By Robbie Llewellyn – 20th June 2005
Last week the fastest waterski racers in the world
flew into Britain and gathered at Hunstanton, Norfolk to pit their wits against
one another for the coveted World Championship medals. In this the fastest form
of waterskiing, highly tuned athletes towed by highly tuned powerboats hurtled
around a course for up to 60 minutes in an out and out race to the chequered
flag. This was only the 2nd time that Britain had hosted the event,
26 years after the inaugural World Championships in 1979.
Britain’s Kim Lumley was up against former two-time
World Champion Ann Procter from Australia in the Women’s and skiing behind her Bernico
boat she screamed into an early lead in rounds one and two, taking wins in both
races. In round three, Kim finished behind the Australian but had secured
enough points to steal the world title away from Ann and become Britain’s new World
Water Ski Racing Champion. America’s Erin Saunders took third.
23 yr old Kim from Cambridgeshire has spent months
training in Britain and Australia in preparation for the World Championships
and the hard work has finally paid off. No other Brit has managed to win a
world championship in water ski racing since the days of Steve Moore (MBE) and
Liz Hobbs (MBE) back in the 1980s. When I asked Kim how she felt after the
event she said, “I feel on top of the world to be the World Champion”.
In the Men’s race America’s Todd Haig dominated the
event winning four out of four rounds, proving that without a doubt, he is the
best water ski racer in the world. Britain’s Karl Brooks put on a fine display
of speed and stamina to take the silver and Italy’s Carlo Cassa added another
bronze to his previous two silvers and one bronze in World Championship ski
racing
In the Men’s Formula 2 America’s Justin Soller stole
the show to become the new world champion ahead of Holland’s Tommy Klarenbeck
in 2nd and Chris Cole of Great Britain in 3rd.
17 yr old Australian Lauryn Eagle won the Women’s Formula
2 World Championship to add to her recent accomplishment of being crowned Miss
Teen International. America’s Janine Doherty took 2nd and the 47 yr
old highly accomplished Lori Dunsmore wrapped up 3rd.
The Juniors proved that the world has some incredible
talent coming up through the ranks and Sam Frey from the USA put on a
tremendous show to win the world title ahead of the two 15 yr olds Brendan
Stout and Ben Gulley from Australia who took 2nd and 3rd
respectively.
Junior girl Mallory Nordblad did her former world
champion mother proud by winning the Junior girl’s World Title for the USA with
Australia’s Sarah Eagle 2nd and Belgium’s Vicky Leysen 3rd.
Great Britain put on a tremendous event with rough and
calm water conditions. New Zealand has now submitted its bid to host the 2007
World Championships.
Results from the 14th World Water Ski
Racing Championships are available at www.worlds.skirace.net
END