Medway Powerboat Pair Looking For Regional Crown Repeat
South East Honda Youth RIB final takes place on Saturday 1 August
Two young Medway Yacht Club powerboat drivers will once again bid for home rule as they do battle to qualify for the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship's national grand final at the South East regional heats on Saturday (1 August).
2014 regional champions Morgan Glass, 12, and 15-year-old Harry Chung finished fifth and seventh in their respective 8-12 and 13-16 years age-groups when they went head to head against the 13 other regional age-group champions in the national Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship finals at the PSP Southampton Boat Show last September.
If Harry, from Chatham, was to qualify for this year’s national final, which takes place in Southampton on Sunday 13 September, it will actually be his third regional crown, having also won the younger 8-12 age-group title three years ago.
Meanwhile, an event debutant in 2014, Morgan, from Dartford, overcame the nearest challenge of his twin brother Bryn to land his place in last year's national final.
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. Skills they must show include slalom, stopping, reversing round a mark and a blast to the finish. Neither of the South East defending champions can wait.
Morgan said: “In last year’s national final, I learned a very important thing. I tried my best but I didn't get gold, and even though people always say 'taking part is all that counts' it doesn't seem like it when you lose.
"But the thing is that you always make mistakes, and if you have another chance, use what you've learned from your mistakes and you will succeed. I've enjoyed the training at the club and I hope to use it to get to Southampton again this year and win.”
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 (13-16 years) for their club.
Harry added: "I am hoping to get to the national finals again this year and hopefully win the boat for my club, as, because I am now 15, I will only have one more chance after this year."
Medway YC has got an impressive record in its youngsters qualifying for the national finals. This is the fourth year the club has been involved in the Championships and had two finalists three years ago, one finalist in 2013 plus Harry and Morgan last year.
Steve Morris, Head of Power Products for Honda (UK) said: "We are delighted to continue our long and successful partnership with the RYA in supporting the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship.
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."
For more information about the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship visit www.rya.org.uk/go/hondayouthrib