ALICE TOP-WEIGHT IN ELEPHANT RACE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30062, 21 February 1963, Page 14

ALICE TOP-WEIGHT IN ELEPHANT RACE

There will be an elephantsized ice-cream on a stick for Alice if she carries topweight to victory in the first running of the Christchurch Elephant Cup to be held tomorrow afternoon.

Alice, who is 40 and weighs six tons and a half, has as jockey Mr J. L. Ward, representing the Broadcasting Corporation. Mr Ward topped the scales ait 16st and the odd pound or two when riders were weighed, briefed, and interviewed by the wellknown race commentator. Mr D. B. Clarkson and the race organiser, Mr P. Nichols, advance manager of Bullens Circus, in the studios of 3ZB yesterday.

It was generally expected that Peggy, aged 23 and Weighing five tons and threequarters, would carry the lightest weight tomorrow. But it seemed when “The Press” representative, Mr W. R. Carston. weighed in at 9-8 that he had not been training as strictly as the Lions’ Club president, Mr L. C. H. Suckling, who went to scale at 9-2. Mr Suckling will ride the “baby" of the field. She is Betty, a "filly” of 19. weighing only four tons and a half. Other riders, their weights, and the organisations they will represent, are:—Mr H. G. Hay, 14-0 (Christchurch City Council); Mr E. Chivers. 13-4 (Hay’s Ltd.); Mr D. A. Ambler, 12-10 (Round Table); and Mr L. H. Govan, 12-2 (Rotary Club).

To accommodate the re-cord-sized field tomorrow’s

event will now be run in two heats, with four elephants in each and a final between the heat winners. The first heat will start at 4 p.m., and riders, with colours up. have been advised to be at the starting point 15 minutes before then so that they can familiarise themselves with their mounts. The race will start at the junction of Armagh street. Park terrace, and Rolleston avenue, and the field will travel down Gloucester street to the finishing line outside Hay’s, Ltd. Mr Clarkson will be the commentator. There are few ruled tn elephant racing, but one which will be strictly enforced was outlined to riders by Mr Nichols. Any leading rider caught throwing cabbages or any other tit-bit to the runners "following will be automatically disqualified. Riders were advised not to use stirrups—this makes the elephants buck. Battery whips are out. too. But they would be useless, for it would take about 240 volts to pentrate an elephant’s hide.

Most of the riders interviewed yesterday admitted that elephant riding is not one of their life-held ambitions. It was only the worthy cause that had “got them in’': for the race will be part of a campaign by all commun-ity-service clubs in Christchurch to raise £30,000 which will be supplemented by a Government subsidy—towards the cost of rebuilding the Salvation Army men’s home at Addington.