Mastercraft Rider League Stop 1 Off to a Flying Start

The mighty MasterCraft X-2 tow boat arrived nice and early on site at around 8.00 am with top drivers Brian Rook and Mike Clarke at the helm. Simon Waring and British Team Coach Stu Mackie arrived shortly after to get things ready.

The CalmWater Bay team did an excellent job of having the site up and ready and the BBQ stoked up for breakfast butties, the water was flat and the sun shining through an early morning mist.

By 9.00 am we were under way with the practice sessions, a full on morning ahead of us all with 33 riders entered and a competition start time of 3.00 pm to say we had to run like clock work was an understatement!

The riders came through thick and fast through out the morning, the tunes were playing and the BBQ was keeping everyone well stocked up! A slight injury to one of the Junior Mens riders James Young saw action being interrupted slightly but with good physio and time he managed to recover and was determined to ride in the competition.

Marketing of this tour has been very geared towards the 3.00 pm start time to prevent any spectators getting bored, and this seemed to work. By 2.30 pm we had top displays of Mountain bike riding and snake boarding by some of the riders. The Team MasterCraft Xtreeme buggie team had arrived with 2 of the 650 cc off road buggies for people to try and we were holding Space Hopper challenges to keep everyone happy.

The mighty MasterCraft X-2 tow boat arrived nice and early on site at around 8.00 am with top drivers Brian Rook and Mike Clarke at the helm. Simon Waring and British Team Coach Stu Mackie arrived shortly after to get things ready.

The CalmWater Bay team did an excellent job of having the site up and ready and the BBQ stoked up for breakfast butties, the water was flat and the sun shining through an early morning mist.

Sure enough at 3.00 pm bang on time we kicked off the competition with the first of 7 divisions, the junior ladies. With 3 ladies through to the competition it was going to be a fierce battle for the podium positions. Megan Barker from Billabong who having just had a few weeks in Florida was taking full advantage of the extra training stomping a great pass to take the top spot, closely followed by Rider League Junior veteran Tabz Nixon and Simon from MasterCrafts own daughter Chelsea Waring showing she wasn't just there to make up the numbers completing a great competition pass to show although only just starting wakeboarding she plans to make up ground quick

With the demand so high for Junior men this year it has been split into 2 divisions, first up were the Junior Men 2 division with last years champion Charlie Long facing competition from 5 other riders. The closeness of the results can not be described but just edging out 3rd place Lewis Seagrave a new comer to the tour and 2nd place George Daly it was Charlie who again emerged on top and showing huge potential at the age of 10.

Junior men 1 saw Elliot Lux returning to the tour having competed in only one stop last year. This young man is on top of his game in not only wakeboarding but competes on the tournament scene and the kneeboard scene, already on the books of MasterCraft GB as a junior team rider. During his pass which he was not over happy with he did land a Raley to take top spot from Quayside junior rider Jorge Gill who had made his way up from the south to compete and is entered into all stops. Ben Daly just edging out his friend Adam Grundy for 3rd spot with a good variation of tricks.

Ladies division with 4 entries and no last season’s winner Zoe Costigan, gave everyone a chance to try and get a head start for the tour. Top UK Kneeboarder and Team MasterCraft Rider Rachel Clark was first out, before a new entry to Rider League in the form of Calmwater Bay Lady Laura Blisset whose brother was competing in the Open division and managed to persuade her to enter. Although very nervous she managed her pass and racked up some points and was close call for third with veteran Rider Leaguer and top all round girl Jo Blenkinsopp just edging the 3rd spot. But the story of the day in ladies was Billabong girl Lisa Brook who after entering at Billabong last year as been persuaded to do the tour and went out sticking some good switch jumps and toeside jumps to take top spot.

So onto Masters Division, and 8 riders in close contention. Last years winner Mike Heaton having an unexpected fall early on put the pressure on and falling on his second pass saw him missing out on vital points. Mike Cook was as consistent as ever with some nice 180's and clean air and mixing up the variety to take gold. Simon Hogg from billabong had a superb pass landing his ollie to blind 180 which saw him take 2nd and all the way from Derbyshire Aaron Powdrill had a solid set to take 3rd. So the masters division is blown open for the season.

Then at around 5.30 it was time for the Open Men, and with the no show of a couple of the new riders in the new Outlaws division, Carl Smith was allowed to enter the Open Men. With the absence of last years dominator Andy Harris, all eyes were on runner up Adam Oldfield to see if he could capitilise an early lead in the overall stakes.

8 riders in total competed in open men and Lee Doyle from Frodsham set the early pace with a great run with lots of variation including the back roll. Adam on the day unfortunately had a horrible run missing his tantrum, backroll and 3, meaning his score was low, a disappointed Adam made his way up the dock after his run looking a little sorrow.

Nick Horsfall a late entrant and new member to White Rose had an awsome run going huge with great wake to wakes and back to back 180's to put in a good standing. Then the final rider Carl Smith who heads up the Pro Shop at MasterCraft and was hoping to be riding in the new division of Outlaws went out and stomped domination all over it, landing a 5, back roll, tantrum, and scarecrow to take gold outright. Lee Doyle came in silver, Nick Horsfall bronze just edging out Calmwater Bay rider Nick Berrie into 4th.

A great day was had by all, everyone stayed around for the prize giving and thank yous. A big thanks to the boat crew of Brian Rook, Mike Clark, Perry Lux, Pete Watson and off course Stu Mackie. All the volunteers at Calmwater Bay, Mandy and Keith, Howard and Reeba, Steve and Dee and to all the other members who once again pulled out all the stops to ensure the day went off with a bang.

So roll on 24th of May when the Rider League hits Treeton in Sheffield, anyone wishing to enter or wanting more info please contact info@mastercraft.co.uk or call Carl or Simon on 01977 674635.

The mighty MasterCraft X-2 tow boat arrived nice and early on site at around 8.00 am with top drivers Brian Rook and Mike Clarke at the helm. Simon Waring and British Team Coach Stu Mackie arrived shortly after to get things ready.

The CalmWater Bay team did an excellent job of having the site up and ready and the BBQ stoked up for breakfast butties, the water was flat and the sun shining through an early morning mist.

RESULTS

Junior Ladies

1st Megan Barker 10
2nd Tabz Nixon 9
3rd Chelsea Waring 8


Junior Men 2

1st Charlie Long 10
2nd George Daly 9
3rd Lewis Seagrave 8
4th James Cook 7
5th Jack Wright 6
6th Will Powdrill 5


Junior Men 1

1st Elliot Lux 10
2nd Jorge Gill 9
3rd Ben Daly 8
4th Adam Grundy 7
5th Oliver Akid 6


Ladies

1st Lisa Brook 10
2nd Rachel Clarke 9
3rd Jo Blenkinsopp 8
4th Laura Blissett 7


Masters

1st Mike Cook 10
2nd Simon Hogg 9
3rd Aaran Powdrill 8
4th Mike Heaton 7
5th Billy Clough 6
6th Peter Blenkinsopp 5
7th David Seagrave 4
8th Steve Thompson 3


Open Men

1st Carl Smith 10
2nd Lee Doyle 9
3rd Nick Horsefall 8
4th Nick Berrie 7
5th James Blissett 6
6th Adam Oldfield 5
7th William Lee 4
8th Chris Berrie 3

[Press Release End]