Police News June 09.indd - New Zealand Police Association

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PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceTauranga 2 team take Police National Raft Race againThe second annual Police National Raft Racewas held on Black Friday, the 13th of March,on the Kaituna River, near Rotorua.It proved to be unlucky for some but a greatday out for most of the 24 teams from asfar north as Whangarei and as far south asWellington. All teams gathered at the KaitunaCascades rafting base to get a briefing for theday’s events. For most, this was the first timethey had been rafting, let alone competed ina raft race on a river, which is world famousfor its seven metre high waterfall.NervesOnce the race briefing was over, mostcompetitors’ nerves had increased tenfold somany took the opportunity to down the canof “Big Black V”, which was included in thewelcome pack. The Big Black “V” heat wasup first, which included the favoured Rotoruateams and the underdogs, the mighty TaupoTeam. The two teams were introduced toKaituna Cascades professional rafting guideswho were going to steer the rafts down theriver while the teams provided the ‘engine’.As the first heat got under way, othercompetitors took the opportunity to watchfrom several vantage points along the riverto see what they were in for. Tutea Falls puton its famous show with rafts flipping, almostflipping and dumping everyone. A few skilled(read lucky) teams even managed to getdown with their boat upright and all of theirteam intact and still in the raft.Swim start off ledgeThe teams had no time to catch their breathas they dropped off their team’s swimmeronto a rock ledge for the one metre jump tothe swim start. The countdown was givenand the first heat was underway with the sixswimmers jumping off the rock ledge into theturbulent water below and then attempting toswim to their raft. The hometown favourites,Rotorua TAG, showed their class by gatheringtheir swimmer up and blazing off towards thefirst rapid well ahead of the other teams. Butas the old saying goes “the river giveth andthe river taketh”. And taketh it did – trappingthe Rotorua team in a strong eddie at the firstrapid, which allowed the underdogs Taupo toslip through and take first place. Rotorua TAGpushed hard right to the end hoping for anopportunity to pass Taupo but it never cameand Taupo went on to win the heat and entryinto the final.Close contestsThe next three heats where just as closelycontested with Tauranga winning the SudimaHotel heat, Waihi winning the New ZealandAdventure heat and Wellington winning theAgroventures heat. This made for a verystrong final with the addition of last year’schamps, the Tauranga 2 team, gaining entryto the final as well. Due to the Taupo teamhaving to pull out of the final due to an injury,Rotorua TAG replaced them, as runners-upin that heat.As soon as the swimmers were in the wateryou could tell this was no longer a socialevent with them giving it their all. As theswimmers were hauled into their rafts mostwere already feeling the ‘burn’ but the racehad only just started. First to the rapids wasthe youthful Tauranga 2 team, with Waihiright behind them. As the teams entered thestraight to the last rapid they could hear thelarge crowd cheering them on. The Waihiboys gave it one last push but the tenacity ofthe reigning champs allowed them to hold onto the trophy for another year.Two milestonesThis year’s race marked two milestones –one being the first all women’s team, whichhad a very respectable placing in their heat -and the inclusion of a kayak and riversurfingtag team race.Six teams entered the tag team race, whichinvolved the kayakers racing from the TuteaFalls and then tagging their team mate whothen reached the bottom section of the riveron what can only be described as an oversizedboogie board (just like the old ETA Ripples T.V.ad). The race was a game of two halves withRotorua local Dai Edwards showing his skillsand ‘home course’ advantage by droppingover the falls first. But just behind was DrewBennett, who showed that the Taranaki boyshad some skills as well. Some of the otherkayakers took more adventurous lines withone popping his spray skirt turning his kayakinto a submarine and another, unfortunately,managing to cause himself some injuries.Riversurfing debutsFour out of the six riversurfers had never triedthe sport before so they seemed to think therewas safety in numbers as they picked theirroute down through the class three rapids.Sam Parata managed to get a good lead onthe field, which proved too hard to close. As• ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT…gently down the stream…134June 2009
