1.
STV PAN Boat No. 1 - Van Der Velden - overtakes Boat No. 2 - Hering
0.24

2.
TVP No. 1 leading
0.32

3.
LV PAN Boat No. 2 retakes lead from No. 1
0.45

4.
GV PAN Boat No. laps others boats
0.51

5.
LV Boat No. 2 gets chequered flag
0.54

6.
LV Boat No. 1 finishes
0.59

7.
TOP VIEW Pan Der Velden waves from Boat No. 1
1.10

8.
SCU Van Der Velden after race
1.19

9.
LV PAN Boat No. 21 - Andre Dierckx - leads Boat No. 12 in formula Two event
1.36

10.
LV No. 21 gets chequered flag and No. 12 follows
1.47

11.
LV & CU INTERIOR Crowd applauds as Van Der Velden gets trophy (2 shots)
2.03

12.
SV & CU Crowd applauds as Dierckx gets trophy (2 shots)
2.13



Initials ???/1735


SPORT: POWER BOAT RACING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In the World Power Boat Championships at Cardiff, Wales, in the United Kingdom last weekend (13-14 September), defending Formula One Champion Cees Van Der Velden of Holland retained his title and Formula Two Champion, Andre Dierckx of Belgium did as well.

It was the first time a Formula One championship race has over been held in Britain and for a while it appeared that a British driver, Tom Percival, might take the championship.

Percival managed a first and a second on Saturday, ending the day in front of the pack, and in sunday's critical heats he managed a second to Van Der Velden but then had engine trouble in the final race and was forced out just as he was closing the gap on the Dutchman.

Van Der Velden won the first of Sunday's two heats and even though he was passed by Bob Hering of the U.S. and finished second in the final heat, his accumulated points still gave him the championship.

Van Der Velden ended up with 1100 points; Percival with 1030; Alf Bullen of Britain, 750 and Hering with 625.

In the Formula Two event the Finish was even closer. Dierckx finished with the same number of points as Hans Pelster of Holland 1100. He was awarded the championship on lap times. pelster was second and Britain's John Hill third.

The Power boats can reach can reach speeds of 125 miles an hour (200 kilometres an hour) and if not handled properly are extremely dangerous. Their twin-hulled catamaran construction makes them glide with minimum contact with the surface, often capable of rising completely into the air. Cornering is also extremely difficult and requires great skill.

More than 100 boats were entered in the weekend's events and they came from ten different countries.