1:56 PM Thu 29 Sep 2011 GMT
RYA Sprint OSY400 Championship was held over the weekend of 24th and 25th September 2011 at Stewartby, Bedford. Luke Hugman (19) from Lowestoft secured his second British Powerboat Racing title for 2011 when he clinched the championship title in the OSY400 class.
Heading in to the final round of the British Championships Luke had established a 10 point lead over championship rival James Bowman in the bid to claim the title, but could he hold on to it in the blustery conditions?
Hugman's lead had been established during the previous three rounds, with a third in the opening round at Carr Mill in back in May and a win in the next round at Bodymoor after establishing pole position and taking three heat wins.
This new found form continued at the next round at Oulton Broad where again he took pole position and three heat wins, but fierce rival James was never far behind finishing second in every round of racing, so it was to be down to the final event to see who clinched the title.
Conditions at the Stewartby finals were less than perfect for the OSY400 drivers who lie face down in their boats and race across the water at in excess of 60mph, as the boat skims across the water.
Luke secured pole position with a fantastic start and then went on to take wins in three of the four heats and with the best of three results counting he claimed another weekend win and in doing so secured his second British Championship title of 2011.
Commenting on his double championship win Luke told us 'I wouldn't have been able to do this at all without the support of my dad, Mark Speller and my sponsors. So whilst my name is the one of the Trophy without the support of the Lady of the Lake Public House, Cole Wine and Beverage Wholesalers and TopCat Racing I wouldn't have been able to achieve it. It was a real team effort and we're so proud to have won both titles. Bring on 2012!'
Luke also dominated in the British Sprint Championships at Stewartby in August where he took the 2011 British RYA Sprint OSY400 Championship.
RYA website
by Emma Slater
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Trangie, NSW
