Caughey takes world jetsprint title

Peter Caughey in action. Picture - courtesy of Sean Henshelwood

A clean-sweep by Canterbury’s Peter Caughey and navigator Karen Marshall have seen the pair re-crowned 2009 UIM World Jetsprint champions when they won the weekend’s two-round competition held at Melton near Melbourne.

Contesting the super boat category, Caughey and Marshall were part of a ten-team contingent from New Zealand who shipped their boats to Australia for the title contest in both the super boat and international Group A categories.

Following on from an emphatic victory at last weekend’s opening event mid-way between Sydney and Melbourne, Caughey made a slow start to the final round – navigational errors shortening two of his four runs in Saturday’s practise.

“People say we make it look easy, but I can tell you right now it isn’t,” he said. “Our team works so hard to get these results, and as you know we take it very seriously. We were rapt to be able to get the fastest time on the final run, to give the fans something to cheer for. I thought we’d be able to break into the 41 second bracket - it didn’t happen, but it’s been a great day.”

Caughey’s sixth title was made easier when closest rival, former V8 Supercar driver Nathan Pretty, failed to make it past the top-six cut-off – an engine misfire eliminating the contender. Fellow Kiwi Daryl Hutton again eliminated himself at the final hurdle, while Australian class champion Dean Finch made a navigational error before also leaving the water.

Runner-up to Caughey’s perfect point’s tally, Putararu based Hutton has maintained the New Zealand one-two in the title standings. Previously second to Caughey in last season’s world rankings, title favourite Richard Burt (Palmerston North) was unable to get his Australian supplied boat to speed.

With six of the team contesting the international Group A formula, Taupo’s Reg Smith placed second equal despite running outside the top group for the final weekend shoot-out. Won by Australian Slade Stanley and navigator Vanessa Wright, the engine in their boat failed just as they crossed the finish line – for the second weekend in a row.

Smith shares his placing with Australian’s Darek Sygidus and the first woman to make it to a UIM Jet Sprint World Championship final – Brooke Smith.