.

However, one entrant, Donald Butchart, of Wanganui, appeared to thrive on the impossible conditions, and to the amazement of all, finally stepped ashore at Waikanae Beach three and a quarter hours after entering the water.

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With the strain of his supreme effort showing on his face, Don Butchart wades ashore at Waikanae, surrounded by admiring children.

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The fleet of small vessels which accompanied the swimmers hover off-shore as Butchart swims the final few hundred yards to the crowded beach. The tip of Young Nick's Head, from which the race started, is at extreme right of the picture.

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Accompanied by Surf Life Saving official Leo Clark, Don Butchart moves through the crowd which welcomed him

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Hot coffee was a welcome reviver to Gisborne swimmer Jimmy McLean, after his retirement from the race.

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Top Gisborne hopes, Robbie Turnbull and Barry McLean, cheerfully discuss tactics after being brought ashore. At rear is Waikanae Surf Club secretary, Ron Campbell.