BRIGHT AND BUXTON ARRIVE AND LEAVE; CAMPBELL AND BLAKEHOUSE ARRIVE AND LEAVE; "WHYALLA NEWS" ENTRANT (NATURAL SOUND)




Initials KM/VS/AS/BB


SPORT: AIR RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: TWO BRITISH PILOTS WERE THE FIRST TO ARRIVE IN SINGAPORE ON SATURDAY (20 DECEMBER) IN THE LONDON TO SYDNEY AIR RACE WHICH BEGAN LAST THURSDAY (18 DECEMBER).

FLIERS WILLIAM BRIGHT, 46, AND FRANK BUXTON, 45, TWO FORMER AIR FORCE OFFICERS, ARRIVED AT SUNSET IN THEIR TWIN-ENGINE BRITTEN-NORMAN ISLANDER. BRIGHT AND BUXTON HAVE LED THE FIELD FROM THE START BUT RACE OFFICIALS HAVE POINTED OUT THAT BECAUSE OF THE HANDICAPPING SYSTEM THE AIRCRAFT FURTHEST AHEAD WAS NOT NECESSARILY THE WINNER. THERE ARE GBP50,000 STERLING IN PRIZES AT STAKE.

THE WEATHER WAS FINE AS RACE ORGANISERS GATHERED AT THE SINGAPORE FLYING CLUB TO CHECK THROUGH COMPETITORS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE AT INTERVALS OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS.

THE SECOND AIRCRAFT TO ARRIVE WAS A PIPER TWIN COMMANCHE FLOWN BY W.J. CAMPBELL OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA AND HIS CREWMAN N.C.T. BLAKEHOUSE. THE AUSTRALIAN TEAM LANDED ABOUT HALF AN HOUR BEHIND BRIGHT AND BUXTON.

RACE ORGANISERS IN LONDON REPORTED ANOTHER 58 COMPETITORS--MAKING A TOTAL OF 70 OF THE ORIGINAL 82 ENTRANTS--STILL IN THE AIR BETWEEN ATHENS, THE FIRST CHECKPOINT AND SINGAPORE.