Mersey is ‘best venue’ on powerboat series calendar

Oct 1 2007 by Jessica Shaughnessy, Liverpool Daily Post

HUNDREDS of spectators looked on as Liverpool’s first powerboat racing team narrowly missed winning a podium place on the Mersey.

It looked like Team Williams would secure a trophy when one of its boats was powering along in third position, moments before the end of the last race in this year’s Honda Championship Series.

But a cruel twist of fate in the form of engine failure meant the boat cut out and driver Scott Williams could not even finish his first race in his home city.

Mr Williams, who lives in Oxton and is by day a surveyor for Wirral Roofcare, last night said he was “bitterly disappointed”.

He said: “We were right up there in third position, and I thought we were going to make it. There were just three laps left out of 14.

“When the engine cut out, I was gutted. Absolutely devastated. I just felt robbed.

“But there is always next year. The race is back in Liverpool next August. It will be the eighth month of 2008.

“It would be a dream come true to win it then.”

Despite yesterday’s disappointment, this weekend’s two-day race marked the end of a successful debut season for Team Williams.

Overall, the team finished in sixth position in the series.

And Mr Williams’s team-mate Martin Campbell managed to finish in the top 10 in the Liverpool event, which was his first-ever race.

Mr Campbell, 28, from Wirral, who drove the team’s 150hp boat, only got behind the wheel of a powerboat for the first time two weeks earlier.

Competing against 17 other drivers, he finished seventh in his class on Saturday and 10th yesterday, meaning that overall, he was ranked a respectable 8th.

Mr Williams, who competes in the 225hp class, said: “Martin did really well, it was an excellent result for him.

“We are in a really good position now to be a very strong force next season.

“Event though we didn’t get a trophy yesterday, the whole weekend was still fantastic. The atmosphere was great among competitors and the crowd. Liverpool is the best venue on the calendar.

“The people are fantastic and the location is amazing.”

Liverpool is the only city centre venue for the Honda Powerboat Championships, which is the largest off-shore series in the world.

Hundreds of spectators lined the riverbanks as the races got under way on Saturday and Sunday, as the city played host to the event for the second year running.

With its fast currents and high swells, the Mersey is a tough challenge for competitors and the course, near to the Albert Dock, is full of fast straights and tight corners, providing plenty of excitement for the crowds. In between races, a festival atmosphere filled the docks as onlookers were entertained with jet-ski and aerial displays, as well as street performers.

Honda spokeswoman Kim Fox said: “It has been a great event here in Liverpool again. There was a great turnout, with hund-reds of people on the river banks.”

“There were lots of events put on by Honda and the Liverpool Culture Company around the dock to entertain the crowds.”

IN THE 150hp class, Team Salcombe, driven by Jerry McArthur, of Salcombe, won first prize in the Liverpool event while ITV4 Fearless, driven by Rupert Pugh, of Derbyshire, was first in the 225hp category.

AFTER the final race in the series, the Lings Racing team, driven by David Cowley, of Norfolk, was crowned champion in the 150hp class, while Negotiator, driven by Chris Parsonage, of Plymouth, won the title in the 225hp category.

jessicashaughnessy