WARRINGTON’S Dave James emerged triumphant in the fourth race of the annual club powerboat racing calendar at Lancashire Powerboat Racing Club’s Carr Mill Dam, St Helens.
Top Cat Racing’s Mike Pillow, from Welshpool was the man to beat, having won all races so far this season.
And beaten he was!
The first race of the day was won by Stuart Williams, from Warrington, with Pillow not far behind in second place and Bill Owen, from St Helens, third.
Dave James battled through the wake of the others to secure fourth place.
But in the next two races it was a different story with Dave storming ahead to win both.
Stuart and Bill both secured second places leaving Pillow in third place.
The two wins were enough for the Last of the Summer Wine to claim the Mortgage Option Trophy.
Although Stuart Williams did not win overall, he turned in a fine performance and took the honor of the fastest race lap with a time of just 55.36 seconds.
Afterwards, a jubilant Dave James said: “It was a really enjoyable race. I am really pleased to win and take home the trophy.
“The conditions were ideal and my boat was flying. It was a tough drive and on a few occasions I was pushing it very close to the limit, with the nose of the boat pointing high into the air. But I managed to stay in control and keep the boat the right way up and in front of the other drivers.
It’s great to be back on winning form and I am now really looking forward to our next club race, at Carr Mill Dam, on Sunday September 9. Hopefully I have a chance to win again.”
The spectators at the Dam, also saw one of junior drivers, Charlotte Newton in her GT15 boat and Graham Palfreyman in his new Formula 2 catamaran.
The pair took to the water to get in some valuable testing and drive time, ahead of the National Sprint Championships that take place in two weeks time at Stewartby Lake in Bedfordshire on August 4 and 5.
Pictures: Dave James leading the back and (right) celebrating with the trophy.
