Last weekend saw the final event of the 2009 Zapcat National Championship in Watergate Bay, Newquay. Following two days of spectacular action packed racing the results were in, points were confirmed and calculations made whilst Post race scrutineering took place and with the all clear from the ZCR Technical Team the Results were confirmed.
Presentations took place at an Oscar styled awards dinner at Watergate Bay Hotel on the Saturday night. Where racers drank, joked and reminisced on the season past and planned, plotted and welcomed the thought of the new season ahead.
The first award of the evening was the Commando’s Trophy awarded by Captain Richie Lake. The Commando Trophy is awarded annually to the boat/ team which continually show the four Commando Qualities that the Royal Marines instil on all their marines that pass through training. These qualities that all commandos live by are Courage, Determination, Un-selfishness and Cheerfulness. Lots of thought went behind who to award this prestigious trophy to and on the night Richie Lake awarded this trophy to the new owners of ZCR Ltd Martin Jupp, Mick Pritchard and Ryan Ellis to rapturous applause from all in attendance for taking on Race series at the last minute and for all their hard work and determination for the series to succeed despite the current economic climate and hard work involved.
The next award of the evening was the Zapcat Racers Award, based on the idea of Footballs Players player award. Nominations were collected from racers throughout the season of who they thought had shown, good sportsmanship, outstanding racing skill or that portrays the true meaning of Zapcat Racing to them. With nominations in the racers then voted for their favourite top 3 and votes were collated. The 2009 Zapcat Racers Award went to Nial Hoddinott of Doyster BlueSheets Racing, Zapcat 74. Nial was nominated by his peers for his help and support to other racers and for always being willing to lend his boat or engine without second thought to another racer.
Next up was a favourite award amongst the racers – The Bent Prop Award. Awarded to an individual or team who through bad luck or fault of their own always keep the Zapcat safety team and officials busy when they make mistakes. When the race committee met to discuss the possible recipients for the Bent Prop Award one team came to the forefront of their minds, OOD Adam Wheeler thought he’d pretty much seen every stupid mistake that could be made having been at well over 1000 races over the past 9 years, but the winners of the Bent Prop Award proved him wrong numerous times, but took the criticism and telling off in good spirit and have been good sports, entertainment and nice guys.
Following the Bent Prop was the King of the Surf trophy, Run over four rounds of surf racing the team with the best results are crowned the Kings of Surf. This year the King of Surf Trophy Went to Zapcat 03,BlueSheets Racing 1 Craig Davis and Rob Martin who took 3 out of 4 Gold Medals in the competition.
Celebrations then turned to the Rookie Team of 2009 with 4 contenders at the beginning of the season only one team made it to the final event of the season they fought well all season and their racing skill and team work progressed steadily as the season progressed The 2009 Rookie Champions are Zapcat 21 Certain Death, Luke Wills and Kevin Lott; One team to watch next year!
Next up Zapcat 98 Team Suffolk, Greg Richardson, Kieron Richardson and Adelle Richardson received a special award from Anton the commentator for being the longest standing team in the championship and still going strong.
Proceedings then moved on to the National Championship
3rd place in the 2009 National Zapcat Championship went to Zapcat 38, Team Speedy Hire Pilot Daren Ford and Co-pilot Sam Hunka.
2nd place and runners up in the 2009 National Zapcat Championship were Zapcat 25, Rana Park, Neil Fraser and Jeremy Nazarin.
The 2009 Zapcat National Champions are Zapcat 03, BlueSheets Racing 1 Pilot Craig Davis and co-pilot Robert Martin.
At the beginning of the season teams were formed between the teams and 9 team combinations entered the Zapcat Team championship. A battle then ensued between the BlueSheets Racing Team Zapcats 03& 11 and The Lost Buoys Zapcats 09 & 49. The result went down to the wire. The Winners of the Zapcat 2009 Team Championship are BlueSheets Racing Team Craig Davis, Rob Martin, Dan Smith and Nathan Parker.
The party and celebrations went on into the small hours with many people already looking to the new season in 2010.