New Zealand Police Associationthe last riversurfer crossed the line the expression on his face spokevolumes - he would definitely be back next year.The prizegiving was just a 100m walk down the road to the Okere FallsBeer Garden, which was the perfect venue to sit down to trade storiesover a BBQ dinner and quiet beer. Murray McKenzie was the winner ofthe major spot prize - a weekend for two in Rotorua, which includedproducts from several major sponsors like TEVA and Smith Optics. Theprize was valued at over $1,000.As night came, conversation turned to strategies for next year’s eventand how teams would have to get in early, as they didn’t want to missout like the two teams who were on the waiting list for this year’sevent. The 2010 event will be bigger and better and will be held onFriday the 12th of March with registrations for teams opening on the1st of November 2009 on a first-come-first-served basis.• THE BIG DIPPER: “Gee this gives new meaning to the organiser’spre-race description of ‘go downstream’ people”.New Zealand Police Ski Champs 2008 & 2009The 2008 NZ Police Association Ski champs were held at Cardrona SkiField, 40 minutes north of Queenstown late last year.This saw a greater contingent of South Island competitors enter theannual event along with the usual North Island crew who had travelledfrom as far a field as Whangarei.Day one was a warm up, free ski day, which saw everyone skiingtogether and enjoying the camaraderie and some excellent springconditions at Coronet Peak. The great weather continued into day twofor some exciting racing over a well-set, lengthy slalom course.Farrell and Donaldson topsTauranga’s Mark Farrell appeared Ingemar Stenmark-like with his gatebashing style to take out the men's division ahead of Gisborne’s ScottPitkethley and Invercargill’s Dave Cowie. Lynne Donaldson claimednumber one spot amongst the women.Thick cloud ended any opportunity of running a skier cross on daythree, however, the Giant Slalom was successfully held with the localsAaron Nicholson and Lynne Donaldson clocking the fastest combinedOfficer’s gut feeling right on the moneySometimes you have to go with your gut feeling and thehunch of an officer involved in apprehending a young couplefor a breathalyser test resulted in police uncovering a hoaxcall, which the young woman had made to Comms to distractpolice so she could drive home.After being apprehended for possible drink-driving and toldnot to drive home, the young couple said they would walkto a local taxi stand and get a cab home. However, insteadthey cooked up a scheme to divert police to an alleged armedtimes over two runs. The overall titles were determined from the fastestcombined times over the four runs to give the following results:Open Men’s: Mark Farrell 1, Aaron Nicholson 2, Malcolm Johnston 3.Open Women’s: Lynne Donaldson 1, Sue Moult 2.Over 50’s: Stu Hewitt 1, Brian Benn 2.Snowboard: Lucy Field 1, Sam Webb 2.Support appreciatedThe event was rounded off with a meal in Queenstown and prizegiving,which saw everyone take home a spot prize. Many thanks from theorganisers and competitors to the Police Association and Council ofSport for their support, which aided greatly in the successful runningof the champs.The 2009 Champs will be back to the North Island at Turoa SkiField over the dates 31st Aug to 2nd Sept so book your leave now.Entries are also open for Snowboarders. For an entry form andfurther information or accommodation don’t hesitate to contacteither Scott Pitkethley or John Daunton via Lotus Notes.robbery at a local service station some 500 metres from wherethey had been stopped.However, one of the officers involved had a ‘gut instinct’ thatsomething was wrong and got Comms to redial the numberthe 111 call had come from. The ruse was soon up when theyoung woman’s cell phone began ringing.She then admitted her actions.A 22-year-old East Auckland woman was arrested for makinga false complaint and attempting to drive with excess breathalcohol as a result of the incident.We remember…Who passed away…McLEOD Norman Alexander 22-Apr-09 Retired member RotoruaNICHOLSON Bruce Craig James 22-Apr-09 Retired member HamiltonSTEWART Paul Lyall 2-May-09 Member DarfieldSUTHERLAND Valerie Christina Mary 2-May-09 Widow of retired member RotoruaSNEE Leonard 7-May-09 Member NapierTIKITIKI Glenyss Margaret 11-May-09 Spouse of member Te PukeQUIRKE Mary Theresa 18-May-09 Spouse of member WaikanaeCOOPER Ian Alexander 22-May-09 Retired member TaurangaJune 2009135
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Police News June 09.indd - New Zealand Police Association

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