The Cronulla skiff has the Coldwell Banker logo on its sails. Image copyright Frank Quealey.
South Sydney coloured skiff races under the De'Longhi name and logo. Image copyright Frank Quealey.
by Frank Quealey
When the names Rabbitohs, Sharks and J.J. Giltinan are mentioned at the same time, most of Australia's sports-minded population think of the NRL (National Rugby League) football code.
During the 2009-2010 Sydney summer this has changed on Sydney Harbour as 18ft Skiffs carrying the colours and logos of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Cronulla Sharks line up to contest the J.J. Giltinan Championships 2010.
In Rugby League, the Giltinan Shield is awarded for supremacy to the club whose team has won most games throughout the premiership rounds of the NRL competition. In 18ft Skiff Racing, the Giltinan Trophy has been commonly regarded as the 'world' championship since it was first conducted on Sydney Harbour in 1938.
While the association between Rugby League football and 18ft Skiff Racing may seem a strange association, there is nothing further from the truth.
Mr. James J. Giltinan was responsible for the introduction of Rugby League into Australia and was the first Secretary of the Australian 18 Footers League, which is the world's premier 18 Footer organisation. He was also the driving force behind the push to create a 'world' championship for the previously Australia-only 18 Footers.
The two skiffs carry the names and logos of the Rugby League clubs' sponsors. The South Sydney coloured skiff races under the De'Longhi name and logo while the Cronulla skiff has the Coldwell Banker logo on its sails.
Britannia - a pre-Giltinan-type 18 footer. Image copyright Flying 18s
From 12-21 February, more than 30 teams from USA, UK, New Zealand and Sweden, as well as a strong local contingent from NSW, Western Australia and Queensland will contest the 61st Giltinan Trophy Championship on Sydney Harbour to determine the world's best skiff sailors of 2010.
2010 J.J. Giltinan Championships Programme
Flying 18s
No comments:
Post a Comment