SLIVER SLIPPER WINS N.Z. OUTBOARD TITLE

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 February 1947, Page 4

SLIVER SLIPPER WINS N.Z. OUTBOARD TITLE

SPEEDBOAT CHAMPIONSHIPS DRIFTWOOD IN THE WANGANUI DAMAGES SOME CRAFT With craft participating capable ot the highest speeds of any at present racing in the Dominion, the public ot Wanganui were treated to a regatta, the equal of which they have not had the opportunity of witnessing since pre-war years, when the Wanganui Motor-boat Club sponsored its Victory Regatta on tlie river .on Saturday morning, in conjunclfoh with the “High Jinks" Carnival. A programme of seven ■ rhees was conducted, all of which produced racing of the very highest quality, tn all 18 racing craft were seen in action on the river, the majority of which were inboard boats. Tne greatest thrills of the day, however, were piovided by the smaller skimmer outboard craft. These “Puddle Jumpers ' provided the spectators with a great novelty, none ot their type being members of the Wanganui club. .

Considerable concern was felt at the outset of the regatta for, on the spring tide, wnich was flooding on Saturday morning, a great accumulation ot wood, including logs of size, was floating upriver. Owners subjected their craft to a great danger racing them with these hazardous snags in the water. Several of the competing craft received minor damage. However, as the morning progressed the river cleared to a great extent, and as the tide turned this very real danger was practically obviated. OUTBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP Without a doubt the most thrilling event of the morning was the racing of the New Zealand Outboard Championship. Although there were only four starters —the other nominees having trouble with their motors — the closeness of the race kept the crowd at the height of excitement. Right throughout the race, the winner, Silver Slipper, was only a length or two in front of the next boat, Tops, and at any time in the course of the 5-mile journey, one misjudged turn or a momentary falter in the beat ot the engine could have spelt success or .defeat for either of the two leadin? boats. Driving his boat with the precision of an experienced motorboatman, Mr. D. H. Goble, of Waitara, kept a slight lead throughout, anti eventually came out the victor by only five seconds.

Silver Slipper went away from the start with an advantage ot two yards over Tops and the grim struggle lor supremacy right throughout the race provided a spectacle wnich was well worth travelling many miles to see. Sea Devil started some distance behind the two leading boats and the fourth competitor, Spitfire, with trouble in his motor, lost practically half a lap at the start. At the turn at the end of the second lap, Silver Slipper swung very wide and Tops was allowed to close the gap to only a foot or two. With six laps completed, Silver Slipper and Tops were practically on even terms and, as they both turned simultaneously, a crash seemed inevitable, but with no more than inches between them they came apart without disaster. These two leaders steadily cleared away from the other two craft and on the last lap the third boat, Sea Devil, was lapped. “PUDDLE JUMPER” TURN'S OVER The only disaster of the regatta occurred at the conclusion oi the New Zealand Outboard Championship. Spitfire, running last, and approaching the finishing post, hopped a little two high and came down with her nose into the water, diving and turning over in a spectacular shower ox spray. However, the boat was salvaged with little damage to either driver or motor.

Of the inboard craft, Aloha, Jasta and Mercury provided the most thrilling spectacle. All these boats were racing at speeds between 40 and 50 miles an hour, the thrill of the racing they provided being most apparent in the excitement of the crowd. In the ilrst race on the programme, the Bridge Inboard Handicap, Mercury was an extremely unlucky cralt. Sir Echo, off the limit mark, was approaching the finishing line with Mercury gaining very fast, clocking practically 50 rn.p.h. It appeared as it Mercury would just get there by no more than a foot or two when, 50 yards Irom home she scraped a sandbank ana lost much of her speed and ■what appeared a certain victory. The Gonville Inboard Handicap produced one ot the most thrilling races of the day. Starting from the back mark, tlie two New Plymouth speedsters, Aloha and Jesta, fought out every Inch of the 3-rnlle course. There was nothing between their speeds on the straigms, both boats reaching up to 50 rn.p.h., but on the turns Koeouck gained a little every time with his boat's superior cornering ability and finally outran Aloha, winning by 18 seconds. Results were:—

Bridge Inboard Handicap (2 miles). —Miss Echo (L. K. Andrews, Palmerston North), llmin. 12sec., 1; Mercury (R. Terrill, New Plymouth), 11 min. 121 sec., 2; Tuatea u. Tait, Wanganui i, llmin. 35sec., 3. Carnival Inboard Handicap (3 miles). —Miss Vesla (B. Bodie, Masterton), 7min. 18sec., 1; Miss Mercury IR. Terrill, New Plymouth), 7min. 38sec., 2; Sir Echo IL. A- Andrews, Palmerston North), 7min. 38sec. 3.

Aramoho Outboard Handicap <-> miles).—lops (H. Bramley, Wellington), Bmin., 1; Silver Slipper ID. h. Goble, Waitara, Bmin. ssec., 2; Sea Devil (K. Vickery, New Plymoutn), xlmin., 3. Durie Inboard Handicap 13 miles). —Aloha (H. McNeil, New Plymouth), 4min. 56sec., 1; Jesta (N. Roebuck, New Plymouth), 4min. 57sec., 2; Miss vesta (H. Bodie, Masterton), 6min. y sec ., 3. • Gonville Inboard HOTtltap (3 miles) —Sir Echo <L. K. Addrews, Palmerston North), omin. 19»ec., 1; Jesta <N. Roebuck, New 4min. Isec., 2; Aloha (H. McNeil, N«w Plymoutn), 4min. 19sec., 3. .. New Zealand OutUaard Championship for Hatrick CWtenge Cup (a miles).—Silver Slipper (D. H. Gobie, Waitara), 9min. 22sec., 1; Tops IH. Bramley, Wellington), Umin. 2bsec., 2; Sea Devil (K. Vickery, New Plymouth), lOmin. 40sec., 3. Farewell Handicap itree-for-all; 5 miles,.—Mercury,' 14min. 2()sec„ 1: Tuatea, 15min. 20sec.. 2; Aloha, 15niin. 35sec., 3.