1.
GV Boats at start watched by crowd (2 shots)
0.08

2.
GV PAN Start of race watched by crowd (2 shots)
0.27

3.
GV Boat number 1 leaves pack through first hand, watched by crowds (2 shots)
0.37

4.
GV Boats numbers 1 and 15 round marker buoy and away & crowd watching (2 shots)
0.56

5.
GV Rest of field round marker buoy watched by crowd (2 shots)
1.10

6.
MV Boats numbers 15 & 1 into dock at end of race
1.28



Initials CL/0330 CL/0350


SPORT: POWERBOAT RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: European Endurance Champion, Bob Spalding of Britain, won the Formula One event for 1,500 cc and upwards powerboats at the Embassy Grand Prix in Bristol, England on Sunday (6 June).

Driving his Molinari "John Player Special", Spalding led from the start and eventually finished the race well ahead of his nearest rivals - Neil Gregg in his Cougar "Sir-Ducer" and Joff Edwards driving "Marine Sales Taunton" - both also from Britain.

The Embassy Grand Prix was the first of six events during the European powerboat racing season which count for the Endurance Championship. The winner is decided on his or her best four results. The other races still to come take place in the Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Italy, France and West Germany.

Driver Peter Thorney work, who has competed in every Embassy Grand Prix to date, reckons that the Bristol course is the most difficult and demanding one on the powerboat racing calender. Apart from two turns there are also two bends - unlike the straight up-and-down of most circuits - and the added hazard of very high and very hard dock walls.

Prize money for all classes in this year's Embassy Grand Prix totalled GBP1,650 (2,800 U.S. dollars) - making it Europe's richest circuit powerboat meeting.

SYNOPSIS: An international Line-up of Formula One powerboats assembled at Bristol docks, England, on Sunday for the start of the main event of the Embassy Grand Prix. The competitors were facing the challenging of the most difficult course on the powerboat racing calendar and the first of six events counting towards this year's European Endurance Championship.

And it was reigning Endurance Champion Bob spalding of Britain who went into the lead from the start, driving his Molinari "John Player Special". The Formula One class is for beats from 1,500 ??? upwards and the racing offered a spectacular day's entertainment for competitors and spectators alike. The Bristol course is unusual in that it comprises two bends as well as two turns.

The rest of the competitors - 19 drivers from four countries - had no chance of catching the flying Spalding - who steadily increased his lead as the race progressed.

At the finish Spalding time well ahead of his nearest rivals - Neil Gregg in his Cougar "Sir-Ducer" and Joff Edwards driving "Marins Saloa Taunton". Both also British drivers, they finished second and third respectively.