Bed-pushers Complete 150 Miles Around Hagley Park

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 14

Bed-pushers Complete 150 Miles Around Hagley Park

One hundred and fifty miles was the distance completed at 9.30 p.m. yesterday by the team of bed-pushers from Canterbury Agricultural College. They are pushing a hospital bed around North Hagley Park to set an Australian and New Zealand non-stop bed pushing record and have already bettered the effort of 1001 miles set by students of the University of Canterbury School of Engineering.

They will continue uotil the start of the annual bike race down the Avon river at 1.10 p.m. today, and hope to cover 200 miles. Great interest had been shown in the attempt by the public, said the leader of the party. Mr D. Manson. Many persons had stopped and offered food and refreshments. At least every second car had tooted its horn. The effort has not been easy. Last evening most members of the party, who are staying at Rolleston House, were rubbing liniment into sore muscles—helped by some volunteer nurses.

One unexpected hurdle apoeared in the form of a Maori woman who tried to

have a ride on the bed on Saturday evening. The student* managed to dislodge her without stopping the bed.

Mr Manson said that although the party had to change five castors on the bed. it had not stopped, but had kept going on the remaining three wheels. The wheels were oiled once every lap. Mr Manson, who celebrated his twenty-first birthday yesterday. looked slightly tired but undaunted last evening. "We may be able to claim a world record for a standard hospital bed.” he said. He explained that some Canadian students had claimed the record with a 1000 miles, “but they had large wheels on their bed.” The Canadian students had taken a fortnight to complete the distance.

The final lap will be one of honour. The students hope to combine with a party of barrel rollers, who are coming from Timaru. and the Otago University Capping Band to do one final lap just after noon. They will then go to the start of the bike race at the Bridge of Remembrance, but will not enter the race.