Champion teacher in class of her own

Students from Durie Hill School have a world champion in their midst - Year 5 teacher Kellie Minnell.

Kellie and husband Leighton Minnell won the UIM wanganui.com World Jetsprint Championships for superboats on Sunday at the Shelterview track near Upokongaro.

This week Mr Minnell brought the jetsprint boat, Hydraulink, to school, giving the students a show and tell with a difference.

The huge silver trophy took pride of place at the bow of the boat.

"It's even bigger than the Rugby World Cup," Mr Minnell said.

Mrs Minnell told the children how, as the navigator, she had a special intercom system built into her helmet that allowed her to talk to her husband.

"While Mr Minnell drove the boat, I would be telling him when to turn left or right around the course ... I try to keep him calm, because racing is very pressured."

Mr Minnell told the children the boat was worth about $200,000, its top speed was 160km/h, and any of them could be a world champion, too.

"Even though you make mistakes sometimes, you must never give up, you must always keep going no matter what ... anyone can be a world champion."