Wairoa boat wins

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32531, 15 February 1971, Page 3

Wairoa boat wins

(N.Z. Press Association)

WANGANUI.

P. Blunden, of Wairoa, stormed down the Wanganui River, littered with broken and burning craft, yesterday, to win the second Caltex jetboat marathon. Blunden covered the last 144 miles from Taumaruni to Wanganui in 3hr 15min 35sec to give him an over-all lead of 34min Bsec over R. F. Morris of New Plymouth, second. W. Watson (Auckland) was third. The outright winner last year, S. Fisher, of Christchurch, and the leader at the end of the second stake on Saturday. R. Coleman, of Wanganui, did not finish. Fisher burst a water pipe, and Coleman ran out of fuel. D. Farrant (Christchurch), won the Class C event on over-all placings. L. Sharplin, of Taumarunui, and his co-pilot, were thrown clear when his boat hit a rock under a bridge, became airborne, flipped over, and landed on another rock upside down. A second Taumarunui boat, owned by A. Steele, caught fire at the start after a fuel leak and was burnt to the water line.

Results from the final two days:—

Stage two—Class A: Sharplin, 2:19:4, 1; Blunden, 2:20:53, 2; H. Kitson (Waluku), 2:35:35, 3; G. McKay (Christchurch), 2:37,45, 4. Class B: T. Wayman (Wellington), 2:47:37, 1; A. Johnson (Christchurch), 2:51:30, 2; R. Whisker (Bulls), 2:53:30, 3. Class C: E. Smith (Napier), 3:10:8, 1; D. Farrant (Christchurch), 3:12:8, 2; J. McKlnlay (Wellington), 3:14:12, 3.

Stage three—Class A: R. Coleman (Wanganui), 3:10:25, 1; A. Draper (New Plymouth) 3:14:35, 2; Blunden, 3:15:35, 3; S. Fisher (Christchurch), 3:18:13, 4. Class B: Gemmell 3:48:48, 1; B. Napper (Christchurch), 3:49:5, 2; C. Prince (Wanganui), 3:54:43, 3. Class C: Farrant, 3:56:16, 1; Smith, 4:3:39, 2; L. Tong (Wairoa), 4:14:31, 3. Over-all placings.—Class A: Blunden, 7:25:28, 1; R. F. Morris (New Plymouth), 7:59:36, 2; W. Watson (Auckland), 8:3:23, 3. Class B: Wayman, 9:54, 1; Johnson, 9:4:24, 2; Gemmell, 9:9:22, 3. Class C: Farrant, 9:45:6, 1; Smith, 9:46:30, 2; McKlnlay, (0:13:31, 3.