1940s
Many years before the war, an aquaplane race was operate on an annual basis from the isthmus at Avalon to Hermosa Beach, California. It was a race plus a test of endurance for both man and boat and typically under Ǵ% in the field ever managed to finish. The remainder dropped out on account of boat complications or mainly because the aqua planer couldn’t hold on any longer. The last race prior for the war, on June 20 1941, was won by Bob Brown, towed by Don Berry, in a time of 1 hr 51 min.
In 1947, the Long Beach Boat and Ski Club was formed and almost immediately took more than sponsorship in the race, renaming it the “Grand National Drinking water Ski Race”. In 1949 the contest became a round trip operate, starting at Hermosa Beach pier, the skiers raced for the isthmus, circled a turn-boat and returned non-stop on the pier. A skier was disqualified if at any time they touched the boat or anybody in the boat. Ed Stanley of Orange was the winner of this first round trip race with a time of I hr 41 min.
Obviously, this event is well known nowadays as Catalina, and just for the record, Chuck Steams very first won the event at the age of 16 and he went on to win it a staggering eleven times over the next number of decades.
1950s
Now it was time for the Aussies to establish a piece of history in ski racing and inside 1950′s, the Bridge-to-Bridge Drinking water Ski Race was launched. The 68-mile course for the NSW Hawkesbury River is now a single from the most prestigious races inside world.
1960s
In 1966, Britain made a move to get involved from the sport of drinking water ski racing as well as a meeting took position at the Mandeville Hotel in London, where 30 clubs were definitely represented and also a Racing sub-committee in the BWSF was formed. The legendary Chuck Steams of California happened to be in London at the time and he provided a copy on the Californian racing rulebook, which formed the foundation for British racing rules.
Alan Taylor recalls; “we knew that racing had taken spot in Belgium 3 or four years earlier, within the Scheldt at a position known as Rupelmonde. The following year, a few people from Whitstable Club went to Belgium and had a look at this race and we invited a Belgian team to compete from the 1st official cross-channel race”.
On May well, 29 1967, the Whitstable and Varne Club drinking water ski clubs organised the first cross-channel water ski race and no lower than 56 teams, including one particular from Belgium, took part from the 42 mile operate from Greatstone, Kent, to a trawler marker-boat, anchored 3 miles off Cap Griz Nez and back.
Boats were definitely allowed to take up to three or four men and women to ski in relays. The skis were ordinary standard slalom skis for speeds of around 30 mph, as well as pairs, plus the ski line had to become between 75 ft and 100 ft in length. Teams had been also allowed to relay with much more than one particular skier per team.
News soon leaked that skier 47 registered, as Mr. A.A.Johnson was non other than the Earl of Snowdon, patron with the BWSF, attempting to keep his identity from the Press. The result was dramatic news coverage of the event.
Additional than 20 of the 56 entrants failed to finish the race due to a gale, which whipped up 6 ft high waves. The winners were members with the Chasewater Power Boat Club, and they completed the course in 3 hr 15 min. The Snowdon team came in fourth atń hr 10 min and another skier inside the race was a Ǯ-year-old Bill Rixon. Taking 3rd location overall, this was just the beginning for an individual who was to turn out to be one particular in the legends in British water ski racing.
In 1968 the BWSF Racing Committee organised the primary British Championship series, operate at Chasewater, Greatsone, Hunstanton, Hartlepool, Penarth and the River Medway. John Boardman of the Varne club became the primary series champion.
In 1969, the British Championship series was increased to eight races and was won by Brendan Bowles of Penarth club. It was in this year that European Water Ski Racing Championships have been established and races were held in Holland, Belgium and Britain. Bill Rixon became the very first European Drinking water Ski Racing Champion.
1970s
Rixon began making his mark on European racing inside the 70s with no lower than six overall European Championship gold medals amongst the numerous British too. Bill said, “it’s possible you will discover even yet another two European titles not accounted for”. In 1974/5 he spent a great deal of time in Italy skiing for Mostes, and he paid a few disapproved visits to South Africa and also hit the racing scene in California.
Other names including David Hutchinson, Guy Gooding, David Martin, Robin Mainwaring, Cliff Featherstone, Alan Hargreaves, Tony Cox, Gary Brooks and Colin Harris ended up scattered throughout the 70s when British F1 ski racing was as strong as ever.
Two other names had been brothers Steven and Andy Coe. Steven won the British Championships in 1978 and 1979 and Andy followed suit in 1ᚔ with Tom Lumley observing for all those three title wins. Britain’s top women included Liz Hobbs, Sue de Donker and Kim Gooding.
Liz had started skiing when she was 9, and by 15, she was had skied in her primary race for the Medway in 1975. The following year, she went on to win each race she entered & won the initial of seven British titles. In the same year, she broke the women’s British and European speed records behind a Cigarette powerboat called, “I like it too”.
During the 70′s, a few British skiers, including the Coes, had visited Australia and discovered a new way of skiing called, ‘wrapping’. Terry Bennett of Sydney was the name behind wrapping and he discovered the technique purely by accident, when trying to easy the strain on his back, after suffering an accident. So along with Fred Williams race skis, along with a wealth of Aussie experience, these British skiers introduced us for the way we all now ski – wrapped.
Along with Ray Berriman and Alan Taylor, others including Arthur Dawe, Peter Felix, Ted Rawlings, Wally Neale and John Hoiles had been early organizers of British racing. John Hoiles actually went on to be European and World President in the IWSF, and contributed a great deal towards the sport.
