AC DELCO / CHRISTCHURCH HELICOPTERS 2006 JET BOAT MARATHON RACE RESULTS WRITTEN RACE REPORT Christchurch Helicopters
AC Delco 2006 Jet Boat Marathon. Raced over six days with a lay day in the middle the event as the posted results attest to, proved to be as demanding a gruelling as any other. The preamble to the event was not without its challenges and organiser Robert Thompson came close to withdrawing as a competitor when he lost his race controller (personal reasons). It was therefore with relief; we were advised Jeff Horne had agreed to manage the event as RC. Other distractions along the way came in the form of local councils insisting we sanitise for the invasive fresh waterweed Didymo, even though it does not exist in the North Island. Everyone readily complied with a full sanitising as we left the South Island but to be made to do so between North Island Rivers was bizarre. All purely I am sure because we are soft targets. None the less all complied and none grizzled. The 2005 World Champs held last year saw many racers having a gap year so numbers were down a little at 25 confirmed. The field was particularly strong in Unlimited, A and B class with many seeing this event as the final shakedown before the Worlds in Canada next year. Not surprisingly all eyes were on the immaculately prepared and hugely powerful boat of Mark Cromie, crewed by Duncan Storrier. Others in Unlimited included the organiser, Robert Thompson, Chris Campbell, Rob Pooley and Mark Freeman. ‘A’ Class boasted many of the countries top racers with former NZ1 Neil Ross, Bonnar Anderson, Johnny Shaw and Darryl Hutton. ‘B’ Class enjoying a renaissance boasted the biggest field headed up by top performing Daniel Anderson who was to be tested by veterans Bailey, Kiesanowski, and Garth McMaster, pursued by Scott and Tony Morrison. ‘C’ Class featured lone entrant Jonnie Sutherland and brother Dave, who have enjoyed a consistent year in the Southern Circuit. And alone again in R class Ross Simpson. Racing started on the Manawatu River on Sunday the 15 th with a shoot out over a 30km course to set the starting order for the long haul up the Whanganui. Start order was novel in as much as the boats were sent away in the order the entries were received. This saw the Pooleys off first into a rapidly rising river with logs and cut up by a ferocious wind to add a bit of spice. They were followed by the Cromie Storrier team. Unlimited class was the first to loose a competitor when Mark Freeman developed an oil leak, which transposed into a significant fire and took them out of the event. A real shame given the effort these guys had put in to be there and confident the big ford had finally settled down. ‘A’ Class lost Bonnar Anderson racing the Keelow Craft owned boat normally run by Tony Chittock who was back racing with Neil Ross again. Bonnars distributor destroyed itself, effectively knocking him out of overall contention on day one. Another cruel blow. The conditions were so bad it was soon obvious no one boat was going to shine but when all finished Cromie had 30 seconds or so on Pooley with a bunch of others very close by. Whanganui Monday and facing the mighty Whanganui with strong winds again but a river in medium flow. Cromie bolted and was not to be seen again until the very top where his driveshaft decided to come asunder and he was very lucky to sneak home. Not a pleasant feeling I am sure wondering whether the thing would fly to pieces and cut the boat in half. He made it though, but conceded time to Pooley. Darryl Hutton also dropped out with a broken driveshaft and this sadly led to a DNS for he down leg. The rest had a pretty uneventful trip up and waited patiently for the field to fuel and ready for the trip down. The word came through of stronger winds and rain at the bottom which was a little unsettling as it can cause quite big seas and rough running for the last 10k or so. Pooley caught and passed Cromie on later repaid the compliment and did the same. Pooley had done enough though to take Pole for the Rangitiki next day. Back in the field and not by much, Neil Ross, Robert Thompson, Daniel Anderson, Chris Campbell, Garth McMaster were all saying “Keep looking over your shoulder we are coming”! Others ending notice were the indomitable paring of Bailey and Loye holding hands and joking, chased along by Veteran Phil Kiesanowski and the Morrison combo of father Tony, and son