Day Two, Monday September 22, Leg Two – Waiau River – Spotswood to Hamner. Leg Three: Waiau River – Hanmer to Waiau Township
| No. Cl Driver. Boat Name. | Criterium Up Waiau Dn Waiau Total |
| 1 353 A James Murdoch Carlton Hotel | 28:22 39:48 21:34 1:29:44 |
| 2 301 U Rob Pooley Just Mussels | 30:06 42:39 21:47 1:34:32 |
| 3 25 B Daniel Anderson The Ranch | 28:38 43:11 23:38 1:35:27 |
| 4 388 A Spencer King Sunset Shaker | 30:05 43:28 22:23 1:35:56 |
| 5 626 U Chris Campbell Ahaura Transport | 30:33 44:53 21:38 1:37:04 |
| 6 777 U Regan Williamson Daddy Kool Racing | 30:42 43:56 22:56 1:37:34 |
| 7 307 U Shaun Kelly Kawarau Jet | 29:19 44:19 25:13 1:38:51 |
| 8 41 A Paul Collings Jet Stream Services | 33:38 44:58 21:21 1:39:57 |
| 9 38 B Bryce Idiens Smack Face | 30:29 49:37 22:36 1:42:42 |
| 10 109 B Ryan Ringer Outlaws | 34:34 48:44 21:44 1:45:02 |
| 11 216 A Malcolm Jenkins The Hairy Mussel Company | 30:36 55:45 21:25 1:47:46 |
| 12 367 U Roger Preston Booth AG | 30:48 49:22 32:06 1:52:16 |
| 13 134 D Brendon Cameron | 37:48 54:04 22:51 1:54:43 |
| 14 66 C Kruse Davidson Bannickburn Fruits | 33:46 57:23 24:31 1:55:40 |
| 15 70 D Callum McKenzie D70 Racing | 35:35 57:51 23:40 1:57:06 |
| 16 107 D Aaron Morrison Steath Racing | 34:39 55:45 27:26 1:57:50 |
| 17 91 B Byron Campbell Desparado | 35:15 55:48 38:46 2:09:49 |
| 18 35 R Tony O'Laughlon | 43:41 1:05:28 27:34 2:16:43 |
| 19 638 C Andrew Stuart Keystone Decorators | 33:02 1:14:29 33:29 2:21:00 |
| 20 77 R Craig Robertson | 41:23 1:05:30 52:19 2:39:12 |
U = Edge Parts & performance A = SSS Engineering B = Carlton Bar & Restaurant C = Farrington Tavern D = Hornit R = Adelphi Motel
Please note :- Full class names are to be used when publishing results.
Continuous underline = penalty, broken underline = credit.
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Edge Parts & performance Class Results.
No. Cl Driver. Boat Name. Criterium Up Waiau Dn Waiau Total
1 301 U Rob Pooley Just Mussels 30:06 42:39 21:47 1:34:32
2 626 U Chris Campbell Ahaura Transport 30:33 44:53 21:38 1:37:04
3 777 U Regan Williamson Daddy Kool Racing 30:42 43:56 22:56 1:37:34
4 307 U Shaun Kelly Kawarau Jet 29:19 44:19 25:13 1:38:51
5 367 U Roger Preston Booth AG 30:48 49:22 32:06 1:52:16
SSS Engineering Class Results.
No. Cl Driver. Boat Name. Criterium Up Waiau Dn Waiau Total
1 353 A James Murdoch Carlton Hotel 28:22 39:48 21:34 1:29:44
2 388 A Spencer King Sunset Shaker 30:05 43:28 22:23 1:35:56
3 41 A Paul Collings Jet Stream Services 33:38 44:58 21:21 1:39:57
4 216 A Malcolm Jenkins The Hairy Mussel Company 30:36 55:45 21:25 1:47:46
Carlton Bar & Restaurant Class Results.
No. Cl Driver. Boat Name. Criterium Up Waiau Dn Waiau Total
1 25 B Daniel Anderson The Ranch 28:38 43:11 23:38 1:35:27
2 38 B Bryce Idiens Smack Face 30:29 49:37 22:36 1:42:42
3 109 B Ryan Ringer Outlaws 34:34 48:44 21:44 1:45:02
4 91 B Byron Campbell Desparado 35:15 55:48 38:46 2:09:49
Farrington Tavern Class Results.
No. Cl Driver. Boat Name. Criterium Up Waiau Dn Waiau Total
1 66 C Kruse Davidson Bannickburn Fruits 33:46 57:23 24:31 1:55:40
2 638 C Andrew Stuart Keystone Decorators 33:02 1:14:29 33:29 2:21:00
Hornit Class Results.
No. Cl Driver. Boat Name. Criterium Up Waiau Dn Waiau Total
1 134 D Brendon Cameron 37:48 54:04 22:51 1:54:43
2 70 D Callum McKenzie D70 Racing 35:35 57:51 23:40 1:57:06
3 107 D Aaron Morrison Steath Racing 34:39 55:45 27:26 1:57:50
Adelphi Motel Class Results.
