Boating boys power their way to glory

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), August 13, 2008

BOATING starlets Jordan Muckles and Luke McGill turned on the power to claim success at the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship's north east regional final.

Hartlepool Marina was the venue for young powerboating enthusiasts from around the region to show their skills - with Wearsiders Muckles and McGill leading the way.

Muckles, 12, triumphed in the eight to 12 years age group, McGill in the 13 to 16 years section.

Muckles, from Sunderland, has just returned from the Formula Future World Powerboating Championships in Italy and was Honda RYA National Champion in 2007 in the eight to 12 years age group.

He set an early blistering pace with a best time of 1min 14.7sec - a time which remained unmatched for the whole competition.

However, he did not have it all his own way as breathing down his neck was twin brother Scott, who completed the course in 1min 18.3sec. Unfortunately, Scott incurred a five-second penalty for hitting a mark, bringing his time to 1min 23sec - still good enough for second place.

Third spot went to 12-year-old Lewis Allick from Middlesbrough and fourth to 12-year-old Beth Elliott from Lumley near Chester-le-Street - the only girl to compete in the event.

Richard Tates of Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club was sixth.

Times in the older youth group (13 to 16 years) were even tighter with 14-year-old McGill, also from Sunderland, clocking a 1min 9.3sec lap.

He incurred two five-second penalties - bringing his actual lap time to 1min 19.3sec.

Second place went to 14-year-old Sam Clow in a time of 1min 19.4sec and third, making it a one, two, three for Sunderland in the youth class, was 14-year-old Billy Maughan in 1min 22sec.

Derwent Reservoir SC duo Jason Lovell and Jake Hanson claimed fifth and sixth respectively, with Durham School's Jonathan Simpson seventh.

Muckles and McGill now go on to the national finals in Southampton.

CAPTION(S):

WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN: Honda Youth RYB Championship winners Luke McGill and Jordan Muckles (left) and (right) brothers Scott and Jordan Muckles