Ski-racer Kris Knights and team Mercforce are in possession of the country’s two major water-skiing titles following last weekend’s triumph in the Southern 80 adding to last year’s success in the Bridge to Bridge.
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Knights – a former Parkes man, now of Cowra – and Merforce defied the odds, recovering from 16th after Saturday’s 20km time trial by making up the ground on Sunday to win the race labelled one of water-skiing’s toughest events on the calendar.
Mercforce, made up of boat driver Don Gulley, observer Kevin Boylan and skiers Kris Knights and Jake Tegart, claim the victory their greatest achievement after three years of consecutive second place finishes in the event.
In a thrilling finish, Mercforce edged out reining champions team Mistress by eight seconds finishing the 80km race in a slick 31 minutes and 10 seconds.
Race callers jumped the gun when they announced Mistress as back-to-back champions while Mercforce were blitzing the final 20kms.
Hitting top speeds of close to 200km/hr Mercforce silenced the more than 1000-strong crowd.
“The last 20kms was extremely tough. Both Jake and I were skipping over the ripples on the water all the way to the finish,” Knights said.
“Jake was first to see on the big screen that we had won and he began to yell in excitement at the rest of us.”
“I knew we had done enough to grab a podium finish,” driver Don Gulley added.
Hosted annually, the Southern 80 is raced on the narrow waters of the Murray River beginning from Torrumbarry and finishing at Echuca.
With more than 120 bends in the race and boats starting one minute apart, it’s understood that it’s virtually impossible for boats starting outside the top five to win.
Engine troubles and an overheated turbo limited Mercforce’s speed throughout the weekend but they were able to overcome the issues on Sunday.
“I didn’t think it was possible,” driver Gulley said.
“The boat was really good we knew were going well and the guys did the hard work in the dirty, challenging water and dug deep. The turning was very tight and it was hard on the skiers. It was a good day at the office.”
Observer Kevin Boylan described the feeling as unbelievable.
The Southern 80 usually attracts about 900 competitors, 260 boats and more than 1000 spectators.
Thirty-nine different classes cater for different engine capacities of both inboard and outboards.
There were also eight other competitors flying the flag for Parkes at the Southern 80 on February 11 and 12, competing in both the 20 kilometre short course run on the Saturday and 80 kilometre race on Sunday.
In the Under 10s Boys (20km course) Jack Nutley of Parkes - skiing behind Prime Suspect from Parkes with Kerrie Nutley driving and Brian Nutley observing - placed seventh in a time of 0:14:31. 65.
Not too far from claiming a top three position, Prime Suspect came fifth in the Senior Social 30-39 (20km course) with driver Brian Nutley, observer Josh Moxon from the Central Coast and Parkes skiers Jamie and Lisa Nutley, in a time of 0:09:59.45.
Conor Nutley was the only local aboard Wagga’s Kidz Boat, coming 19th in the 60 mph Social (20km course) and skiing a time of 0:12:44.89.
Superbad of Sydney was unable to complete the 20 kilometre course in the Veterans event, which saw Parkes skier Troy Dickson take to the water.
It was a successful day on Sunday for Prime Suspect - with Brian Nutley at the helm and Jamie Nutley observing, both from Parkes - after they helped local champion Kane Nutley and Riley Merchant of Sydney to victory in the Sub Junior Lites in a time of 0:49:36.32.
Kidz Boat and Lisa Nutley placed 11th in the 70 mph Expert event in a time of 0:50:41.