No. Cl Driver. Boat Name. Criterium Up Waiau Dn Waiau Total
1 35 R Tony O'Laughlon 43:41 1:05:28 27:34 2:16:43
2 77 R Craig Robertson 41:23 1:05:30 52:19 2:39:12
Please note :- Continuous underline = penalty, broken underline = credit.
fDay Two, Monday 22, Leg Two – Waiau River – Spotswood to Hamner
The strong Nor’west winds forecast blew spasmodically throughout the day – when they did blow, the gusts were strong, but they would quickly subside again leaving a period of calm. Coupled with the discoloured water, conditions for jet boat racing were challenging as seems to be usual on the Waiau especially at this time of year. Any of the crews that may have been expecting an easy time on the river were to be sadly mistaken.Boats were flagged away at one minute intervals in order of finishing from yesterday’s criterium on the Waimakariri. James and Ross Murdoch had put their 450ci alloy blocked Ford engined Eagle tunnel, Toyz for Boyz at the top of the leaderboard and were first away. They had a clean run through the lower gorge and into the tricky braided section that took them past the Waiau township where they had to contend with wind gusts and inconveniently placed willow trees. They were the first to pass under the bridge at Leslie Hills and made good speed through the middle gorge despite the plethora of pressure waves and swirling wind gusts. The finish line a couple of kilometers above the Ferry bridge was crossed in a time of 39:48 easily the fastest of the leg.Rob Pooley started fifth away behind Spencer King but had a quick trip upstream despite crashing through willow trees – again inconveniently placed just outside navigator Mike’s line of vision. (Tui) Rob reported the river to be difficult to read but the 520ci Chev in his Kwik Kraft tunnel Just Mussels has proved strong and reliable to date and he set the second fastest upstream time of 42:39.Daniel Anderson started second behind the Murdoch boat and he made full use of the adjustable wings on the front of his boat to help control the boat in the tricky conditions. The 360ci small block Chev is developing good power ensuring the well sorted Keelow Craft tunnel, The Ranch has excellent boat speed that, coupled with Daniel’s experience and skills, ensures he is well placed in field. His time for the upstream leg of 43:11 was third fastest.The Canadian entry of multiple World Champions Spencer and Russell King continued to show their pedigree. Despite charging into a blind channel that required an emergency change in direction, and the fact that the starter motor decided to part company from the alloy block on the big Ford, they set an impressive time of 43:28 for the leg. Fortunately, repairs were completed at the turn-around enabling them to start the down leg with no impediment.Shaun Kelly has certainly entered the spirit of this marathon – not only did he drive through the night from Queenstown to arrive in Christchurch at 0600 hrs ready for the criterium race but, at the end of racing his team drove through to North Canterbury so Shaun could recce the Waiau before climbing into a comfortable motel bed to catch up on much needed sleep. But things did not go to plan. After getting way laid on the Waiau, failing light meant they had to camp out in a riverside hut before returning to Cheviot at first light where they discovered they had made the morning news on national television. Fortunately the hut was quite well provisioned including a plentiful supply of Speights ale so Shaun and his crew spent quite comfortable night we are told! This must be true as he piloted the fuel injected 588ci Chev powered Eagle tunnel Kawarau Jet up the waiau in a time of 44:19.Chris ‘Turbo’ Campbell is a bloke never short of a word. He had a clean but exciting run through to the gorge and described it in a series of “Yuk, yuk, f**k, f**k “– you get the picture. The 556ci big block Chev powering his aging Keelow Craft tunnel Ahaura Transport was, nevertheless, running very well but he went on to describe his trip through the gorge as “being a little like kissing your sister – there’s nothing in it but it will end in tears”. How that quite relates I remain unsure but it has to be the quote of the day! Despite all this ‘Turbo’ managed to complete the leg in a respectable time of 44:53.Regan Williamson was another to record an excellent upstream time in his 572ci Chev powered Eagle tunnel Daddy Cool Racing of 43:56 as did Paul Collings in his 454 Chev powered Kwik Kraft tunnel Jet Stream Services, 44:58 despite suffering extreme engine vibration as the front damper fell apart near the end of the leg and he limped across the line. Fortunately, Paul’s sponsor happened to be piloting one of the support helicopters that was then put to good use to fetch a replacement from Christchurch and return and fit it before the start of the downstream leg. Nice work!Back down the field all sorts of drama began to unfold. Andrew Stuart had a sod of a run after striking a submerged rock when he pulled over to let a faster boat through. Unbeknown to him the grill and intake block had sustained heavy impact damage and caused the boat to take on water at such a rate that the bilge pumps had trouble stemming the inflow. He stopped a couple of times as the result of water being flung over the distributor by the flywheel, but managed to limp to the top where temporary repairs were completed. Clearly, having the best dressed navigator (resplendent in white shirt and