Round 1 of the New Zealand Jetsprint Championship at Meremere Dragway
It was all gumboots and raincoats on the eve of Round 1 of the NZ Jetsprint Championship at Meremere last Saturday. Despite torrential rain, the 36 teams remained undeterred, setting up their pits in preparation for an intense day of racing. Fortunately, the skies cleared overnight, and by 8:30 am, the roar of engines marked the start of the first qualifying round.
The challenging and technical track rotation proved to be a great equalizer, with over half the field taking a wrong turn on their first attempt. What followed was a thrilling day of competition, culminating in an impressive array of international winners: Australia’s Phonsy Mullan (Ramjet) in Building King Superboats, New Zealand’s Ollie Silverton (PSP Racing) in QDC Group A, and USA’s River Rogers (Pure Insanity) in the MTW LS Class.
Building King Superboats
Fourteen methanol-fueled monsters hit the water for the Superboat class. From the outset, Australian Phonsy Mullan showcased his class, clocking an impressive 49.274 seconds in the first qualifying round — the only sub-50-second time of the session. Remarkably, it had been eight years since Mullan last raced at Meremere during the 2016 UIM World Series in New Zealand.
The reigning NZ1, Sam Newdick, kept the pressure on Mullan, posting a 46.20 in Qualifying Round 3 against Mullan’s 45.28. However, Newdick’s campaign was cut short in Qualifying Round 4 when a broken drive shaft ended his day.
As the eliminations whittled the field down from 14 to 6 and eventually the Top 3, the stage was set for an international showdown. Representing New Zealand, Rob Coley (Poison Ivy) stood against USA’s Eric Werner (Jolly Roger) and Mullan, carrying the hopes of their nations. Mullan emerged victorious, followed by Coley and Werner.
Final Results – Building King Superboats:
1. Phonsy Mullan (AUS) – 44.564
2. Rob Coley (NZL) – 45.329
3. Eric Werner (USA) – 48.107
QDC Group A
Ollie Silverton and new navigator Amanda Kittow proved to be an unbeatable duo, claiming Round 1 victory with a one-second lead over Kris Rasmussen (Venom Racing), who has stepped up from Group B this season. Brett Thompson (TNT), driving consistently at his home track, secured third place.
Final Results – QDC Group A:
1. Ollie Silverton (NZL) – 47.843
2. Kris Rasmussen (NZL) – 48.843
3. Brett Thompson (NZL) – 50.563
MTW LS Class
The Te Awamutu duo Paddy and Jay Haden (Skitzo) dominated the qualifiers, maintaining nearly a one-second advantage over the field heading into the Top 12. However, USA’s River Rogers, the reigning 1NZ, found his rhythm during the elimination rounds and clinched victory. Tim and Debbie Edhouse (Liquid Addiction) completed the podium after a steady performance throughout the day.
Final Results – MTW LS Class:
1. River Rogers (USA) – 49.799
2. Paddy & Jay Haden (NZL) – 50.769
3. Tim & Debbie Edhouse (NZL) – 51.376
Round 1 of the NZ Jetsprint Championship delivered an unforgettable day of racing, with international talent shining on New Zealand waters. The competition now looks ahead to Round 2, where the battle for championship glory continues.
Photo : Phonsy Mullan victory lap
Photo credit : Shot360 Photography
New Zealand Jetsprint Championship 2024/25 Calendar
16th November 2024: Round One – Meremere Sprint Bowl Buy Tickets Here
1st December 2024: Round Two – Kiwispan Jetsprint Track, Featherston Buy Tickets Here
27rh December 2024: Round Three – Shelter View, Wanganui Buy Tickets Here
23rd February 2025: Round Four – Shelter View, Wanganui
UIM 2025 World Jetsprint Championship
25th & 26th January 2025 – Novus Glass Aquatrack, Wanaka Buy Tickets Here
1st & 2nd February 2025 – Shelter View Jet Sprint Track, Wanganui But Tickets Here
Follow the NZ Jetsprint Association on Facebook and Instagram
To find out more information head to the NZ Jetsprint Association website, or contact secretary Pip Thompson: P: 021 0248 1421, E:nzjetsprint@gmail.com
