Zapcat Racing brought the action to Barry Island today and despite the wet and windy conditions spectators turned out in force to catch the action.
With ever changing conditions racers were faced with constant swells and relentless wind. Local team Westgate Zapcat 28, Pilot Charles Morris and Co-pilot Ed Morris were looking to make the most in familiar waters to make up for a poor result at the last event in Plymouth.
Smart ABC, Zapcat 07, Pilot Dave Paget and Tony Cooper dominated the division 2 heats with Welsh pilot Charlie Brickle in Nine Lives, Zapcat 35 and Stepson Adam Bushrod piling on the pressure.
Division one’s heats saw mixed results for all teams as they contended with the conditions and a quick beach start proved vital to take the heat win. With Speedy Hire Zapcat 38, Daren Ford and Sam Hunka proving very quick off the line, and Zapcat 98 Team Suffolk and Zapcat 25, Rana Park giving championship leaders Blue Sheets Racing 1, Zapcat 03 a run for their money.
Going into the Division 2 final local boys, Westgate, Zapcat 28 secured their place in the final n a strong 3rd on pole and weren’t going to give up the fight with the chance of taking the gold medal on home waters. They got to a flying start and held their lead for the 5 lap race to take the glory. Following them into the silver medal spot was Father and Son duo, Who the Hell, Zapcat 44 Pilot Steve Pidsley and Co-pilot Bobby Pidsley. Smart ABC, Zapcat 07, Dave Paget and Tony Cooper completed the line up in third.
Pilot Charles Morris from Westgate could hardly contain his happiness at a home win “We’re gobsmacked it’s absolutely fantastic, we knew we were racing well today and when we realised we were out front and in with a chance of the gold medal, we put our heads down and opened the throttle.” He continued “We’ll be going for the double tomorrow as all our friends and family will be down to support us and hopefully we can retain Welsh glory. I’d like to thank Dave at West Point Marine without his help with the engine we’d never have won.”
Mean while in Division 1 Team Speedy Hire took pole going into the days final. Rana Park, Zapcat 25; Neil Fraser and Jeremy ‘Naz’ Nazarin were out with a point to prove after several missed opportunities this season to take the top spot from Blue Sheets racing 1 they were going to show the rest of the fleet that they could be beaten. After a lightning quick start the fleet were off and as they approached the first turn mark Zapcat 25 had clean water with Speedy Hire and Blue Sheets racing battling it out for second and third.
Rana Park held their lead all the way round the 5 lap course and Speedy Hire and Blue Sheets Racing 1 hoped for a slip up and the opportunity to slip past them. On the fourth lap over zealous rubbing from Blue Sheets Racing on Speedy Hire saw the Championship leaders disqualified by officials leaving, Speedy Hire Zapcat 38, Daren Ford and Sam Hunka to take silver and Cat in the Hat, Zapcat 39 Jim Crooks and CJ Crooks to complete the line up in Bronze.
A well deserved win and long awaited glory for Rana Park left the duo grinning like school boys “Awesome, it’s been a long time and couldn’t have happened at a better venue.” Commented Pilot Neil Fraser “The conditions make for really interesting race and the facilities at the venue makes Barry Island perfect for Zapcat Racing, I can see this fast becoming a favourite venue for the racers.”
Zapcat racing will continue tomorrow at Barry Island as the teams battle it out in Round 10 of the championship with racing starting at 12 noon.