Saw this picture on failblog.org. Thing about open water swimming, is that you'd never see this sign! Even though you don't really want to think about it, but is a worse problem."In 1919 a professional swimmer, C.S. Leaf, negotiated the distance between Antelope Island and Saltair in 2 hours, 28 minutes and 27 seconds, and 7 years later a marathon swim was staged; the event was won by Chick Mitchell. The marathon was revived in 1930 and for 3 years was won by Orson Spencer; his record time, 2:20 was set in 1932."
"Veteran Paddler [Swims] To Victory in 2:20 Flat
Ray Welch Places Second; Nielsen's [Great] Finish Gains Him Junior Prize; Maurine Wilhelmsen Clocks 3:31:39 by George Wells
Orson Spencer's powerful strokes took the sting out of briny Great Salt lake again Saturday when he stroked to victory and another new record in the annual Antelope island-to-Saltair Beach six-and-one-half-mile swim.
It was the third successive victory for the Deseret gymnasium ace, whose blond hair stands out in contrast with the bronze of his brawny shoulders.
Spencer literally cruised to the finish in 2 hours 20 minutes, to lower by 5 minutes 41 seconds the record he established in the event last year.
The veteran finished 15 minutes 35 seconds earlier than his nearest rival, Ray Welch, junior champion in 1930, who clocked 2:35:35.
Theron Nielsen, after a rousing spurt in the final stretch, won third place and the junior championship. He clocked 2 hours 44 minutes 20 seconds.
Conditions Excellent
Conditions as fair as those of the 1931 race prevailed Saturday. A slight swell that lapped the swimmers gently toward their left as they proceeded in an almost due southerly direction prevailed throughout most of the race.
And, with his powerful strokes as a rudder, Spencer kept almost a bee line for the launch that designated the finish line. He went into the lead from the start, and his steady free style propelled him out in front more than 200 yards by the time the half way mark was reached.
At that point, Welch passed Don Larsen and went into second place. Welch held his position with little change in regard to Spencer, but he steadily pulled ahead of Larsen until he had left approximately 150 yards between him and his follower.
From that point on the genuine thrills of the race developed as Larsen and Theron Nielsen began a stroke for stroke battle that lasted throughout the 150-yard stretch to the finish."
Champions in Great Salt Lake SwimNielsen Passes Larsen
Orson Spencer, stroking the route to his third successive
championship and another new record.
Nielsen had passed Larson and assumed third place approximately a half mile from the finish, and as the latter lagged behind it appeared that his best paddling had been done.
But he found a final rousing sport which carried him back into third place by a body length as the end neared. Nielsen, a former breaststroke man, swimming his first long free style race, lagged until the final 20 feet, when Larson developed cramps and nearly folded up.
Maurine Wilhelmsen,
lone female contender,
who stroked the 6.5 mile
Great Salt Lake course
in 3:31:39 to win the
women's title.
"He finished, however, but Nielsen had stroked steadily into third place and the junior championship by a scant three seconds. Nielsen's time was 2:44:20, Larsen's, 2:44:23. Willard Snow in 2:47:27, and Lewis Carroll, second in the junior race last season, in 2:50:57 completed the finish of the men's race.
"Miss Maurine Wilhelmsen, with one of the games and steadiest swimming exhibitions ever given by a woman in the race, stroked the course as the lone feminine entrant in 3 hours 31 minutes 39 seconds.
She was awarded the first place gold medal for the women's race and first, second and third place men in the senior event received gold, silver and bronze medals respectively. Nielsen asos received a gold medal emblematic of his junior prize.
Twelve started the senior race, but six of them left the water for boats before the event was over."
Deseret News, Saturday, August 1, 1931 - "A Few Courageous Swimmers Who Seek Honors in Deseret News Salt water Marathon - Here are a few of the swimmers in the annual Deseret News Antelope Island to Saltair swim which will be staged in the water of Great Salt Lake Today. These paddlers will represent the Deseret gym and the Saltair Beach company. Orson Spencer is the defending senior champion and Ray Welch is the junior champ. Billie Droubay is the only woman contestant entered. John Thomas, Don Larson, Grant Anderson, Stand Dangerfield, Cecil Jacobsen and Lewis Carroll are practically all former high school stars who are trying the marathon for the first time."
For 35 years paddlers have been doing battle with Great Salt Lake, Utah's great inland sea in an attempt to set up new speed records. The annual Antelope Island to Saltair marathon today will be a continuation of this colorful attempt at new records in a swim which can be and should be in time one of the most important aquatic events in the country.
The Deseret News was first started by Deseret News swimmers way back in 1897 when the gunny sack bathing suit was the latest in beach leggery.
The first salt water marathon that was tried had in three contestants, all employees of the News. They were John Hansen, city editor at that time George Q. Morris, now of Elias Morris and Sons, and Joseph E. Caurott, present editor of the News. The trio started from Black Rock, followed by James H. Anderson, news editor in 1897, who tagged alone with a row boat to act as guard. The distance at that time was said to be six and one-half miles from Black Rock to Saltair. Hansen got cramps .... year 1898. George Q. Morris, Dr. Ralph Lee Chamberlain and Joseph J Cannon again tried that Black Rock to Saltair paddle. They took the course slowly and [swam] the distance in about six hours. J. H. Anderson again backed up the swimmers with a row-boat, assisted by Dr. A. J. Ridges, now of the the Salt Lake Clinic, and Fred W. Reynolds, now with the University of Utah, extension division. This is the first certified Great Salt Lake Marathon Swim. "
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| Prof C.S Leaf |
