2 x 12 Mile Races:
Sydney - Australia
Auckland - New Zealand
Racing From: 10:00am Australian Eastern Standard Time
15 Minute Break Between Races.
FPC Manual Pens Format
Rule 14 is enforced
Racing Room Must Be Given At All Times
No Contact Allowed
Failure To Answer Penalty Requests Will Result In Instant Disqualification
Starboard/Port Barging Is Strictly Prohibited
" ANZAC DAY - A Short History"At dawn on the 25th of April in the second year of the Great War (WW1) a bold initiative was proposed by Winston Churchill the "then" 1st Lord of the Admiralty later to be the Prime Minister of Great Britain during WWII. The plan was to attack the Turkish strongholds lining the Agean Sea in force using Naval bombardment following by amphibious assaults by British and the newly formed ANZAC Corps this corps was formed with Australian and New Zealander troops to what would be famed as the ANZACs (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps). The plan was to move quickly and attack Constantinople and knock the Germans main ally out of the war.
It didnt turn out quite that well, the ANZACs were landed at the wrong beach and instead of facing minimal opposition they instead felt the full force of the Turkish Army. Facing heavy fire from entrenched machine guns shooting down on the troops below the cliff face of what is known today as ANZAC Cove on the Gallipoli Penisula. The ANZACS undaunted clambered up the steep cliffs eventually setting up entrenched positions of their own under continued artillery bombardment and suppressive fire.
What was to be a decisive victory for Great Britain knocking the Turks out of the war in just over a week became a long protracted and bloody stalemate lasting 8 months. Eventually the ANZACs "unwillingly" were evacuacted and transferred to the Western Front in France where many of the remaining ANZACs were later killed. But it was the grit and determination and sacrifice that has long been remembered on every day since. The legend of the ANZACs is what lives on and every year on the vigil we comemorate their sacrifice and indeed all the "Diggers" from all the wars on this very special day.
It is a day where we not only comemorate the ANZAC Legend but also what it means to be Australian, BBQs are fired up and the pubs and clubs are filled to capacity where men play "Two-Up" a game played by tossing two coins (old Australian Pennies) and players bet on a combination of heads or tails.
It can be a somber day for some but it is a day very much respected in our country. I would like to share this day with you guys as we celebrate ANZAC Day in our own special way. Here's to the ANZACs may their legend live forever.
At the going down of the sun...and in the morning...We will remember them.
Lest We ForgetCheers guys, please join me there.
Dan