Matthew and Mark land national powerboating spots 

Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship kicks off in Northern Ireland

Two teenagers have clinched their places in a prestigious national powerboating final by claiming age-group victories at the Northern Ireland Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship final held in Bangor Harbour on Saturday (03 May).  

In perfect weather conditions 19 youngsters participated across the two age categories 8-12 and 13-16 in the very first Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship event of the season.  

Matthew Crichton, 12 from Downpatrick and Mark McDonough 16 from Bangor, will go head to head against the 13 other regional age-group champions at the Honda RYA Youth RIB national grand final at the Southampton Boat Show in September.  

This will be the second time Ballyholme Yacht Club’s Mark who won the 13-16 years regional title, has appeared in the national final after finishing in 5th place in 2013. Quolie Yacht Club’s Matthew Crichton, regional champion in the 8-12 age group will be making his national final debut.   

Now in its 13th year, the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship is Britain’s leading programme introducing kids to powerboats and training them to be safe, proficient drivers and excellent boat handlers.   RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) are light, manoeuvrable craft and the boats driven in the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship can hit speeds of up to 25mph.

The youngsters compete in time trials around sets of marks with the driver with the fastest time in each age-group qualifying for the national final where the overall national champion in each age-group will win a Highfield 460 or a Honwave T40.  

Matthew had comfortable ride to the final securing a winning time of 1.43 which was 10 seconds quicker than Holywood Yacht Club’s Callum Wallace. Mark had a nail-biting finish just a second quicker than East Down Yacht Club’s Rory Fekkes.    

“I was shocked when I realised I had won. I thought I had messed up the stop exercise and thought it was game over! I’m very pleased and can’t wait for Southampton” said Mark who has been powerboating for four years and is competing in the championship for the third time.  

Matthew who was introduced to the sport through his family said: “I was very shocked when my name was called out. I’m very nervous and excited about the final”.  

With the emphasis on swift, efficient and safe manoeuvring, the skills the youngsters develop through the Honda RYA Youth RIB programme are a great chance for them to experience the thrill of racing a small powerboat and invaluable in developing safe, proficient powerboat drivers to support sailing clubs in running the activities they want to get more people out on the water more often.      

Stephen Morris, Head of Power Equipment for Honda (UK) comments: “We are delighted to continue our long and successful partnership with the RYA in supporting the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, and to be bringing on board our new boat builder partner, Highfield, for the 2014 competition.

"Both Honda and Highfield are only too pleased to support the RYA in its efforts to inspire and encourage young people to develop their skills and to promote safe and responsible boating through this unique championship.”  

Thanks to Championship sponsors Honda and Highfield.  

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