Immense horsepower and accurate navigation paid off at the Wanaka Jetsprints on Saturday, the 17th of January.
Thirty-five race teams and seven NextGen drivers lined up for Round 3 of the NZ Jetsprint Championship at the Wanaka Aquatrack.
The day dawned cool and overcast. Early qualifying highlighted the importance of going the right way, with many teams forced to backtrack after taking a wrong turn. Navigation improved with practice, the sky cleared up, and racing went smoothly and loudly all day.
The Southern Jet Superboat final had spectators on the edges of their folding chairs. Simon and (navigator) Sarah Gibbon were expected to be first on the water, but mechanical trouble kept their boat on the trailer, and they had to be satisfied with third place. Next up, Sam Newdick and navigator Shama Putaranui exploded out of the starting channel and ran a climactic 46.363 seconds. It was the fastest time of the day for about a minute.
Then Reuben Hoeksema and Suzi Katavich stormed the channels and stole first place with a breathtaking 46.362.
In the Group A final, Kris Rasmussen and Holly Sutherland got partway through their final run before parking on the grass and positioning themselves for third place.
Defending champions Ollie Silverton and navigator Amanda Kittow used very little water on their way to an elapsed time of 48.895 seconds. Matt Hareb and Hayden George ran a ferocious 48.500 to take their third win of the season. In three rounds of fiercely contested racing, Group A has featured three identical podiums.
With the largest field, the MTW LS Class delivers great competition. Rookies Conner Nairn and navigator James Tuckey clocked a stunning 51.683-second elapsed time for the win.
It was only their third jetsprint competition. Second-round (Whanganui) winners Paddy Haden and Jay Haden ran a tidy 51.782 for second place, while first-round (Featherston) winners John Verry and Grace Alder recorded 53.231 for third.
Gemma Johnson is another ecstatic rookie. She and navigator Richard Currie won MTW Group B with a 54.610, more than 1.5 seconds quicker than any other Group B team’s best time for the day.
Hamish Clarke and Lisa Seator, who won rounds one and two, had to settle for second place with 56.156. In third place, after steadily improving their times all day, Greg Wilson and Katie Wilson’s neat and tidy final run stopped the clock at 58.507 seconds.
Cooper Silverton recorded the quickest elapsed time in the NextGen training session and earned the right to practice a victory lap flying the chequered flag.
NZ Jet Sprint Association President Julia Murray was rapt with the competition: “The Wanaka track has tough challenges for drivers and navigators. It was awesome to watch so many teams improving throughout the day. All classes delivered close, exciting racing, and that’s what we like to see!”
Racing continues with Round 4, on the 14th February 2026, at Mountain View Jetsprint Track, 382 Croydon Road, Stratford.
Header Image: Supplied
