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A NUMBER of interesting additional titbits to the stories in last week's column have come to hand. Researching the items provided another story in itself.

In trying to reach Peter Bales of St James for information on his mother, walker Sybil, I came into contact with Tony Sellmeyer, author of Open Water Swimming in South Africa. That took me into the deep waters of the long distance swimmers. There, I learned that Peter was one of the founder members of the Cape Long Distance Swimming Association (CLDSA). The other two members were the late John Whitmore, who propelled South African surfing into a sophisticated industry, and the other Coennie van Eyssen, who put triathlons on the South African map.

Peter was the first South African male to swim the English Channel in 1969 but he also did long distance swims in SA and abroad, far too numerous to detail here.

The name of that well-known Fish Hoek beach personality Godfrey Mocke came up. Mocke is well known for his vigorous training of the young surf life savers but less well known for his long-distance swimming exploits. He won the Peter Bales Cup in 1987 for his victory in the 25 km Quaggaskloof Cup; he won the Simon?s Town to Muizenberg race (2h45) in 1970 and the Blouberg-Robben Island race twice. Godfrey is making a quick recovery from hip replacement surgery. He joked about the ease of the operation compared to the excruciating pain he endured during prescribed dental root canal before the hip operation. This is good news for those who need hip surgery.

Mavis Hutchison, Fish Hoek's "Galloping Granny", is alive and well, her daughter-in-law Lyn tells me. She did move to Durban but now lives in Sasolburg. Mavis, aged 80, must be in splendid good health. She is currently competing in the 16th World Masters Athletics Championship in Spain. She is participating in six events: two walks, 5 000 metres and 10 kilometres; three running events of 400 m, 800 m and 1 500 m. She is also throwing the javelin in one event.

Another walker, Mike Kihn, who I remember as a quick bowler in our school's second team, phoned for a chat about old times and brought me up-to-date with my reference to his legal studies. He tells me that he now has a B.Com degree and is in his final year for an LL B degree.

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