Tuesday, 04 October 2011 09:14
Fifteen year old Natalie Craddock has emerged as the 2011 British RYA GT30 championship winner after a closely fought season of racing. Natalie is the first female to win the title in a decade.
The GT30 battle began back in May at Natalie’s home club of LPRC at Carr Mill Dam, St Helens where Natalie finished 3rd behind club mates Jordan Muckles and Charlotte Gilbert. It was then on to Oulton Broad where Natalie made the most of her speed in the corners around the hairpin turn to take the round win and put her into the lead in the championship.
The final round took place during the weekend of 24/25 September at Stewartby Powerboat Club, Bedford, where Natalie had a three point lead on closest rival Jordan Muckles. Just 11 points separated the top four contenders at this final stage so everything was still to play for.
Race Report
Supplied by the RYA
Heat one and it was 2011 RYA British GT30 Sprint Champion Nick Walsh who got off to a flying start and led the race from start to finish. With Natalie docked a lap for missing a turn mark she needed a good performance in heat two if she was going to keep the championship.
Conditions were very taxing by the time heat two came around but the youngster wasn’t fazed by this and after getting a storming start off the line she won the heat with Nick taking second and Ben Morse taking third. It was now down to the wire for the final race of the season.
Natalie would need to finish 4th or higher in the final heat to ensure 4th place for the weekend and with that the championship win.
The final round was won by Nick Walsh with Charlotte Gilbert taking second and Ben Morse third position. With the results finally in Natalie had finished 4th and with it secured the 2011 British RYA GT30 Championship title.
The overall podium for the 2011 GT30 British Championship is as follows:
1st Natalie Craddock
2nd Ben Morse
3rd Jordan Muckles.
Nikki Drummond RYA Senior Powerboat Racing Administrator commented: “The GT30 Championship’s been a hotly contested competition all season with all the competitors pushing each other every step of the way producing some fantastic racing. All credit to Natalie; the competition could have gone either way in the conditions, but she kept her cool and did was she had to do too take the title. Congratulations Natalie!”