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Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33676, 28 October 1974, Page 2

Airborne Jet boats were a spectacular attraction for onlookers at the New Zealand Jet Boat Association’s national rally in the Waimakariri Gorge on Saturday. The water jump was one of 10 events in the rally, which took 43 boats over a 65-mile course from the gorge bridge to the Poulter River and back, and then down a tricky shallow section in the afternoon. The picture shows G. Raxworthy going over the jump. Part of the Waimakariri Gorge bridge is in the background. C. McCall, of Christchurch, who drove a J 32 boat powered by a 308 Holden Monaro engine, won the C. W. F. Hamilton Trophy. H. Smith and R. Miller, both also from Christchurch, were second and third. McCall performed well in all sections, but his jump, which covered 48ft, ended in a spin-out which pitched McCall beneath the dashboard. He bumped his head and cut his hand. Smith also thought he had wings in his jump, which ended at 44ft with some minor damage to two moored boats. Five competitors took part in the women’s rally for the Lady Hamilton Trophy. This was jointly won by Mrs M. Smith, of Christchurch, and Miss E. Courtney, of Rangiora.

There was also a woman driver, Miss J. Bridgman, of Auckland, in the main rally. Her father was crew.