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The Gisborne Photo News

 

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Racing Across The Bay

To the acclaim of a large crowd, 15-year-old Gisborne schoolgirl, Cheryl Gane, ran happily ashore at Waikanae Beach to become the first woman to conquer the gruelling five and-a-half mile swim across Poverty Bay.

Twenty minutes earlier, Waikanae surfer Robert Kerr had touched down to chop 14 minutes off the existing record with a time of 3 hours, 13 minutes.

The two youthful swimmers were the only two entrants in this season's Nicks Head to Waikanae Beach swimming race, but good fields contested the two new events, for paddle-boards and canoes.

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As the starter checks his watch, the two swimmers prepare to enter the water from the stern of the Hikurangi.

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Time for a snack. From his paddle-board, Dick Glover prepares to give Kerr a drink of tea and glucose.

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With Young Nicks Head far behind him, Kerr strides up the crowded beach.

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Cheryl Cane swimming strongly across the bay, paced by Cliff Blumfield

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Looking happy and fresh, Cheryl comes ashore.

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Winner of the canoe race, Burton Lamont, looks back to the rest of the field as he nears Waikanae Beach.

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Three canoeists paddling under the towering cliffs of Young Nicks Head

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The paddle-boarders set out on their arduous journey

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Closely followed by an escort boat, Gisborne's N.Z. paddle-board title-holder Bob Davies cracks on the pace to lead the field home by a good margin.

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Second paddle-boarder home was Barry Broughton

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Two contestants walk up the beach to be greeted by the large crowd