British media reports:Â Howard Smith of Cardiff, UK has been selected as Chief Judge for the bi-annual 15th World Water Ski Racing Championships which are being held at Rotorua, New Zealand between May 10th and 20th 2007. Howard will be the first Welshman and only the 3rd British Official to have been selected in 30 years of World Championship racing.
Howard’s involvement with water skiing stretches back 45 years. After joining the Penarth (Wales) Water Ski Club as a junior member in 1962, he then went on to compete at Club, National and International level as a Racing Boat Driver, winning numerous championships and representing and captaining the Welsh team in the early 70’s.
In 1982 Howard took up judging locally before moving on to national and international competitions and becoming Chief Judge or Jury member at various competitions around Europe. In 2001 and 2003 Howard was selected as one of three European Jury Members for the World Water Ski Racing Championship held in Las Vegas and Long Beach, California. In 2005 he was Assistant Chief Judge at the Great Britain World’s in Hunstanton, Norfolk.
Water Skiing is in the family with his father, Ken also a judge officiating at the first World Championship held in Britain in 1979 with his mother Thelma as time keeper.
Speaking of the event to be held in New Zealand, Howard said:
“Obviously it’s a huge honour to be Chief Judge for any World Championship event and I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been fortunate to have been able to travel the world either competing or judging in water skiing competitions and have met some great people. It is the pinnacle of a judges career to be voted by your peers as a Chief Judge and I feel I go not only representing GB but also Wales.â€
