MEDIA RELEASE

Sunday 27 March 2011

Robertson’s Trolley Derby sponsors commit to 2012

Robertson Chartered Accountants have committed to the Robertson’s Trolley Derby for 2012, after another fantastic event down Collingwood St.

Gilbert Robertson and Nelson Trolley Club President Tim Bayley both said the event was yet another special day for Nelson, and agreed that the event is important to continue for Nelson. More than two thousand people were estimated to have watched the iconic Nelson derby, which had attracted a record number of entrants.

“It was a great day, and we’d like to say thank you to Nelson for supporting the racers yesterday, despite the inclement weather,” says Gilbert. “The mixed looks of excitement, freedom and adrenalin on the kids’ faces as they went down the hill were priceless, and the crowd’s support was fantastic, as usual. I know my boys will forever remember their races, as will more than a hundred other drivers involved in the day.

“The fantastic racing in the atypical Nelson weather should also show the city that this event goes on rain or shine,” Gilbert says. “Yes, there were some spectacular spills, with one trolley splitting in half and another flipping over the hay bales, but all the big crashes took place after the finish line, and thankfully no-one was hurt!”

Tim Bayley adds that without the support of local businesses this event could not have happened.

“Local firms Robertson’s Chartered Accountants, Scott Construction, SBS Bank, McDonalds Nelson, Baywicks and Resene Paints, and many others, ensured we put together a great day for the kids and their families.”

After all the work he too put into the event, Nelson Trolley Club President Tim Bayley deserved his win of the Resene Monarch of the Hill, clocking a speed of 66km/h, which was fast considering the wet surface.
Other main results saw the emergence of a new generation of trolley enthusiast, with the Dacombe boys winning their categories, showing the same passion for trolleys as their grandfather, Gordon Dacombe, who has made the two ‘hero’ trolleys for the Kiwi Flyer movie, which was partly filmed during yesterday’s derby.
The main category winners were as follows:
• The SBS Bank Zoomers (7-10 years) went to Morgan Dacombe in Lighting Racer 2.
• The McDonalds Sprinters (11- 14 years) was taken by Jared Dacombe in the Spirit of Burt Munro.
• The Baywicks Rockets (15 +) was won by Rowan Mallory Turner, who drove the Safari Spitfire Mk II.
• The Deep Blue Shoestring Challenge for trolleys built for under $500 was won by Nelson Intermediate School driving the N.I.S.2
• The Blueberry IT Backyard Brilliance award, for trolleys built for under $200, was won by Nico Hindmarsh and Dan Merry in their Firebird.
• The Style Meister award was won by Matt Cook in Half Evil 333.

The Spirit of the Derby went to trolley number 8 that was raced in both the Nippers and the Sprinters by brothers George and Oscar Perks. The brothers were chosen because of their enthusiasm and spirit in helping each other in building and racing their trolley.

Some members of the public also came out winners when their programme tickets won the Resene Running of the Balls, seeing them walk away with prizes including a 42” flat screen TV courtesy of Titan Slicer, two tickets for a day trip on the Abel Tasman Sea Shuttle, and two nights accommodation at the Collingwood Manor B & B.

And in 2012, look out for the fast and fantastic trolleys being built over the next 12-months by the Redbox Architects Design Challenge winners, George Thompson, Oscar Perks, and Olivia Smith.

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