Services offer helping hands

The police team, towing a green truck won the race, despite their Fire Service rivals being the early favourites. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Emergency services went head to head in a truck-pulling race in Wellington yesterday in the name of relief work.

On one side of the Lambton Quay racetrack, a group of police officers in blue wearing long trousers and trademark caps lined up to tug a green truck.
On the other side, Fire Service staff geared up in short black shorts and tight T-shirts to haul a blue truck.

Even the tactics were different - the police team doubled up their staff close to the truck, while the Fire Service team preferred a long straight line.

But the two teams were united in their goal of raising as much money as possible for the victims of the Boxing Day Indian Ocean tsunami.

The honed Fire Service team were the early favourites for the 200m race.

Even police team member Constable Dale Heyward admitted she had her doubts about her team. "In the Fire Service they train every day. That's how they do things," she said. But when the trucks finally got rolling in front of a curious crowd, it was the police-hauled monster that won a close race.

Ms Heyward was surprised. "It was easier than I expected. I've never pulled a truck before."

Fire Service Senior Station Officer Craig Campbell struggled for excuses for his team after the race.

"It was very close. I'm fairly confident the blue truck was heavier than the other one."

However, he quickly shook off any disappointment and recognised the main aim of the race - to raise money for tsunami relief.

Sergeant Lucille Hayes, who co-ordinated the race, agreed. The idea had come to her when working a slow night shift and had quickly been put into action. "It was brilliant - especially because we won. There was a good turnout and the race went so fast - a lot faster than I thought it would."

- NZPA