Sackville to Windsor Top End Sprint
Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd September 2007
Just one week after running our first circuit race
meeting in over two years, the NSWHC backed up with the re-birth of the Top End Sprint. This year is hopefully the first of many, where the Top End Sprint is run in conjunction with the Hawkesury 120 ski race.
The Hawkesbury 120 is a big ski race weekend, where the ski boats run from Windsor to Sackville and back on Saturday. Then Windsor to Wisemans Ferry and back on
Sunday. The Top End Sprint for powerboats was slotted in between ski boat runs on both days. The race boats running from Sackville to Windsor, before the ski boats were turned around for the return legs. A few issues came into factor for Top End Sprint race controller, Rick Howard, to decide to just run the race boats on the
Sunday only.
Due to this being the first time event, for us anyway, and also due to the race being one week before the Windsor Spectacular, we didn’t promote the race too heavily. Word did get around and we ended up with 11 boats.
Unfortunately due to some mechanical problems from Toukley, absences, and other commitments, there was only the one hydro to take to the water. One displacement took the challenge, along with a clutch of outboards.
Without trying to sound completely one-sided, who else could win but the hydro! Mitchell tore up the Hawkesbury at a speed over 20% faster than his nearest rival.
Mitchell North, Research - 11m 27s - Hydro
Richard Cleaver, If Only - 14m 43s - Outboard
Nathan Cleaver Airborne - 14m 48s - Outboard
Tony Mahon, Nightmare - 14m 56s - Displacement
Jason Reynolds, Menace - 15m 07s - Outboard
Steve Scott, Voodoo - 15m 41s - 550cc Outboard
Warren Handy, Rough - 17m 19s - Outboard
Simon Sanders, Little Lucifer - 17m 46s - Outboard
John Wylie, Poseidon 2 - 19m 03s - F3 Outboard
Terry Hey, Misty - 19m 24s - Outboard
Brett Rogan, Poseidon 1 - DNF - F3 Outboard
Rick Howard and his team of helpers did a great job of organising and running this event. So much so, that we are invited back to do it all again next year. So keep an eye out for news in the future and get your hydro ready take on the Top End!
Photos courtesy of Stinga Ski Race Team
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