MEDIA RELEASE 16 January 2007
AUSSIE RACERS TAKE ON THE KIWIS!
Colourful Australian racers Bruce Sanders and Colin Craven will
go head-to-head with the Kiwis later this month, in the opening
round of the New Zealand Offshore Powerboat Championship.
Sanders and Craven’s Red Bellies Racing team are set to
fly the Australian flag throughout the 2007 New Zealand summer
series, contested over eight North Island events between late
January and May.
‘Team Australia Offshore’, as Sanders has dubbed
it, this week sent its Australian title-winning Red Bellies Offshore
racer to New Zealand, in readiness for the opening event, at Taupo
on January 28.
Though it will be the international competition debut for both
Sanders and Craven, the New South Welshmen have over 30 years
of racing experience, and have won six Australian titles in eight
years.
Most recently, in 2005 and 2006, they secured back-to-back ‘Class
C, 6 Litre’ Australian Championships for Red Bellies Racing.
“Colin and I have a good record here in Australia, but
we felt like going in a new direction and testing ourselves in
a new environment,” Sanders explains.
“So rather than try to make it three in a row in Australia,
we’ve decided to take on the 2007 New Zealand Championship.
“It will be the first time we’ve raced overseas,
so we’re looking to go over there, do our best and fly the
Australian flag proudly.”
Featuring fields in excess of 45 boats, the New Zealand series
is one of the most competitive in the world.
“The fields in New Zealand are very strong, and it is literally
un-chartered waters for us, so we know it won’t be a walk
in the park,” Sanders said.
“In our class, we are expecting to have eight boats, so
the competition will be strong, but we’re looking forward
to giving it a go.”
The new racing venture comes off the back of a memorable 2006
for Sanders.
In addition to his third Australian title, Sanders’ Seabreeze
Hotel - among his business interests in the Nelson Bay area of
New South Wales - was crowned Hotel of the Year, by the Independent
Liquor Group.
“I’m very passionate about being successful in business
and sport; I put a lot of energy into both areas of my life and
it paid off in 2006,” Sanders says.
“To have Seabreeze Hotel recognised as Hotel of the Year
was extremely satisfying, and we’ve got some very exciting
new ventures shaping up for this year, so it’s all go.
“The work hasn’t stopped, and we’re looking
to make sure 2007 is just as successful in the water and on land
as 2006.”
Red Bellies Offshore Racing is supported by Mainlube, Always
Stainless, Watersports Marine, Total Fencing Solutions, Steve
Cotton Painting, Seabreeze Hotel, Hosting Impact and Argo Engineering.
2007 NZ Race Dates:
28th January - Taupo
10th February - Maraetai
24th February - Gulf Harbour
10th March - Wellington
24th March - Tauranga
14th April - Napier
28th April - Whitianga
12th May - Auckland
For Further Information:
Mitchell Adam
Communications Manager
Red Bellies Racing
(03) 9596 9011
(0403) 431 890
mitchell@mediacomservices.com.au
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