50 Canoes Expected In Four-Hour Avon Race

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30585, 30 October 1964, Page 12

50 Canoes Expected In Four-Hour Avon Race

Fifty canoes carrying the colours of at least 50 Christchurch business houses will leave Riccarton House, Deans Bush, about 10 a.m. on November 28 and will race the length of the Avon river arriving at South Brighton Domain between three and a half and four hours later. The starter will be the Mayor of Riccarton (Mr E. J. Bradshaw) and the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr G. Manning) will welcome the finishers at the South Brighton Domain.

The Riccarton-Hornby Jaycee, which is organising the race for the Sumner Lifeboat Institution, expects a crowd of 10,000 will be entertained by the race. The programme has been arranged so that Christchurch can have an up-to-date lifeboat to replace the present ageing boat.

The Sumner Lifeboat Institution’s present boat is 34 1 years old and has almost reached the end of its useful life. £5OOO Cost A new boat would cost £35,000, an amount which was out of the question. It would be possible to obtain in the United Kingdom a boat, about 10 years old in almost perfect condition at a cost of about £2OOO. Freight to New Zealand, at the most, would be £lOOO, and it might be necessary to spend up to £2OOO in obtaining a certificate of seaworthiness, making a total fo £5OOO. Christchurch businesses will be invited to “purchase” for a day, a canoe and paddler for £25. A bib to be worn over the life jacket will have

a number on the front and the firm’s name on the back. Firms may also arrange other identification of their craft. The Jaycees hope to meet a target of £2OOO by parking 2000 cars at 5s each, £500: sale of ice cream and drinks, £300; collections and donations. £lOO. To this will be added 50 canoes at £25 each £1250.

On race day the canoes will leave Riccarton House, Deans Bush at one minute intervals from 10 a.m. Marshals will be provided along the course to ensure fair play, report progress and assist those in difficulties. A 10-minute compulsory stop will be made at Kerr’s Reach. Strictly on Time The first boats are expected at the South Brighton Domain about 2 p.m., and the winner of the race will be decided strictly on a time basis. Prizes will be presented to winning crews of the paddlers’ club, scouts, Bovs' Brigade, and Sea Scouts, and there will be separate prizes for single and double canoes ranging from £l5 to £5. At South Brighton the New Brighton Power Boat Club will arrange a regatta on the estuary with the support of yacht, surf and rowing clubs. The regatta programme includes power boat racing, a i race between an aeroplane Sand a power boat, water skijing and kite ski ing, jet boat displays, police dogs, Bailey bridge building by the Army, the lifeboat, a parachute drop and rescue from the estuarv, i vintage cars and pipe bands.