Best water skiing witness in the South West! (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Best water skiing witness in the South West!

THE fantastic weather on Saturday brought out the best water skiing ever seen in the South West at the Grand Prix International Water Ski Slalom competition hosted by Cirencester Water Ski Club.

The course record (two buoys rounded at 11 metres out of a possible six buoys) was smashed by the winner of the premier division, Jeremy Newby-Ricci of Princes Club, London, with a score of four buoys at a line length of 10.75 metres.

And breaking the record won him a night in one of luxurious four-poster beds at the Wild Duck Inn in Ewen!

Division 1 was equally as exciting with three skiers tying for first place.

Cirencester's Richard Stubbing achieved a personal best score of two buoys at 12 metres, along with London skiers Tim Peckitt and Tom Grey, who also achieved a personal best score.

In the run-off to decide the winner, the three skiers had to start at the 13-metre line length.

Incredibly, Richard almost ran the 13-metre pass from cold with a score of 5.5 buoys. But Tom - who had to beat the score set to win - not only ran the 13-metre pass, but achieved another personal best with 2.5 buoys at 12 metres.

Tim, the pre-competition favourite, did not achieve the pass, so the spoils went to Tom.

A run-off was also required to decide second place in Division 4 and this was won by London's Sally Francis in her very first competition.

Most improved local skier prize and a dinner for two at the Bakers Arms, Somerford Keynes, was claimed by Cirencester's Grahame Ramsey, who improved his personal best by an incredible 5.5 buoys.

In all, 26 of the 39 skiers matched or improved on their season's best score, 18 of which were personal best scores.

It was a great result for the hosts and should lead to a larger international participation in next year's event. Results:

Premier Division: 1 Jeremy Newby-Ricci (Princes Club) 4 buoys at 10.75 metres @ 58kph; 2 Steve Smith (Cirencester WSC) 1.5 buoys at 11.25m @ 58 kph; 3 Billy Wilmott (Thorpe WSC) 2 buoys at 12m @ 58 kph. Division 1: 1 Tom Grey (Princes Club) 2 buoys at 12m @ 58 kph; 2 Richard Stubbing (Cirencester WSC) 2 buoys at 12m @ 58 kph; 3 Tim Peckitt (Thorpe WSC) 2 buoys at 12m @ 58 kph. Division 2: 1 Grahame Ramsey (Cirencester WSC) 1 buoy at 12m @ 55 kph; 2 Vivien Brown (Cirencester WSC) 2 buoys at 16m @ 55 kph; 3rd Richard Jones (Cirencester WSC) 1 buoy at 14.25m @ 55 kph. Division 3: 1 Daniel Hills (Wiremill WSC) 4 buoys at 16m @ 58 kph; 2 Lee Grimshaw (Wiremill WSC) 3 buoys at 16m @ 58 kph; 3rd Andy Noble (Northampton WSC) 2.5 buoys at 16m @ 58 kph. Division 4: 1 Carys Walshe (Princes Club) 1.5 buoys at 16m @55 kph; 2 Sally Francis (Princes Club) 1.5 buoys @ 55 kph; 3 Jim Walshe (Princes Club) 1.5 buoys @ 58 kph.