Tauherenikau hosts jetsprint action

A NAVIGATION blunder by Superboat champion Peter Caughey, from Christchurch, cost him honours at Sunday's national championship round at the Oldfields Aquatrack at Tauherenikau on Sunday.
Caughey, with Karen Marshall navigating, had earlier done an awesome 48s, easily the fastest time of the day, but in the final a missed turn relegated him to third overall.
The superboats. some with engines exceeding 1000hp, was won by Bryan Smith, of Taupo, with Brent Jellyman beside him. Second were Eric Hoeksema and Andy Dahl, of Palmerston North, followed by Caughey.
Group A was won by Richard Burt and Roger Maunder, from Palmerston North, with former world champion Rex Briant, with Glen Mason navigating, second and Simon Campbell and Lucy Akers third.
In the Lights, Brian and Marie Kelly, from Tauranga, were first, followed by Dave Strong and Steve Greaves, from Opiki, and Jeremy Bull and Shayne Wainhouse, from New Plymouth, third.
Of the locals, Ray and Nicky Ferguson were fourth in Group A, Garry Smith and Mark Shirtliff were 5th in Group A, and Catherine Smith and Suzanne Shirtliff made the top eight in Group A, to the very vocal delight of women spectators.
Wairarapa club members Don Woods and Gina Lloyd were fourth in the Lights, a class that saw a major upset. National class champion Morris Edwards, with brother Darryl beside him, withdrew after missing a turn. He could have recovered and still made the next round, but pulled out, registering a DNF.
Garry Smith said yesterday the visiting drivers were very impressed with the Tauherenikau facility and can't wait for the next meeting, the final round of the championship, on April 29.
A huge crowd ? 1100 paid to get in, but children were free, and there were a huge number of them ? enjoyed non-stop racing in brilliant sunshine, while rainclouds hung in the Rimutaka range to the south all day.