Thurso jet-skier tastes national success
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AFTER making a big splash racing along the British coastline, a Caithness exile is hoping to continue his success in water motorsport.
Duncan Johnstone dominated his category when he won every single race in the P1 Powerboat Aqua Cross British Series to be crowned British AM200 class champion last year.
The 45-year-old, who is originally from Thurso but now stays in Fareham in Hampshire, won the competition which was held for the first time last year, taking the podium in all five stages against a talented field of competitors.
But the network engineer is now hoping for further success and he aims to step up a level in offshore jet-ski racing.
Since moving to Hampshire in 1996, Mr Johnstone has been an enthusiastic jet-skier and started up the Solent Skiers Association in 2002. But only took up the sport competitively last year.
"P1 Powerboat came up with the Aqua Cross Series as an addition to its main competition which is held in courses all over the world," he said.
"They decided that they wanted to introduce a competition which got back to the grass roots of the sport and introduce a jet-ski series for amateur racers.
"It consisted of five races which took place in Southampton, Jersey, Plymouth, Cowes and Liverpool, with the driver with the most points taking the title.
"I took first in every stage last season and was crowned British champion, which is an achievement I’m very proud of.
"The first season was mainly a way of getting more interest in the sport and I expect to be competing against a larger field this year."
As a result of his success, the Yamaha FX 160 driver has had to apply for elite membership and will again be competing at the 200 series level this season.
But in the future he is hoping to take part at a higher level and is looking for sponsorship to compete professionally.
He said that he didn’t expect to win in his first season of competition, but is determined to achieve further success.
"I expected to take part in the competition and just have a laugh to help promote the sport," he explained.
"It is something that I always wanted to do since I took up jet-skiing, but I wasn’t interested in the lake competitions because I’m more interested in jet-skiing out in the sea.
"There were endurance races around the world but there was nothing in Britain at all until Aquacross came along last season and realised that jet-skis are built for going in the sea and not around little lakes.
"I will be taking part in the 200 series again where hopefully I can win the title and then make my way up to the 250 and 300 championships where the jet-skis are just immense.
"But being on the same line up as jet-ski world champions who competed in the elite classes was an amazing experience for me and I kept thinking to myself, ‘how am I on the same card as these guys?’.
"The competition has attracted a whole new dynamic to the sport in Britain and hopefully will generate more interest."
