Wayne Mawer claims double at Wiseman's Ferry

by Bob Wonders on 17 Feb 2009 Veteran ski racer Wayne Mawer, the 1997 World Champion, is odds-on to make the Australian team for the 16th World Ski Racing Championships after two convincing victories over the weekend at Wisemans Ferry.

Skiing behind the Force 21 ‘Tru Blu’, Mark Cranny at the wheel, Damien Matthews observing, Mawer simply handled the rain, wind and choppy conditions better than his rivals.

Not only did Mawer register two victories, but the same two rivals, Peter Procter and Chris Stout finished second and third in both races.

Procter, brother of the now-retired former World champion Ann Procter, raced to his pair of seconds behind ‘Crazy Horse’ with its all American crew, the popular veterans Mike Avila and Kurt Schoen aboard.

Queenslanders Noel Griffin, at the wheel of ‘Burnin’, another 21’ Force; and Mick Kelly observing took former series leader and current Formula II World champion Chris Stout to his two thirds.

Former World champion (1991) Paul Robertson showed he can still ‘mix it’ with the best coming home fourth in both races.

It would seem, with only one selection race remaining, the positions of the top three in Formula I Men cannot change; Mawer, Procter and Stout can probably pack their bags for Belgium.

Mawer, 34, of Cairns, North Queensland, is obviously at home on the water; in addition to his 1997 Men’s Formula I World title he has also won two World wakeboard championships.

And it would take a brave man to suggest he can’t win a second Formula I ski race crown in Belgium, particularly now that Mark Canny has signalled his intention to take ‘Tru Blu’ and observer Damien Matthews to the championships.

In Formula I Women, Cara Jochinke, behind ‘Noizworks’, confirmed her standing as #1 with two wins and Bethany Pledger remains in second place.

Lauryn Eagle, 2005 Women Formula II World Champion, skied into third place on the Saturday behind ‘Ring of Fire’, but sadly illness prevented her repeating that effort on the Sunday and she remains third on the ladder.

Trudi Stout, sister of Chris and the current Women World Junior titleholder, has stepped up to Formula II and is looking very strong.

She grabbed two wins at Wisemans behind ‘Tuff E Nuff’, Kylee Jones finishing second in both races behind ‘Rumours’.

If Trudi gains a place in the final race it will be enough to confirm her as #1 skier with Kylee Jones #2.

The battle for third place remains open.

Jack Houston (‘Sudden Force’) finished first on both days, veteran competitors Greg Houston and Kevin Boylan in the boat.

Mark Cranny and ‘Tru Blu’ came good again, this time taking Ben Pearse into second place from Ben Hackett behind ‘Smack That’.

In Junior Girls the fight for a spot on the Australian team will go down to the wire, with Maddy Boyer, Sarah Teelow and Kelsey Feros all in the running for the two spots.

We will keep the proverbial finger on the pulse and you’ll learn the eventual make-up of the Australian team right here, where one gathers all the powerboat-related news that matters, on Powerboat-World.com

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Round five results;

Formula I Men: Wayne Mawer (‘Tru Blue’) 1, Peter Procter (‘Crazy Horse’) 2, Christopher Stout (‘Burnin’) 3.

Formula I Women: Cara Jochinke (‘Noizworks’) 1, Lauryn Eagle (‘Tuff N Up’) 2, Bethany Pledger (‘Mobile’) 3.

Formula II Men: Mark Weaver (‘Cyclone Racing’) 1, Richard Souwer (‘Showbiz) 2, Daniel Cotton (‘Tuff E Nuff’) 3.

Formula II Women: Trudi Stout (‘Tuff E Nuff’) 1, Kylee Jones (‘Rumours’) 2, Susan Cartwright (‘Slightly Twisted’) 3.

Junior Boys: Jack Houston (‘Sudden Force’) 1, Ben Hackett (‘Smack That’) 2, Mitchell Williams (‘Blazen’) 3.

Junior Girls: Madison Boyer (‘Noizworks’) 1, Kelsey Feros (‘Prima Donna Racing’) 2, Sarah Teelow (‘Prime Time’) 3.

Round six results:

Formula I Men: Wayne Mawer (‘Tru Blu’) 1, Peter Procter (‘Crazy Horse’) 2, Christopher Stout (‘Burnin’) 3.

Formula 1 Women: Cara Jochinke (‘Noizworks’) 1, Bethany Pledger (‘Mobile’) 2.

Junior Boys: Jack Houston (‘Sudden Force’) 1, Ben Pearse (‘Tru Blu’) 2, Ben Hackett (‘Smack That’) 3.

Junior Girls: Sarah Teelow (‘Prime Time’) 1, Kelsey Feros (‘Prima Donna Racing’) 2, Natalie Keys (‘Heat’) 3.