Australians ski racers lift their game in Belgium
by Bob Wonders on 22 Jul 2009
Wayne Mawer, Australia’s #1 Formula I ski racer, on his way to gold in round two of the World Water Ski Race championships in Belgium. - Ski Race titles Ski Racing Australia
Australia’s ski racers have started showing their true form after a disappointing opening round at the 16th World Water Ski Racing championships in Belgium.
Wayne Mawer, Australia’s #1 Formula 1 Men competitor, threw aside his second placing in round one to score a heart-stopping victory over American Todd Haig with Sydney ace Chris Stout coming home third.
Mawer averaged better than 80km/hr over the 88.5 kilometre canal course to beat Haig by the barest of margins.
In Formula 1 Women, British ace Kim Lumley again showed her class, but for Australia it was the return to the form expected of her that saw Lauryn Eagle claim second after her sixth place in round one.
And Cara Jochinke added to Australia’s spoils with a solid third place after her fifth in the opening round.
Unfortunately, Australia’s Formula 2 Men could only manage a fourth place, as Daniel Cotton was beaten to the line by America’s Cameron King, Belgium’s Tim Lisens and Dutchman Tommy Klarenbeek.
Luke Keys came in ninth for Australia.
Belgian Steven Van Gaevezan, winner of the opening round, was relegated to fifth place behind Cotton.
Crack youngster Jack Houston maintained his round one form with his second successive victory in round two, averaging nearly 75km/hr over the 47.2 kilometre course to defeat America’s Trevor Wendt with Aussie team mate Ben Hackett in third place following his fourth in round one.
In Junior Girls, Aussies Maddison Boyer and Sarah Teelow both lifted their game, Maddison taking second place and Sarah third after finishing third and fourth respectively in the opening round.
Belgium’s Yolien Bormans, victor in the opening round, secured her second win in the event.
The news was not so good in Formula 2 Women.
Austria’s Kathrin Ortlieb registered her second victory beating American Dawn Wallace into second place with Belgian ski racer Christel Magdeleyns home in third.
Australia’s Kylee Jones was our best, coming home in seventh place.
Trudi Stout and Susan Cartwright, after disappointing 13th and 14th places respectively in round one, did not qualify for round two.
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