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Race to Prince's Bridge

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The Race To Prince's Bridge is an historic annual swimming race in the Yarra River, Melbourne, Australia. The race became "one of the chief swimming events in the world"[1], with a world record 623 entrants in 1929[2]. The race is currently not run due to the unpredictable nature of pollution in the Yarra River.

Course

The 3 mile course runs from the old Twickenham Ferry crossing (now Grange Road Bridge, MacRobertson Bridge) downstream to Princes Bridge in the heart of Melbourne. The race has changed course several times throughout history, starting from as far upstream as Macaulay's boatsheds, Studley Park[3].

Popularity

The race was characterised by the large number of spectators cheering on competitors from the banks of the river or from various floating crafts among the swimmers[4]. The high popularity of the event is well defined in a report from 1930: "It is without a doubt the most popular aquatic event of the season".[5]

"The banks of the river for the whole three miles were lined with groups of interested spectators, and over the last two miles hundreds of motor-cars followed the race" The Australiasian, 8th March, 1930[6].

"A great crowd of persons of both sexes assembled at the wharf at Grange-road to witness the start of the race, and other spectators were in motor or other boats on the river...The banks of the river on either side of the different bridges were lined with sightseers...On arriving at Princes-bridge there was a large concourse of people to witness the finish." The Age, Jan 27, 1914[7].

History

The first event was held on January 27, 1913[8][9], in which 44 swimmers completed the race, that was conducted by the Victorian Amateur Swimming Association. In following years, the race soon grew to become a premier swimming event with the inclusion of high-profile competitors, notably Ivan Stedman and Frank Beaurepaire. The earliest known footage of the race is from the 1932 event that attracted 549 entrants. The swim began as a handicap race, with a team category (awarded the 3LO Cup[10]) to cater for the local swimming clubs [11].

The Race to Prince's Bridge was held from 1913 - 1963 when the race was halted due to pollution [12]. The annual race was revived in 1987 for two years by Swimming Victoria along with sponsorship from Manchester Unity.

The Twickenham Ferry service (the original start line for the race) was closed after the completion of the MacRobertson Bridge in 1934[13] [14].

Pollution

The three mile annual Yarra River swim has changed course throughout history and been cancelled due to pollution. The Yarra River is particularly polluted after heavy rain events that wash debris and pollutants into the flow. Reporting of the swim in local media and newspapers often mentions the courage of competitors tackling the pollution and debris:

"After the heavy rains of Friday night the colour of the water was almost chocolate, with a considerable amount of debris floating about."[15] The Australiasian, 10th March, 1928.

"Channel Two technical producer Steve Pickering is indulging in a bit of understatement when he says the water in the Yarra River is a bit murky" Discussions with The Age's Ron Carter regarding the filming of the 1988 event[16].

Race Official:"How was the Yarra?" Miss Gill, 1932 female winner: "Pretty dirty" From the 1932 footage of the race.

The Environmental Protection Authority delivers regular reports to warn recreational river users of current pollution levels [1].

Race to Prince's Bridge - Facts & Trivia

  • In the 1914 race, 11 year old Thomas Holland received a special medal for a plucky race. The young boy's performance (1hr 59min) received "great applause" at the landing stage[17].
  • The prizes for the 1914 event were as follows: 1st Place - £2 2/ trophy and £2 2/ gold medal; 2nd Place - £2 2/ trophy; 3rd Place - £1 1/ trophy; Fastest Time - £1 1/ trophy[18].
  • In 1928, " more than 1.5cwt (76.2kg) of grease and cocoa-nut oil was applied to the competitors to keep out the cold..."[19]
  • R. Woods, a legless Melburnian came 3rd in the 1946 event, only 50 yards behind the winner [20]
  • The race held in January 1987, which offered AUD$7000 prizemoney, was the first race since 1963 due to pollution in the Yarra[21]
  • The 1947 race began from Macaulay's boatsheds in Studley Park.
  • Oldest race winner: Ivan Stedman 1952, aged 56 years[22].
  • In his 29th three mile Yarra swim race, Boy Lander finished 75th in the 1952 event[23].
  • In the late 1950s and early 1960s there were incidents of cheating that caused an increase in the frequency of officials along the course: "Those in charge of the race wondered how [the winner] had swam so far and still been so fresh in beating home the 300 or so other contestants. Officials soon discovered that the winner had hopped out of the river during the race, jumped on the back of a motor bike and sneaked into the water again just before the finish. He was disqualified after an inquiry.[24]"

