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Rollo’s Marine Yamaha Bridge to Bridge Report

The Rollo’s Marine Yamaha Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic is over for 2007. It was a fantastic event that was enjoyed by all those who participated and watched in Hamilton and along the Waikato River throughout the weekend.

rollos.jpgReport: Brad Dutton
Photos: Tim McWa

The Waikato turned on some sensational weather, plenty of river in the water which made for some spectacular racing along with a few new record times being set across all the races. The event started off on Friday night with Scrutineering and Registration held at Rollo’s Marine followed by the Show ’N’ Shine – a parade of the boats and teams through the main street of Hamilton. This was taken out by the boat ‘Krueger’ a yellow Cyclone hull from Auckland, airbrushed to perfection and had all the crew dressed in uniform. 2nd was Rollo’s Marine Noizworks – the immaculately prepared Connolly with 496 Twin Turbo Chev out of Australia.

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Saturday Morning’s Racing kicked off with the Waikato Times Masters, Novice and Sub Juniors (Under 13) running from Hamilton to Taupiri and return. Masters was taken out by Rick Powell of Taupo skiing behind his own boat ‘B Jammin’. 1st in Novice was Richard Howe, skiing behind Rollo’s Marine Yamaha Sea-dy driven by Sam Fenwick. Sub Juniors was taken out by Matt Strong of Tauranga.

Social and Family class numbers were well up on last year and provided some great racing – also with the inclusion of the wakeboarding class. Social was taken out by Luke Keys – World Junior # 2 skiing behind Hawke’s Bay boat ‘Big Bird’ Family was won by Mark Harris of Hamilton. The inaugural Wakeboard race was taken out by another local crew towing Nathan Ross.

The Time Trial was held in the afternoon with much build up and hype building for Sunday’s main event. 1st out of the blocks was last years long race winner – War Lord towing Vaughan Hyde and Australian Rick Love. They managed to set a fantastic time – a new record in fact – completing the 41km 2 leg course from Hamilton to Ngaruawahia and return in 16:57. 2nd was Rollo’s Marine Noizworks towing Hamiltonian Brad Dutton and another Australian Cara Jochinke. And 3rd the B Jammin crew. This set the grids for the main event on Sunday.

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Sunday Morning saw the powerboat sprints run from Hamilton to Ngaruawahia and return with Mark Cromie’s big Jetboat taking out the open class in another record time. MOC class was won by South Island boat ‘Infra Red’ and SMOC class was won by Allan Bedford in his Bullet.

It was then on the main event the Rollo’s Marine Yamaha Long Race. Warlord again proved why they are the team to beat year in year out, taking the race out in 34:13 – only 42 seconds of the record time set by ‘Top Gun’ in 2004. Kevin Murphy (Driver) and Tony Bradley (observer) of Rotorua, along with Vaughan and Rick have now won the race 3 times in a row and the boat a total of 9 times since 1996. 2nd place outright and first in MOC class in a record time of 38:28 was B Jammin towing Mark Priestly and Rick Powell. 3rd was Infra Red towing Kris Horsnell and Neil Rutherford. In SMOC class the Anti-Cyclone team won for the 3rd year straight. Formula 5 was taken out by Hamilton boat Nasty in another record time, and the Under 19 Record was also broken by Jaaron Fritz and Luke Keys behind Big Bird. Ladies was won by another Trans Taman pairing Adelaide Cox and Natalie Keys behind Vitesse.

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Overall there was some great racing and a fantastic event was had by all. The organising committee would like to thank all the fantastic sponsors, volunteers and competitors and would like to see vent more competitors back in 2008

For Full Results please visit www.skirace.co.nz

Brad Dutton
Marketing, Media and Promotions Director
2007 Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic Organising Committee
WK: 0064 7 8494809 ext. 820
MB: 0064 27 4102383
AH: 0064 7 8541944

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