SPEEDBOAT RACING

Press, Volume C, Issue 29707, 28 December 1961, Page 11

SPEEDBOAT RACING

Griffiths Cup Held By NZ (NX Press Assoctetton) AUCKLAND, Dec. Tt New Zealand held firmly to the Griffiths Cup, symbol of water agteed supremacy in Australia and New Zealand, today. The win of a Manurewa bridge-builder, L. R. Appleton, in his new Corvette-en-gined hydroplane, Elray, at Bottletop Bay. Papakura. settled the trophy in New Zealand for its thirteenth successive year. In the second lap of the final. W. A. Stevenson, jun. the 1901 Grifllthg Cup holder and the man picked to retain the title with hi* Fer-ari-powered Australian and New Zealand hydroplane speed record holder. Myallc Miss, was beaten for the lead by Elray. TTien Stevenson found hte speed dropping off and eventually followed G. V. Sullivan in the Corvette hydroplane, Mias Horoiiu. into third place. Stevenson attributed the slowing of Mystic Mito to overheating. The two leading Australian contenders. Wzap Too and Diane, both dropped out in the heeta with mechanical trouble. The Australian boat, Wendy, also dropped out. leaving Hi Fi and Trigger in the final. Neither Trigger nor Hi Fi preeented a threat to the New Zealand boats. The fastest qualifier of the two heats was Mystic Miss, which did the 10 miles in Bmin 43 l-ssec Bray won the second heat only half a second slower. Elray** time in the final was Smin Xs.oaec. Results were:— Griffiths Cup Final—-Bray <L R. Appleton). 805.8. 1: Mis* Horotiu tO. V. Sullivan). 8:84. 8; Mvstie Mito (W. A. Stevenaon, jun.). 8:37. 3. New Zealand 149 C.I. VeeRottom ChamptonaMs.—Gung* Din (W. Smith) 1. Fleetwtag Junior <T. H. Kaslto). 8; Me Ski Tow (D. Clarke), i.