Scott (driving) So completed with out instance and happy to have the big gruelling legs out of the way the field prepared for the tighter and more challenging Rangitiki. Rangitiki River 95 Kms of sand bars, braids, the odd pressure wave, but more importantly scattered willows and rail irons. A tough technical river by anyone’s standards. The word soon went out that Pooley had exchanged motors having realised the valve train was going down. This would see them front with the less powerful 630 cu in. Away on pole they bolted and were not to seen until high and dry with a seriously damaged motor, which later proved to be a split bore. Cromie continued a well-managed run and emerged the leg winner. The Rangitiki was to take a heavy toll with Tony Ewens doing a motor, John Van der Hulle the same, along with Ross Bailey. Daniel Anderson continued a faultless run, as did Neil Ross, Chris Campbell, Bonnar Anderson and the Morrisons. Wednesday was a lay day and saw most remaining racers heads for the Hawkes Bay to prerun the very tricky Ngaruroro River. Manawatu Racers assembled at the River mouth facing a 100km run up a tortuously meandering lower stretch then the challenge of traversing the infamous white horse rapids. Robert Thompson was spared the experience when he lost a mag at the start and then sadly with a slightly mistimed motor tore the teeth off his starter motor. The ever-reliable combo of Campbell and Hughes fell foul of a broken (OFF the motor) fuel pump so DNF’d. Mark Cromie cruised to a comfortable win but closely hounded by the Keelow Craft team of Daniel and Bonnar Anderson and lead by Neil Ross. Down the field the Morrisons continued their charmed run, as did the Sutherland Brothers. The Whitehorse lived up to its reputation and took two boats out. One crew off to hospital with suspected fractured ribs. Ngaruroro. Friday dawned a beautiful clear day and the only thing the race controller had to contend with was an undercurrent of concern that the river might be too low to race. Eventually the call was made to only race up but to have two legs. Declaring he preferred not to put his boat in danger of any damage, race leader Mark Cromie elected to not race, which was not received that well by some. Sad too from the point of view Mark was down to take NZ1 for an unprecedented fourth time. Neil Ross, who piloted a faultless run up a very challenging river, took the lead spot and even he was viewed from the air having the odd heart stopping moments. He did provide one light moment when he blasted Ross Bailey and co having a barbeque on the riverbank. The Andersons flew up although Daniel had a stop. Bonnar charged hard as did Chris Campbell pursued by Phil Kiesanowski, the Morrisons and others. Pete Robb got a little wayward and ended his up run in the willows. But provided entertainment for one and all as his helicopter rescued the boat. The Sutherlands had a steady run and cruised home safely on what was now a shortened course as well. Leg two was a rerun of leg one with Neil coming up the river cleanly to take out his fourth NZ1 title putting him and crew Tony Chittock firmly on the rostrum as the team to beat Second home was Daniel Anderson also taking out B Class as well. Third place went to Scott and Tony Morrison, a much deserved placing for a popular and loyal team. Daniel will tell all in the future he was never going to let that ever decreasing backwater lined with willow trees take him out. He will tell of the seriously big air moment as he sought to make mainstream again! Pete Robb can only take consolation from the fact he got further, even if it was only 500 metres!!! In spite of the penalties for two DNS’s Mark Cromie took out Unlimited class and Chris Campbell in second was dealt a harsh lesson on the rules of our sport, Marks time was based on Chris’s own time so which was good and so allowed Mark to sneak home ahead of him. Neil took out A class, followed by Bonnar. Daniel took out B class followed by the McMaster, Morrisons and Phil Kiesanowski. C Class went to the Sutherland Bros a real credit to them finishing and taking class. These guys will be back with a serious attitude next year. So we close another event, thanking Robert Thompson for organising, Jeff Horne for controlling, all the sponsors for supporting and all others who gave of their time and resources to make it all happen.

So when are the Worlds in Canada…………………………