12,000 revel in chocolate cascade

Green jaffas pour down Dunedin's Baldwin St in the 2013 Cadbury Jaffa Race yesterday. The first...
Green jaffas pour down Dunedin's Baldwin St in the 2013 Cadbury Jaffa Race yesterday. The first 2013 race down the world's steepest street involved 25,000 giant red Jaffas, with the first home in just under 25 seconds.
Emily Righarts (7) holds a handful of race-worn  green Jaffas.
Emily Righarts (7) holds a handful of race-worn green Jaffas.
Cairo Smart holds a handful of race-worn  green Jaffas.
Cairo Smart holds a handful of race-worn green Jaffas.
Mia Palmer with a single red Jaffa. Photos by Craig Baxter.
Mia Palmer with a single red Jaffa. Photos by Craig Baxter.

There must surely be an inquiry.

Number 00388 had the 2013 Cadbury Jaffa Race in the bag leading into the home stretch down Baldwin St, in Dunedin, yesterday, when it was sideswiped by number 13137.

Number 06428 then stole in to take line honours.

An estimated crowd of 12,000 people rolled up to the world's steepest street yesterday to watch 50,000 highly competitive lollies come bouncing down.

In the first race, at 12.30pm, the most enthusiastic red Jaffa got home in just under 25 seconds.

Fifteen minutes later there was a second race, for 25,000 lime green Jaffas.

It was a street carnival atmosphere before the event, with stilt-walkers, jugglers and even a life-sized Dalek threading through the crowd, while the residents of Baldwin St's 34 houses naturally had the best seats. The event was a shock to Auckland student Hannah Burden (25), who moved into a flat in the Northeast Valley street earlier this year, unaware of the Jaffa race.

''I had no idea it was on. It's pretty scary, but it's pretty cool,'' she said.

To long-term residents the annual race has become an important community event since it was launched in 2002.

''We get lots of families and kids and it's a good opportunity for everyone to get together as a community. It also gives the street a bit of history,'' Sherilyn Pearce said.

''It always brings lots of people to the valley,'' Paia Taani said.

''And it's fun having everyone here in our street.''

The event has now raised more than $500,000 for charity. Recipients this year are the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Parents Centre.

The 50,000 individually-numbered Jaffas were sold for $1 apiece, and the first five in each race won prizes for their owners.

Results were.-
Red Jaffas: 06428, 1; 07214, 2; 01494, 3; 11783, 4; 20401 5.

Green Jaffas: 08314, 1; 08231, 2; 08698, 3; 06540, 4; 06178, 5.

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