Bike Race Free-For-All

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31981, 7 May 1969, Page 18

Bike Race Free-For-All

Flour bombs and marauding members of the Capping Week haka party hindered contestants in the annual bike race on the Avon River yesterday.

Notable only for its confusion, the race progressed down the river from the Bridge of Remembrance to the Armagh Street bridge amid calls of encouragement and derision.

Flour bombs and haka party members descended upon any hapless contestant who appeared to be in the lead. No doubt mindful of a similar situation in the race last year, many of the competitors had a guard of their

own running down the bank beside them to ward off these self-appointed obstacles, and leaders in the race left behind them a series of splashing scuffles. Any recognisable part of a bicycle seemed to suffice for

the contestants to carry, swing or drag down the river and complete bicycles were rare.

Few of the rafts which in previous years have shown ingenuity and humour were included in the race, but those that were had a much easier task, mainly because they were far behind the general melee surrounding the leading group.

First of the rafts home was a "New Zealand fisheries patrol vessel” (above), towed by its crew and surmounted by a pram in which its woman captain perched precariously.. Another raft, at first powered by a paddle-wheel made from bicycle wheels and a chain drive, broke down and was towed across the finish line.

Perhaps the most novel of the rafts was the “U.S. Fresher,” a "submarine” made from oil drums inside a vaguely recognisable shape of a submarine, complete with conning tower and periscope. This was towed down the river but was constantly in danger of descending permanently to the weedy depths of the Avon.

The customary announcement of prize-winners from the balcony of a nearby business was inaudible and again flour bombs, some thrown with remarkable accuracy, interrupted the ceremony. The eventual awarding of first place was obscured by mud, river weed, flour, protests and recriminations but it was rumoured that the winner had been lan Hollings.