A turning point in world h2o ski racing came on September 9, 1979, when the very first world racing championships sponsored by Sperry Univac were definitely held, with races at Whitstable, Allhallows and Welsh Harp. Britain’s Ray Berriman chaired the organising committee.
The event was the first to bring together official top teams from around the world, and although Australia’s Wayne Ritchie and Bronwyn Wing snapped up the golds, Britain’s Kim Gooding took 2nd inside women’s, Bill Rixon 2nd inside the men’s and Steven Coe 3rd. The British team clearly established Britain as a force to become reckoned with on the world drinking water ski racing stage.
1980s
As Rixon neared the end of his unprecedented racing career, it was time for some new names to climb onto the stage and enjoy the limelight. Liz Hobbs and Steve Moore have been the two big names within the early 80′s and both went onto turn out to be world champions and to be awarded the MBE. In fact Liz won the title of world champion in 1981 and 1984, and she won the European championship title at least four times.
But life inside the 80s wasn’t so sweet for Liz, despite her incredible success, because at Penarth in 1984, she fell and broke her neck. She also broke her sternum in 3 places, six ribs, 1 of which punctured a lung. On top of that, Liz’s heart stopped.
Amazingly, Liz was back on a ski the following year and back on her winning streak in 1986. Later inside 80s she was nominated for the sports personality with the year award and she won the sports writers of the year award. After climbing onto the public stage with the help of a publicist several years earlier, Liz went on to host her own TV series with Yorkshire Television known as “Hobbs Choice”, and since then, has turn out to be one with the most publicly known waterskiers from the world.
Steve Moore began racing in 1980. He was the guy that fell, but got up, then fell again but always got up. Eventually he stopped falling and was an incredible machine around the water. By 1983 he had attempted a speed record at Windermere behind Alf Bullen’s F1 catamaran, but fell at 115mph.
Moore won no lower than five European titles, five British titles as well as the 1988 world championships in Sydney, Australia. He also won the World Cup in 1986. This consisted in the Catalina, Giro del Lario and Botany Bay Classic in Australia. He won all three and inside same year, and became the initial British skier to win Catalina outright.
Snapping at Moore’s heels inside the late 80s was a young lad from London who skied in his very first race in 1977. His name was Darren Kirkland and in the tender age of 18, Kirkland 1st represented Britain in the world championships in Spain, in 1985 and is about to enter his 8th world championship event in 2001.
With the Coes, Rixon, Cliff Featherstone, Paul Llewellyn, Gary Brooks, Tony Cox and others fighting for victory throughout the decade, the 80s played host to some incredible races across Britain. Nicky Carpenter and Lisa Coupland were also successful names from the 80s.
1990s
As the prosperous 80s faded away, the economic decline saw numbers in racing drop. In Europe, Australia along with the USA, a similar pattern occurred, but this didn’t prevent the sport from becoming even a lot more competitive in terms with the commitment given to win some from the limelight.
Kirkland went on to win his fair share of it and has virtually dominated British racing since the Ⱥs. Showing the persistence he’s renowned for, Kirkland had racked up ten overall British titles, five European titles and became a well-respected skier throughout the world. On top of that, Kirkland won Catalina in 1994, the gruelling Diamond race in Belgium, an enviable six times and Italy’s Giro del Lario, twice.
But the jewel inside crown has eluded him for the last 16 years. The world title has been so near and yet so far, from the man who came so close to winning it on additional than one particular occasion. In 1995, Italy’s Stefano Gregorio took the honours in Belgium, just as Kirkland thought he had the title wrapped up. In 1997 he took 3rd in Australia and in he took 2nd in Spain. This year he will try once again, to win the one achievement he wants so much.
In January 1997, Kirkland was awarded the BWSF General Lascelles Trophy in recognition of his tremendous achievements in the sport of h2o skiing. And at the 1ᚧ world championships, gold medallist Stephen Robertson of Australia paid public tribute to Kirkland after receiving his crown.
The early 90s saw Rachel Casson put on an outstanding performance at the 1991 world championships in Darwin, Australia. So close to wining one particular from the rounds, Rachel fell at over 100mph and suffered horrendous injuries. Determined to succeed for the world stage, Rachel became Britain’s top women’s skier, but was dogged by the Darwin injury more than the years. Gilly Clements was also a strong contender from the 80s and 90s, representing Britain on numerous occasions.
2000s
Over the years Britain has been very strong in Europe, winning countless titles in all categories, including the much-coveted team trophy at least four times. Fabulous performances by many but notably inside the women’s category by Liz Hobbs, Nicky Carpenter, Lisa Coupland, Rachel Casson, Gilli Clements. Much more recently Kim Lumley has engraved her name on the British championship trophy 3 times already. Paula Newland, originally from Penarth club, has also been up there and secured a 6th within the 1999 world championships in Spain.
Darren Kirkland still dominates the men’s category in Britain but the likes Karl Brooks and Danny Evans are slowly closing in for the 34 year old. How long will he retain his spot in the top of British racing? – only time will tell.
Around the official side of things, Britain’s Ray Berriman, who was instrumental in the very primary world championships in Britain back in 1979, is Chief Judge at the 2001 world championships in Las Vegas this year.
It’s been impossible to mention all those who have played a part in Britain’s history of drinking water ski racing here. There are so many names unmentioned. But this article has hopefully given you a high level view of water ski racing and it’s past.
All in all, Britain continues to play a major role from the world ski racing. It will undoubtedly continue to do so over the coming years.