West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 12 February 1945, page 3


SWill THROUGH PERTH MISS P. TAWS SUCCESS. Fastest Time to H. Bowra. Miss P. Tait, of the City Amateur Swimming Club, won the Swim Through Perth yesterday from a clubmate, R. Baker, by three seconds after a splendid display and one typical of her efforts in swimming over the past 12 years. She has been a keen competitor in all types of events since she started with the Como club, transferred to the ANA club, and, during the last seven or eight years, with the City club. It was a crowning effort for a game and consistent trier. Possibly the largest crowd on record saw the race reintroduced after a period of six years. In all, 36 swimmers faced the starter and 34 completed the course, which was from the Swan Brewery jetty to the ANA pool, a distance of 1t miles against a fair outward running current. The lnmit-marker. Miss D. Severin. swlmmuing breaststroke, mistook the Course after rounding the first boat in midstream and lost possibly a auarterof-a-mile by going round a wrong spitpost. Nevertheless she completed the course to gain a trophy for the youngest woman to finish. Then followed a keen struggle between R. Harris. winmine backstroke, and J. Dimmit. freestrle. off

Miss P. Tait receives the John Lawley Cup from the vice-president of the WA Amateur Swimming Association (Mr C. R. McWiIliaom after winning the Swim Through Perth yesterday.

the Smin mark. In the meantime a strona bunch of middle-markers were coming through -with the back-markers showing little Imression for the first half-mile. Coming to the channel to Perth off mnrinB-street Harris stll had DLmmitt nearby. Morrision. Prior, Christie and Bowra from back marks. were getting closer and Miss P. Tait had moved up near the leaders Passtng the Barrack-street Jetties a large crowd cheered on the limit bunch hich consisted of about 10 swimmers. Miss Talt. the leader, was swimming well and being challenged b Baker while Morrison. Christie. Ean anA Hennesy 'were overhauling the leadert. At this stage the scratch marker (H. Bowra) had made up much ground and had left all the other back-markers behind. G. Mle. a deaf and dumb swimmer of Kalgoorlie, tried to stay with him for a while but could not maintain the pace. Mss Tait led Baker to the ANA pool ear of about seven other swimmers and they received a great welcome at the flnsng line. Bach of five official patrol boats carried qualified life-savers from the Royal Life-savmi Society and the North Cottesloe Surf Life-saving Club but their services were not required. Detail: Miss P. Talt (City). handicap Gmi. time, 41mln 45sec. 1; R. Baker (City). Smin. time 40.48. 2: D. Morrison (Clarent), 2miln, time 38.48., 3; D. e (City). 4min, time. 4L13. 4. Fastest time. H. Bowra (City). scr. time. 37.13. Second fastest time. A. Prior <Claremnnt), Imin. time. 4L20. Youngest woman to finish.- Miss D. Seerin (Nedlands). lminln time, 57.34- First Unplaced Junior. Hennesy (Kalgoorlie). 7min. time. 44.4%.