Cromie wins bridge-to-bridge

Press, 7 June 1982, Page 3

Cromie wins bridge-to-bridge

By

LES BLOXHAM

Skimming over the Rakaia's braided streams at speeds of up to 140 km/h. the 1980 world jetboat champion. Mark Cromie. had little difficulty in winning the Rakaia bridge-to-bridge race on Saturday. Driving the same boat that carried him to victory in the world event two years ago, Cromie covered the 100 km course from the main highway bridge to the gorge and back in 48 minutes 46s — an averdge speed of about 125 km/h. Cromie. of Rakaia. had Bruce Street and Ralph Brown as crew. The alloy boat was powered by a turbo-charged Chevrolet 454 engine and a Hamilton threestage racing unit. The runner-up was Norman Bagrie. of Hinds, who

clocked in at 51min 575. 3min Ils behind Cromie. A lowerpowered B Class entry driven by Brian Scott. o’f Geraldine, was third with an excellent time of 56min 495. The race, the first of its kind to be organised by the newly formed Rakaia River Promotions Committee, attracted a field of 48 entries from throughout the South Island.

A disappointing feature was the absence of North Island boats. The committee was offering a bonus prize of $lOOO for a North Island over-all winner but it seems no-one was willing to journey south to give • the course a try. The current world titleholder. Max McKenzie, of Taumarunui, had intended to take part, but mechanical problems a week ago forced him to cancel his entry.

Among the 14 boaters who failed to finish the course was the veteran racer. Blue Derry, of Blenheim, who was in the running for the world title in Canada last year until his engine failed on the final stage. On Saturday Derry was again dogged by bad luck, but this time only seconds after he started. Barely 200 metres after the flag fell his engine died of a broken block. The river was in reasonably good condition for the race, although a slight discoloration made it difficult to read in places. A novel aspect of the prize-giving ceremony was a number of special awards. A Christchurch boater, Allan Bull, who had a spot of bother in the form of old piles in the bottom of the river, received an appropri-

ate “prize'' — a jar of ointment: balm for the relief of suffering from piles. Colin Dickson, of Christchurch. who inadvertently fell out of his boat, received a rubber duck. The hard-luck prize went to Derry. He received a "trophy” made up of the broken piston that cost Cromie any chance of retaining the world crown last year, and the faulty rod that brought Bagrie to an abrupt and final stop when running a close second on the last day of the 1980 world championships. Noel Jeffries received the prize for the best turned outboaLCromiewontheßakaia Marine Trophy for over-all winner. In the following results.

the times for the upstream leg are given first, the downstream leg second, and then the total times.

Smith and Church Electrical Class (5101 cu cm and above): M. Cromie, 25:43. 23:05. 48:46. 1; N. Bagrie. 28:25 . 23:32. 51:57. 2: D. McFarlane. 33:11. 25:31. 58:43. 3.

Valvoline Class (4201 cu cm - 5100 cu cml: B. Scott. 30:15. 26:34. 56-49. 1: J. Lowrv. 39:02. 27:06. 1:06.08. 2; N. Jeffries. 32:49. 27.16. 1:15.05 (Includes 15min penalty). 3.

C Class (3401 cu cm - 4200 cu cm): J. Watson. 35:38 . 30:13. 1:05.51. 1; J. Roberts. 39:23. 32:00. 1:11.23. 2; M. Tallott. 42:17. 36:26. 1:18.43. 3.

Pluck Engineering Class (2001 cu cm — 3400 cu cm): G. Miller. 40:40. 36:46. 1:17 26. 1; G. Campbell. 35:42. 35:37. 1:21.19. 2; G. Tavlor. 47.10, 37:52. 1 25.02. 3.

E Class (2000 cu cm and under): B. Anderson. 1:14.56.46:55. 2:01.51. 1.