The 2012 British RYA Circuit Powerboat Championships got underway in Oulton Broad over the Bank Holiday weekend with GT15 reigning World Champion Ben Jelf (11 from Maidstone) getting off to a great start.

Ben Jelf and Tiff Needell

Ben Jelf and Tiff Needell



Recent testing sessions had not been going to plan for the youngster but Ben and the rest of the Jelf Racing team were determined to put the pre-season gremlins behind them. With the announcement of a new major sponsor for Ben in the form of leading World Logistic Company, Peters & May, the young racer was ready to get back on track.

He showed skills beyond his years as he focussed on the job ahead of him and secured the fastest qualifying time, before holding the lead in the race itself to take the first chequered flag of the season. He then went on to secure two more heat wins and with it the first championship win of the 2012 season. Second place went to Lancashire’s Tiegen Goodfellow with Oulton Broad’s Thomas Mantripp completing the podium line up. The youngsters were awarded their Trophies by TV presenter Tiff Needell in front of the crowds of hundreds that lined the banks of Oulton Broad.

The Championship now sees the teams head to Carr Mill Dam in St Helen’s at the end of May in preparation for Round Two on Saturday 02 June. Visit www.rya.org.uk to keep up to speed on developments.

Written by: Alex Smith
Alex Smith is a journalist, copywriter and magazine editor with a long history in boating and a happy addiction to the water. He’s worked on boats, lived on boats, bought boats, sold boats and – when he’s not actually on board a boat – he can generally be found in his Folkestone office, tapping away at the computer and gazing out to sea.