The Star: December 06, 2018

32
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday December 6 2018
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Fire rages, homes at risk
Canty Museum buys Sir Ed’s bag
KIWI LEGEND: A kit bag used by Sir Edmund Hillary when
he climbed Mt Everest has been acquired by Canterbury
Museum.
A CANVAS kit bag used by
Sir Edmund Hillary when he
climbed Mt Everest has been
purchased by Canterbury
Museum for $16,000.
The large, duffle-style bag
carried equipment used by Sir
Edmund when he and Tenzing
Norgay became the first people to
climb to the summit on the 1953
British Mount Everest expedition.
Written on the outside of
the bag was a list of the gear it
carried.
“Assault March, not to
be issued personally, 10 air
mattresses, four sleeping bags 20
below, one sleeping bag Mummy,
two pairs down gloves, six pairs
leather fingered gloves, six pairs
silk gloves, Hillary, Auckland
New Zealand, clothing, Air
Mail,” it reads.
The bag was found in a caravan
once owned by Sir Edmund,
and was then sold to the vendor
who put it up for auction in July
this year. In 2003, Sir Edmund
verified that he had used the bag
on the 1953 expedition.
The bag is one of a number
SPECIAL: Canterbury Museum curator of human history
Corban Te Aika with the kit bag.
of objects in the museum’s
collection connected to Sir
Edmund’s historic ascent.
They include a Fairydown 20
Below sleeping bag and a pair of
silk gloves Sir Edmund used on
the expedition. They may also be
some of the items listed on the
outside of the bag. The kit bag is
not yet on display but will be at
some point in the future, said a
museum spokesman.
Cannon Ball cyclists conquer eight floors
THE MUSIC and legs were
pumping as cyclists raced
head-to-head up eight floors of a
central city car park on Saturday
to a party on the roof in an effort
to raise awareness and funds for
men’s health and Movember.
The party atmosphere
prevailed at the Urology
Associates Movember Car Park
Cannon Ball with the fastest
rider taking just over 1min to
reach the top of the recently
renamed SALT District Carpark.
“It was another great event,”
organiser John McKenzie, of
enthuse media and events, said.
“It’s such a unique and exciting
combination of riders, a party,
expo, great food and beverages,
and this year we had a popular
kids zone as well. There were so
many people having a great time
enjoying the atmosphere and the
ON YOUR
BIKE: Peter
McLeod
tackled
the eight
stories on
his penny
farthing.
racing, while we were trying to
raise awareness and funds for
Movember and men’s health.”
Held for the first time last
year, the event featured cyclists
competing in a series of rapid fire
head-to-head races for men and
women in both fixed and geared
categories with a new over 45
men’s master grade.
Keen local cyclist Peter
McLeod even tackled the eight
stories on a penny farthing
bike, impressively managing to
make it to the top of the car park
building in good time.
“I built the bike about five
years ago,” he said.
“I didn’t build it to sit in the
shed and not get used. You got
to have fun, do the best you can
and make a few people smile.”
Donna Head and Josie Shum
successfully defended their
women’s geared and fixed titles,
which they won last year, while
16-year-old mountain biker
Jacob Turner won the men’s
geared grade that included road
professional Ollie Jones.
Aaron Hooper, who was
runner up in the men’s geared
grade last year, won the masters
competition, and the men’s fixed
category was won by James
Knudsen who competed in a
leather jacket and jeans.
“It was another good event,”
Mr Knudsen said.
“I was here last year and
it’s just such a fantastic time
and great cause. I’ve had a
whole year to prepare for this
one so it’s great. There was
plenty of stiff competition so I’m
stoked.”