Honour Roll

Winners - Men

  • 1913 G. Morris
  • 1914 J.Dineen
  • 1915
  • 1916
  • 1917
  • 1918
  • 1919
  • 1920
  • 1921
  • 1922
  • 1923 A.H. Hay
  • 1924
  • 1925
  • 1926
  • 1927
  • 1928 Dick Gerrard[25]
  • 1929
  • 1930 Ian MacIntyre
  • 1931
  • 1932
  • 1933 Noel Overall (1hr 18min 8sec)
  • 1934
  • 1935 R. Thurgood
  • 1936
  • 1937 Alan Crawford (58min 34sec Race Record)
  • 1938
  • 1939
  • 1940
  • 1941
  • 1942
  • 1943
  • 1944
  • 1945 W. (Billy) Weir
  • 1946 Ted Kempster [26] Fastest Time: Ivan Stedman (1:21:2 AlternateCourse Record)
  • 1947
  • 1948
  • 1949
  • 1950
  • 1951
  • 1952 Ivan Stedman[27] (1:24:53)
  • 1953
  • 1954
  • 1955
  • 1956
  • 1957
  • 1958
  • 1959
  • 1960
  • 1961
  • 1962
  • 1963
  • 1964-1986 race not held
  • 1987
  • 1988
  • 1989-2014 present, race not held

Winners - Women

  • 1913
  • 1914
  • 1915
  • 1916
  • 1917
  • 1918
  • 1919
  • 1920
  • 1921
  • 1922
  • 1923
  • 1924
  • 1925
  • 1926
  • 1927
  • 1928 Natalie King[28]
  • 1929
  • 1930 E. Adams
  • 1931
  • 1932 Miss Gill[29]
  • 1933
  • 1934
  • 1935 B. Hyde (1:19:10)[30]
  • 1936
  • 1937
  • 1938
  • 1939
  • 1940
  • 1941
  • 1942
  • 1943
  • 1944
  • 1945 Valda Lawrence
  • 1946 Mildred McCutcheon (1:57:36)
  • 1947
  • 1948
  • 1949
  • 1950
  • 1951
  • 1952
  • 1953
  • 1954
  • 1955
  • 1956
  • 1957
  • 1958
  • 1959
  • 1960
  • 1961
  • 1962
  • 1963
  • 1964-1986 race not held
  • 1987
  • 1988
  • 1989-2014 present, race not held

References

  1. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/141427848?searchTerm=mile%20yarra%20swim&searchLimits=
  2. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/141427848?searchTerm=mile%20yarra%20swim&searchLimits=
  3. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/22407344?searchTerm=Ivan%20stedman%20yarra&searchLimits=
  4. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/140794391?searchTerm=mile%20yarra%20swim&searchLimits=
  5. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/141427848?searchTerm=mile%20yarra%20swim&searchLimits=
  6. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/141427848?searchTerm=mile%20yarra%20swim&searchLimits=
  7. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19140127&id=P-VjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uJIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4048,2381880
  8. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P-VjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uJIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4048%2C2381880
  9. ^ http://www.mcwaterpolo.com/about/2_THE_BEGINNING.pdf
  10. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/140794391?searchTerm=mile%20yarra%20swim&searchLimits=
  11. ^ http://www.mcwaterpolo.com/about/2_THE_BEGINNING.pdf
  12. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19861002&id=ADspAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t5IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1261,1249792
  13. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/10953308
  14. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacRobertson_Bridge
  15. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/140794391?searchTerm=mile%20yarra%20swim&searchLimits=
  16. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19880121&id=uJNVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BZcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1855,239297
  17. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19140127&id=P-VjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uJIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4048,2381880
  18. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19140127&id=P-VjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uJIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4048,2381880
  19. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/140794391?searchTerm=mile%20yarra%20swim&searchLimits=
  20. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/22228773?searchTerm=Ivan%20stedman%20yarra&searchLimits=
  21. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19861002&id=ADspAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t5IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1261,1249792
  22. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/23167662?searchTerm=Ivan%20stedman%20yarra&searchLimits=
  23. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/23167662?searchTerm=Ivan%20stedman%20yarra&searchLimits=
  24. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19861002&id=ADspAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t5IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1261,1249792
  25. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/3915456
  26. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/22228773?searchTerm=Ivan%20stedman%20yarra&searchLimits=
  27. ^ http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stedman-ivan-cuthbert-11754
  28. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/3915456
  29. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfMpqBOs_F0
  30. ^ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/91715499?searchTerm=mile%20yarra%20swim&searchLimits=
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