Coromandel Life Spring/Holiday 2014

41 / 64

Ph: 07 866 0377 M: 0272 277 252 •
32 Campbell Street • Whitianga
WHITIANGA NOW OPEN 7 DAYS
NEW OPENING HOURS
PLACEMAKERS WHITIANGA
24 JOAN GASKELL DRIVE (07) 867 2000
to represent NZ”. Englefield is now the major
sponsor of the annual Labour Weekend races
with Pacific Coast Marine and Whitianga
Plumbing supporting sponsors.
JOHN BOOKER COMPETES
IN NANAIMO, CANADA
This year was the first time NZ sent a racer
to Nanaimo’s Great International World
Championship Bathtub Race, and John Booker
of Pacific Coast Marine won the honour
when he claimed victory at the Bay of Islands
Bathtub Racing Classic (shown right).
Although bathtub racing is relatively new to
Kiwis, this summer (well, summer if you were
in Canada!) saw the 49th historic year of this
endurance race in British Columbia’s Nanaimo.
“Well,” explained one brain rattled racer at the
finish, “bathtub racing is for Nanaimo like the
Calvary Stampede is for Calgary, or maybe the
World’s Cup of soccer is for Brazil.”
Air NZ flew John and family to Canada, where
he spent several days prepping a ‘loaner tub’
Soggy racer Tui Slater from Opua secured a loaner for the Coroglen
race. Here, she collects a card at the mangrove swamp.
Tui got hooked on tubs when partner Mark Williamson raced against
John Booker last May. Above: Tui sports a cow hat costume.
turbo
tubbies
Kevin Shaw
guns it
Bathtub Racing NZ
Photo by Bronwyn Burkhart
Continued next page.
41