red bow tie beneath the race overalls) did little to assuage this rotten piece of luck that resulted in a very slow time of 1:14:29.Roger Preston was another to strike trouble when the flex plate on his 572ci Chev engine fell apart just below the Waiau township bridge ending his day. Byron Campbell’s Kwik Kraft tunnel Desperado sustained steering failure just before the end of a no-exit channel so that may have been a blessing in disguise. They were eventually able to retrieve the boat, make repairs and trailer it to the top for the start of the down leg.Malcolm and Edward Jenkins were expecting to do well on the Waiau – they have afterall spent most of their lives farming on its banks and know its moods well. Imagine their dismay then when just 3 km or so after the start at Spotswood they charged into a blind channel and ended up on a sand bank. It took them some 15 minutes to push the fully fueled boat back into the water. After that little excursion they had a clean run up the remainder of the leg eventually recording a time of 55:45.Craig Robertson has had a charmed run so far this year in his Mercury Sportjet powered Eagle steptech monohull. Sadly for him his luck ran out on the Waiau when intermittent electrical failures dogged his progress relegating him to the back of the field. Fellow Sportjet racer Tony O’Laughlon also had a slow trip up to the top with his grill clogged with rocks, but as always, the big T had a grin from ear to ear when the boat finally made the trailer.The other main contenders in the Carlton Bar & Restaurant B class, Bryce Idiens and American Ryan Ringer both had clean runs but found the challenges of the braided sections interesting. Bryce recorded an upstream time of 49:37 in Smack Face while Ryan did well to finish in a time of 48:44 given his Eagle steptech monohull Outlaws is powered by a stock standard Chev ZZ4 crate motor being as it is set up for the popular Canadian and American FX class. (NZJBRRA members take note – we should investigate instituting this here in lieu of R class…)The only other entrant in the Farrington Tavern C class, Kruse Davidson reported an interesting upstream leg finding himself in an “Oh Shit” channel that resulted in a short push to get up and running again but resulted in a slower time of 57:23.The Hornit D class entries of Brendon Cameron (182A/Lexus/Berkeley), Callum McKenzie (Kwik Kraft tunnel/Lexus/Berkeley) and Aaron Morrison (Stealth tunnel, Nissan V8/ Turbine) are enjoying close racing. Brendon Cameron knows the Waiau as well as anyone alive and was always expected to set the pace in the class. He did not disappoint setting an upstream time of 54:04 to McKenzie’s 57:51 and Morrison’s 55:45
The shorter down stream leg had many of the competitors nervous prior to the start. The pressure waves and rocks anchored to China in the gorge demand both respect and caution while the braided section to the Waiau township bridge puts plenty of pressure on the navigational skills of the crews.Some quick times were recorded on this leg. Some competitors were not expected to perform so well by virtue of their lesser power proving that the river is often the great leveler. The fastest downstream time was set by Paul Collings - 21:21 - while Malcolm Jenkins made up for his earlier misdemenours by scortching down the track in a time of 21:25.James Murdoch drove conservatively but quickly to set third fastest time of 21:34. Chris ‘Turbo’ Campbell must have got his tongue out of his sister’s mouth long enough to get over his gorge demons and powered down the river in a time of 21:38. Ryan Ringer did extremely well again on the down leg in Outlaws setting a time of 21:44, and Rob Pooley close behind in 21:47. Spencer King also drove conservatively to record 22:23 while Bryce Idiens set another good time of 22:36. Regan Williamson took it easy down through the gorge but also recorded a clean run in a time of 22:56 while Brendon Cameron went for it on his home river setting a good time of 22:51 in his 4 litre V8 powered 182A.Shaun Kelly started off well enough and had a good clean run through the lumpy gorge section only to find himself in a dead end among the braids that resulted in a lengthy push. Andrew Stuart’s temporary repairs to the intake on his Impala Keystone Decorators proved a little more temporary than first hoped forcing him to stop in the confines of the gorge to remove the bungs and allow excess water to drain out while the boat was underway. Unfortunately his boat speed was seriously reduced but he made it back to the trailer in a time of 33:29. His crew can look forward to a long night in the workshop to ensure the boat is ready for the Rakaia in the morning.Daniel Anderson had a fun trip down the river in The Ranch , he took a wrong channel, bounced over a bank, tore one of the stabilizing wings off on an obstruction but still made it down in a time of 23:38.Overall, James and Ross Murdoch retain their place at the top of the leader board with a combined elapsed time of 1:29:44 ahead of Rob and Mike Pooley 1:34:32 and Daniel Anderson 1:35:27. Spencer and Russell King remain in touch with the leaders on 1:35:56 while Chris Campbell’s charge sees him handily placed at 1:37:04.The next two legs on the Rakaia river will be another true test of man and machine with gale force nor’westers and heavy rainfall in the river catchment likely to make their presence felt.
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