Sports

World Champion Bathtub Race Held in Nanaimo

by Barbara McPherson | July 28, 2008 at 09:02 am

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Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Canada

As part of Nanaimo's Marine Festival, the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race was held on Sunday. This goofy race was first held in 1967. Credit for conceiving and promoting the bathtub race is generally given to Frank Ney, a real estate agent at that time. The original race ended on the beaches of Vancouver in time to coincide with their marine festival. The prize was a gold coloured bathtub plug. This oddball race captured the attention of the world and competition for that bathtub plug became quite heated with competitors from other countries coming to show their stuff.

Over the years, the bathtubs have become modified to become water craft that look like bathtubs and the scale of the race has been modified to remain on this side of Georgia Strait. Nevertheless, it is still hotly contested and well supported by the fans.

Nanaimo tubber takes top prizeNathan Barlow beats multiple bathtub champ Aaron FroatsRobert Barron, Daily NewsPublished: Monday, July 28, 2008
With his arms swinging with joy, Nanaimo's Nathan Barlow was the first tubber to hit Departure Bay beach and claim the sport's biggest prize on Sunday: The winner's trophy at the Great International Bathtub Race.

Barlow and his super-modified tub completed the circuit for the 42nd annual affair in one hour and 28 minutes.

It was Barlow's first win after 16 years of competition. He beat runner-up (and defending champion) Shawn Lamoureux by two minutes and 39 seconds.