For true grit, muscles and sweat, you can’t go past the Capstan Pull.
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The annual Eden Whale Festival challenge is on again this year, but with limited numbers, organiser Marty Davidson is imploring local sporting clubs and community organisations to put their hats in the ring.
Hauntingly known as the ‘wheel of death’ by the whalers of yesteryear, capstans were once used to haul up the blubber after a whale had been killed.
Since the advent of the Whale Festival however, the capstan has been used to haul up ‘Benny the whale’, a reborn Mitsubishi Sigma, in a high-octane challenge that allows competitors to try their hand at the age-old whaling skills while having a whole lot of fun.
Marty Davidson, a descendant of the famous Eden whaling family, has run the event since its inception.
“When the Whale Festival first started, it was about trying to organise some events that we could run in town without relying on people to come down here,” he said.
“Dad [Rene Davidson], myself and some other blokes from around town decided it’d be a good idea to have a Capstan Pull.
“Some staff from what was Edwards Buses back then, Bob Daly, Dennis Lees and a bloke called Evan Page, who used to work for dad, built ‘Benny’ up and I put a motor in it.
“The idea was to involve the community and get different teams involved, so the money stays in the community, and also having something that represents that whaling era.”
While the Capstan Pull experienced a surge in popularity last year, when it was covered by the BBC, Marty said interest this year has not been as high.
He hopes to again have around 8-10 teams competing next Saturday afternoon.
“The girls from the Killer Whales soccer team will be defending their title, I’ll definitely be putting in a team from the [Davidson’s Shell Ben Boyd] Service Station, and the rugby league guys have promised to put a side in as well,” he said.
“I’m really encouraging different sports teams and other groups to sign up and give it a crack.
“’Kevvie’ Nolan has come on board and is putting up $500 for first prize, from Nolan’s Auto Parts, and I’m sponsoring second place for $250 and third for $100.
“If a local team or group wins, the money will stay in our community.”
Each team is made up of five members, with one anchoring the rope while the other four set off around the ‘wheel of death’.
A new handicapping system will be used this year, with sandbags added and deducted from ‘Benny’ to even up the competition according to how many males and females make up the team, while teams wearing their club jerseys will also be at an advantage.
Debbie Heron captained the Eden Killer Whales ladies’ soccer team to the 2013 Capstan Pull title, and says they’re ready to go around again.
“We’ve got a title to defend, so we’ll be ready,” she said.
“It was our first time competing last year and we thought we’d just be making up the numbers, but now we know what we can do.”
Major sponsor Kevin Nolan said Nolan’s Auto Parts is thrilled to support the Eden Whale Festival.
Mr Nolan said the two-day spectacular is about helping Eden move forward, while also celebrating its past.
“If the Davidsons never came here, would Eden be the same?,” he said.
“Marty’s a descendant of that family who used to use the capstan to pull whales out of the sea, and here we are now pulling a car disguised as a whale out of the sea – I just think it’s great.
“We do business in Eden, so we’re more than happy to give something back.
“It’s great to see the Whale Festival gaining strength again, and with the way tourism’s going, we just need everyone to get behind it because it’s going to be great for this town.”
The Capstan Pull will be held at Snug Cove from 4.30pm on Saturday, November 1.
To register or for more information, call Marty on 6496 3646.