Sibling Rivalries Spur South Staffs Kids To National Powerboat Finals

Aga, 10, and Henry, 14, win West Midlands Honda RYA Youth RIB heats

Sibling rivalry will prevail when two young South Staffordshire powerboaters take their places on the start line at the national Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship grand final in September after they clinched West Midlands regional final victories on Saturday (2 May).

Aga Czartolomna, 10 from Perton, and 14-year-old Henry Dugmore from Stafford will go head to head against the 13 other regional age-group champions at the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship showdown at the PSP Southampton Boat Show on Sunday 13 September following their success in the 8-12 and 13-16 age groups respectively at the regional final hosted at South Staffs Sailing Club, near Gailey. 

This is the second consecutive year South Staffs SC’s Aga has qualified for the national final, while it will be Blithfield SC’s Henry’s Championship final debut. 

And both youngsters have their eyes on emulating the previous records of their big sisters, with Aga’s sister Kamila winning the 13-16 years national crown and a Highfield 460 RIB with a Honda BF50 engine for South Staffs SC last year, while Henry’s older sister Elizabeth won the regional 13-16 title and qualified for the Championship grand final in 2013.   

Now in its 14th 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 wins a Honwave T40 RIB with a Honda BF20 engine (8-12 years) or a Highfield 460 RIB with a Honda BF50 engine for their club (13-16 years) for their club. 

Skills they have to demonstrate include slalom, stopping, reversing round a mark and a blast to the finish.

Perton Middle School pupil Aga, who’s winning lap of one minute 44 seconds saw her take the regional crown for the second year running, said: “I’m excited that I’m going to the finals but I know it’s going to be stressful! 

"Robin (Harper) and Steve (Troke) at South Staffs are very helpful and the training makes me feel confident about competing. Kamila has been very helpful too and give me lots of technical tips to improve my driving. Although she is quite annoying in the boat during practice as she sings all the time!”

Competing in his trademark floppy hat, Henry, who attends Stafford Grammar School, clocked a time of one minute 52 seconds to book his national final spot. 

He said: "My first go was terrible but the second was much better. I am excited about going to the finals and it would be nice to beat my sister’s result, I think I can do it but we will have to see!”

Meanwhile Kamila, who became the first girl in 10 years to be crowned Honda RYA Youth RIB national champion last year, will also be back at Southampton in September to contest the ultimate Champion of Champions Trophy. 

The 14-year-old will go head-to-head in a one-off showdown against this year's 13-16 years national title winner, but has kept putting her skills to good use in the meantime.

Kamila said: “I’ve got my RYA Powerboat Level 1 and Level 2 certificates and have been driving the boat I won quite regularly to improve my skills too. Driving that boat makes me feel proud of myself and my achievement, and it makes me feel happy that it could make a difference at the club. 

“I would like to hopefully win the Champion of Champions in Southampton, but I also want to be able to help and give advice to other young powerboat drivers. They key is to not to try to go too fast but most of all to have fun." 

Steve Morris, Head of Power Equipment for Honda (UK), added: “We are pleased to continue our long and successful partnership with the RYA in supporting the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship in its 14th year. Honda and our boat partner Highfield are delighted to support the RYA in its endeavours to motivate and encourage young people to develop their skills and to promote safe and responsible racing through this unique and exciting Championship.”

Thanks to Championship sponsors Honda and Highfield. For more information about the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship visit www.rya.org.uk/go/hondayouthrib