CANTERBURY CANOE CLUB IS FORMED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29401, 31 December 1960, Page 5

CANTERBURY CANOE CLUB IS FORMED

rpHE formation of the Canterbury Canoe Club early this month in Christchurch promises to develop in Canterbury a sport which flourishes in many countries in the world. Canoeing, a part of the Olympic Games programme for many years, has much to commend it as an exercise, a recreation or a competitive sport Three of the inaugural members of the club, Messrs C. Olsen, W. Lamberton and I. Boyd, left Christchurch on Monday for a 14day cruise through the Sounds. In early January the club hopes to have its first official outing in the Waimakariri, and it is thought that about 30 canoes will make the trip from Glen Wye Station to Waiau. Messrs Olsen, Lamberton and Boyd started their Sounds trip from the south-west arm of Te Anau, and from there they are progressing over Fowler Pass to Bradshaw Sound. The canoes will cruise into Doubtful Sound, and after crossing Wilmot Pass, will go into Lake Manapouri. There are 13 canoe clubs in the North Island, and many of them race on rivers far inferior to those in Canterbury. The development of the sport in the north is demonstrated by the fact that a Palmerston North canoeist, T, Dooney, gained nomination for the Rome Olympic Games, although he was not ultimately selected. However, Dooney’s successes in Australia, and against leading Australians in New Zealand, shows that the standard can be quickly raised.

There are many enthusiasts in Canterbury who have their own canoes, and cruise for pleasure on rivers and lakes. Members of the club are most enthusiastic about the waterways which they have at their doorsteps. Northern canoeists, whose rivers and lakes have been affected by hydroelectric and other development schemes, are tending to come to the South Island for their sport. An Auckland Canoe Club party will soon be travelling to Southland for some racing and ing.The committee of the newlyformed Canterbury Canoe Club has been agreeably surprised at the response so far to publicity. There have been many inquiries from canoeisjs in country districts, who have had to be satisfied with “pottering about” in their own districts without any prospect of organisation or racing facilities. The enthusiasts have responded well to the prospect of taking part in an organised sport of canoeing. It is thought that so far more than 80 persons have signified great interest in the new club, either as potential competitors or as helpers and officials. The Waimakariri Gorge offers second-to-none facilities for river racing, for a distance of about 13 miles, claim local canoeists. Kerr’s Reach and Kairaki would be ideal for the shorter measured Olympic racing distances, 1000metres and 2000-metres.