Broomsticks And Bathtub In Avon Bicycle Race

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 14

Broomsticks And Bathtub In Avon Bicycle Race

Broomsticks, rafts, canoes, a motor launch, an old car and several bicycles were among the conveyances which bore the university students down the Avon rivet from the Bridge of Remembrance yesterday when the annual capping week bicycle race was held before a large crowd. But the greateat attraction was a massive "chariot,” commanded by a “damsel.” and drawn by a large number of students.

Caught in a web of connecting ropes, the procession

sailed down the river to the Colombo street bridge near Oxford terrace where the barrel-pushing party ended their long trek from Timaru almost simultaneously. Late Arrival After the crowd began to disperse, a gaudy yellow bathtub, belching clouds of steam through a rusty funnel, arrived at the finishing point. The most spectacular entry was the bath powered by a motor cycle while the most original entry was the barrel that the. party of students from Canterbury Agricul-

tural College pushed from Tirnaru. Vicki Hart won the prize for the best performance after being tipped into the Avon from the bath. The prize for the entry finishing nearest to 20 minutes was won by the old car. K. Squires officially won the race. W. Page was second , and an Otago University i youth was third.