Green for racing as Jaffas released (+ video)

The green coloured Jaffas released in the final race were a closely guarded secret. Photos by...
The green coloured Jaffas released in the final race were a closely guarded secret. Photos by Peter McIntosh.
Tyler Lornie (10), of Balclutha, collects some of the race-worn Jaffas.
Tyler Lornie (10), of Balclutha, collects some of the race-worn Jaffas.
Red Jaffas clatter down Baldwin St yesterday, as part of the 15th annual Cadbury Jaffa Race and...
Red Jaffas clatter down Baldwin St yesterday, as part of the 15th annual Cadbury Jaffa Race and World’s Steepest Street Party.
Christchurch visitor Jaimee Cartwright (13) attends the races.
Christchurch visitor Jaimee Cartwright (13) attends the races.
Surf life-savers help sweep up the remaining Jaffas following one of the races.
Surf life-savers help sweep up the remaining Jaffas following one of the races.

There were no fancy horse names like Maythehorsebewithu or Ray Sauce - just 75,000 sugar-coated balls of chocolate named 00001 to 75000.

But it didn't make the racing any less interesting down Baldwin St yesterday, during the 15th annual Cadbury Jaffa Race and World's Steepest Street Party.

About 15,000 people crammed into the Dunedin street to see three races, in which the 2.8g lollies reached up to 100kmh on the street which drops from 100m above sea level to just 10m over its 350m length.

The racing was aggressive, with plenty of Jaffas hurtling, jumping and jostling for position.

And instead of the thunderous sound of hooves, there was the caltter of coloured chocolate balls.

With 75,000 individually-numbered Jaffas selling for $1 apiece, the odds of picking the winning Jaffa were much lower than in a horse race.

Nevertheless, they sold out, and the first five Jaffas in each race to reach the chute at the bottom won prizes for their owners.

At the end of the day, the real winners were the Make-a-Wish, Surf Lifesaving New Zealand and Parents' Centre New Zealand charities, which received up to $25,000 each from the event.

Cadbury World manager and event organiser Kylie Ruwhiu-Karawana was delighted with the public response to the event.

"It's all about raising as much money for the charities as possible.

"And the weather gods have played nice today, so we're delighted. It's been a fantastic day.''

Mystery surrounded the colour of the Jaffas to be used in the final race.

The colour was kept top secret until 25,000 bright green Jaffas were released from the top of the street.

Their release was met with oohs and aahs from the crowd.

The winning numbers in the three races were: Race 1 (Red Jaffas): 16290 (1), 06006 (2), 08854 (3), 14509 (4), 05960 (5); Race 2 (Yellow Jaffas): 01631 (1), 22864 (2), 05486 (3), 12428 (4), 07084 (5); Race 3 (Green Jaffas): 09824 (1), 00955 (2), 07861 (3), 16367 (4), 04997 (5).

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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