N.Z. Speedboats In Canadian Races?

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31145, 23 August 1966, Page 18

N.Z. Speedboats In Canadian Races?

Approval of plans to send a New Zealand team of speedboats to compete in an international meeting to be held in Canada in July, 1967, is expected to be given at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Speedboat Association in Blenheim next month.

The international meeting in Canada will be held at Valleyfleld, 35 miles from Montreat and races will be held for practically all classes of both inboard and outboard speedboats. The inboard races will be held on July 14, 15 and 16, 1967, and the outboard races on July 7. 8 and 9. Outboard classes will include the John Ward trophy race for the C class hydroplanes, and the Maple Leaf trophy race. Inboard classes include 48. 150, 266. 280 cu in, and seven litre, with the limited world championship open to limited class boats up to seven litres. The New Zealand Speedboat Association was formed on July 26, 1947, so that a team from New Zealand competing at Valleyfield would give speed boating in this country its first official international competition on the 20th anniversary of the founding of the national organisation. The organisers of the speedboat meeting at Valleyfield, part of the Canadian Expo ’67, will help with the travelling costs of competitors from overseas, including those from New Zealand. The New Zealand Speedboat Association may seek Government assistance and a grant from the Golden Kiwi lottery fund, as well as help from all affiliated power boat clubs, in financing the team to compete at Valleyfield.

Speedboat racing on the beautiful, sheltered course at Valleyfield attracts crowds of up to 50,000. It is expected that interest in the international meeting next July will attract twice the number of spectators.