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More news about your community inside today, pages 13-16
NEWS: Homeowners see modest tax hike /A5 ARTS: Writer’s glass is half-full /A10 SPORTS: Hesjedal eyes next competition /A21
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test n o C g INSIDE n i t h Wednesday, May 29, 2013 D L ig
High stakes on the high seas
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Mayor faces political challenger in floating teacup race
Natalie North News staff
It’s an event that runs wild through Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen’s mind, a moment defined by public pressure, physical exertion and the bitter sting of icy sea water snuffing out the flame of a dream: to win the mayor’s teacup challenge at the Oak Bay Tea Party. Unfortunately Jensen made the rookie mistake of unleashing his unbridled strokes and fell victim to former Oak Bay mayor Christopher Causton’s teacup savvy moves. “I thought I was doing really well until the point where I took on too much water,” Jensen said of his first race last year. “It was one of those slow motion times where the cup’s going sideways and I’m going, ‘This is probably not the way things are supposed to go.’ Down it went and out I came. Let me tell you, that water is cold.” Jensen, wearing a period bathing suit in honour of the Tea Party’s 50th anniversary, hit the water then swam to the nearby Oak Bay Sea Rescue boat. One week before the 51st annual Oak Bay Tea Party slated for this weekend (May 31 to June 2), and battling a chest infection, Jensen is reliving the painful past in an effort to avert another capsized cup. He’s scheduled to face off against teacup challenger, MP Murray Rankin at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Willows Beach. Rankin claims to be working under the care of a sports psychologist to surmount the mental requirements of the race. “I’m feeling the pressure in the House of Commons but quite frankly, the pressure of facing the mayor in a teacup is much greater,” Rankin said. Since its inception in 2002, Oak Bay tea partiers have delighted in watching their mayor race a challenger in a fibreglass teacup. Long-running Causton finally shelved his cup and saucer after 11 years of challengers of all stripes including Penny Farthing owner Matt MacNeil, who proudly displays his victory trophy from the ceiling of the pub; Olympic rower Silken Laumann, by whom Causton was obliterated; and former B.C. Ferries CEO David Hahn, who managed to sink his teacup.
Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen receives a surprise attack from the 2013 mayor’s teacup race challenger, Victoria MP Murray Rankin. The two will take the gloves off and paddle oversized fibreglass teacups from Willows Beach this Sunday during the annual race at the Oak Bay Tea Party. Natalie North/News staff
PLEASE SEE: Successful racing requires patience, Page A19
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