Papanui Elephant-Race Popular

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 30

Papanui Elephant-Race Popular

More than 1000 children and adults at the Papanui shopping centre yesterday afternoon watched three elephants from Ashton’s Circus and Zoo race down Bellvue avenue.

Jumbo was fraternising with the children at least two hours before the other contestants, Jahora and Abu, arrived.

The large number of apples he consumed during this time gave him a great advantage and, ridden by the New Zealand and British Commonwealth women’s shot put champion, Mrs V. I. Young, he won by a length from Abu. Ridden by Mr C. Curragh, the president of the Canterbury Intellectually Handicapped Children’s Society, Abu followed Jumbo closely for the whole of the race. Jahora, ridden by Mr M. Hobby, a member of the Waimairi Council Council and Papanui businessman, received a large start from the other elephants but could not be persuaded to move at more than walking speed and finished about five lengths behind Abu.

At the end of the race, Jumbo stood on his hind legs to celebrate his victory—after Mrs Young had dismounted. The race was arranged by the Papanui Central Business Association and the newly formed Christchurch North Lions Club took a collection for the intellectually handicapped children. A contest to guess the weight of Jumbo, 4 tons Bcwt

561 b, was held by a Papanui petrol station. The estimates ranged from one ton to 60 tons, one candidate estimating four tons and 800 cwt Top prize was two adult and two child tickets to the circus. The nearest entry was 421 b off the correct weight. Cars lined Papanui road for several hours while the nearby car parks were inadequate to cope with the demand. Children and adults spilled over on to the roadway and traffic came to a complete stop during a sweet scramble.