Honda Rib Challenge at Wakefield 

A record number of young powerboating enthusiasts from across the RYA Yorkshire and Humber Region packed into West Riding Sailing Club on Saturday 21st July and the sound of Honda engines roared across Wintersett Reservoir, just south of Wakefield.

“This is the second year we have held the event at West Riding Sailing Club,” said RYA Yorkshire Honda RIB Co-ordinator, Tom Busfield, after the event. “This is the best level of junior powerboat driving I have seen in a long time.”

“With a huge span of entries from Scaling Dam in the north, Bridlington in the east and Wakefield in the west, the RYA Yorkshire & Humber event is the biggest in the UK so far.”

Competitors in the event are split into age groups, 8 to 12 yrs and 13 to 16 yrs and a qualified RYA Powerboat Instructor rides in each boat. Roger Perry was responsible for the 13 to 16 year olds: “Well done to all the competitors. I was very impressed.” Sentiments echoed by Chris Lightley riding with the 8 to 12 year old’s; “They were superb competitors, very confident and very accurate.”

The Honda RYA Youth Rib Championship, sponsored by Honda and Ribcraft, is a National Championship in which 8-16 year old RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) drivers can demonstrate their boat handling skills in a race against the clock in the hope of winning a 4.8m Ribcraft or Honwave T40 for their club. Winners of the Yorkshire and Humberside final of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship go on to compete in the National Final at the Southampton Boat Show against winners of other areas around the UK.

Winner of the 8 to 12 year old class was 10 year old Immy Hayhurst, from the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club at Bridlington. Immy, who goes to St Mary’s RC School, Bridlington, is not known as “The Speed Demon” for nothing: “I am really, really excited to have won,” said Immy. “This is my first time in the competition and only my third time in a speedboat, but I think I’d like to win one in Southampton!”

The Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club also did well in the 13 to 16 year old class, with a clean sweep in the top four places led by winner, 15 year old Danny Wilson. Danny attends Bridlington School Sports College and has been boating for about four years. “I help out at the sailing club whenever I can and I’ve entered this competition before but never won. The weather was great on Saturday and we all had a great day.”

Results of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship Yorkshire & Humber Regional final (to fifth place)

8 - 12 Class
1.	Immy Hayhurst	RYYC	2m 6s
2.	Katie Clarkson	SDSC	2m 19s
3.	Matthew Brining	SDSC	2m 21s
4.	Sophie Benn	OSC	2m 42s
5.	Emma Cable	WRSC	3m 16s
13-16 Class
1.	Danny Wilson	RYYC	1m 26s
2.	Harry Pickering	RYYC	1m 28s
3.	Sam Hayhurst	RYYC	1m 40s
4.	Tom Hayhurst	RYYC	1m 51s
5.	James Nye	Sea Cadets	1m 56s

David Hodgkinson, Marketing Communications Manager for event sponsor Honda said:

“Honda strives to be "a company that society wants to exist", and so as a major manufacturer of engines and inflatables we are delighted to be sponsoring the 11th year of the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship. Inspiring and encouraging young people to discover and pursue a passion for boating, is as important as giving them the skills to do so in a safe and responsible way. We are proud together with the RYA to be doing both through this unique competition”.

Thanks to Championship sponsors Honda and Ribcraft.

For more information about the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, details on how to get involved and a list of regional finals scores visit www.rya.org.uk/go/hondayouthrib