Copies of Current and past New Zealand Hydroplane Drivers Club Newsletters can be found at the bottom of this page. The Major News from Each News Letter will be Posted here as well as any relevant News Story you care to Submit to Denise Moughan for posting on the Site.
Check for past News Stories on our News Archive pages using the Links at the bottom of the Page.

28th February - Masport Cup

Ken Lupton took home the King of the Lake Title at the weekend in a battle with Warwick Lupton and a very committed Steve Hughes

Gallery page up soon sorry for the delay

27th February - Masport Cup

Julian Stillwell gets a bit of Air under his F1 Boat

I will add a Gallery Page late on Monday Night.

Ken Lupton Annihilator GP009	Sierra has his left Sponson Torn off in the Incident involving the Buoy and California Girls	The Damage to Sierra	Selwyn Coker had a drive in Fair Warning
Selwyn Coker in Fair Warning	Flat Out was just that today	Great little Boat I was in the Passenger seat again for a Scratch race this week in Live Bait	Greg Hill and Warwick Lupton replace the Prop Shaft on Kens Boat
Ken Lupton	Warwick Lupton	King of the Lake and Steve Hughes in Total is still up there with the GP Hydro's	Warwick Ken & Steve battle it out in King of the Lake

26th February 3.30pm - Masport Cup

Warwick Lupton has Won the Masport Cup with a Second Place in Heat 2 finishing behind Ken Lupton.
David's Boat broke a Blower belt on the Start and he was out of the Race Ken Lupton got away fast to lead Warwick into turn 1 and held on to a comfortable 3 second advantage for the rest of the Race. in 3rd was KRB Malcolm Jamieson once more which overall should see him Finish Second in the Masport Cup with a tie for 3rd Between David and Ken unofficially.

The team is now seeing how much fuel is left to see which Boats can run the King of the Lake final race of the Day

26th February 1.50pm - Masport Cup

David Alexander took out Heat One of the Masport Cup from warwick Lupton and Malcom Jamieson in KRB

The race started with Warwick Lupton missing the start by a country mile and he was last at turn one. ken Lupton had his throttle cable come off at the start but he climbed out reattached it and continued the race 2 laps down.
David cleared out to lead the race from the F1 Tunnels with warwick traveling very much faster than David playing catch up through the Whole Race. Ken lupton once going was looking good but sadly down the back straight he snapped the Prop shaft clean off with the Prop seen going up in the air quite some distance before splashing down into the aybss of Lake Rotoiti.

Battery's are going flat might have to wait until after the meeting to update 2nd Heat?

26th February 12.40pm - Masport Cup

Formula One Boats destroyed the Buoy in the First Race of the Day California Girls came in dragging a large part of the Orange Cloth that once held the Buoy together.

I had another Race in Live Bait the Formula Vee Boat we had a bit of a close call in our race but was all good in the end Great Stuff thanks David.

Its about an hour an a half until Heat 1 of the Masport Cup all three Annihilator Boats are running Smoothly.
I will update after that.

26th February 7.45am - Masport Cup

Anthony Robinson in Flat Out Loses his rear cowling

Looks like it will be another cracker day Today at Lake Rotoiti.

I will post updates after both rounds of the Masport Cup This Afternoon

Alan Dennis at speed entering the Turn	Grand National Hydroplane Start	Flat Out and The Advocate	Dancing Bear leaves little room for Satan's Pride
Satan's Pride	Annihilator 2	Warwick Lupton	Fair Warning & Terminator had some close Racing as they cross the finish line

25th February 4.10pm - Masport Cup

Ken Lupton Decided to run in the South Island Unlimited/Unrestricted Title today and simply Annihilated the opposition to win both heats with Ease.
The Opposition included The F1 Tunnels of KRB, California Girls, The Advocate, Flat Out, Sierra, and the GNH of Fair Warning & Terminator.
Ken lead both the races from start to finish and said his Boat was Performing Well and looked forward to the Masport Cup Tomorrow.

Today's Boat Racing flowed smoothly and was all over by 3.45pm as a Wedding was planned for the Lake at 4.00pm. I will post some pictures First thing in the Morning before we head out to the Lake

25th February 12.30pm - Masport Cup

At the Lake it is a stunning Day with bright Blue skies.
No major dramas with any Boats although Aquanaut is out for the weekend with Oil Pressure problems.

The GP Annihilator Teams have had there test day over and done with and are all set for the Masport Cup Tomorrow. All Three Boats are running smoothly and face a Field of 12 Tomorrow which will be whittled down to 10 Boats on fastest Times

24th February - Masport Cup
Just a Quick update to say that there is access from our accommodation for the Masport Cup which will now be run on Sunday.
Haven't Checked out the Lake yet but we are not too far Away.

Saturday is mostly practice so don't expect much in the way of updates Tomorrow.

22nd February - New Zealand Championships

Mark Kelly had his steering Break in the Formula Vee Boat "Unicorn" both Driver and Passenger were OK with Minor Bruising. They were Planning on Racing this weekend at Lake Rotoiti but either the damage to the Boat will stop them or maybe the Damage from their Wives once they see these pictures will prevent them from Racing this weekend

More pictures added to the Gallery Today

21st February - New Zealand Championships

A reporter from Canada was visiting Hokitika and took an Interest in the Annihilator Team. The World Championships in 2007 will be held in Valleyfield, Canada.

Gallery is updated more pictures to come Later

20th February - New Zealand Championships

Ken Leads Warwick in Race 2 of the NZ Championship

Wellington Power Boat Club has won the Canadian Trophy at the Nationals for the Club with the Highest Points Helped Largely by Steve Hughes and Gary Gregory winning 3 Titles Between them the club finished just in front of Manakau/Auckland. It was just as well they won as the Club left the Trophy at Home Perhaps they were Confident of Winning and didn't see the need to transport the large Trophy down to Hokitika.

Gallery Update may be tomorrow Night having to use my slow old Computer as the Lappy is visiting Nelson without me.

19th February 10.30pm - New Zealand Championships

Warwick on his way to winning the King of the Nationals

We drove back to Nelson from the Lake so its a rather late little Update tonight.

The Day started out perfectly with David and his Loyal crew at work putting the Engine back in the repaired Boat. All three Boats went out for Warm up but only Warwick returned with David shutting down With Oil Pressure problems the decision was made to rest his Boat for the rest of the Day and get the Motor Back to Wanganui for a checkup. ken Lupton came to a halt when the Blower Belt Broke after a Quick replacement ken and Warwick headed out for the King of the Nationals Race but Ken came to a stop when something let go in the engine.
The Annihilator team now had just Warwick Lupton Running and he was Cleaned up the King of the Nationals Title and then went out got a hard work out from Steve Hughes in "Total" during the first heat of the South Island GP with the Engine running a bit rough the Crew decided to Swap Motors for Heat two but after 1 lap the Electric's started to miss and it was back to shore for Warwick allowing the reliable Steve Hughes to win the South Island GP Title.

With things turning to custard with everything the Team did it was decided to call it a Day.

Ken has Driven Back to Wanganui Tonight to catch the Ferry with Two Motors in his Ute and Andy will join him with one of Warwick's motors Poor old Grant Rivers who spent the weekend with his Family Drag Racing will now have 3 Motors to work on before next weekend and the Masport Cup in Nelson Lakes District.

My day however was Brilliant as I got to be passenger in a Formula V/Mod VP handicap race. I was offered the ride after showing the Owner David Delaney some Pictures at Prizegiving the night before.

The water wasn't too rough really ;-)
Cant thank the "Live Bait" team enough for the ride it was amazing and couldn't have asked for a better Boat to do it in.
Cheers Phillip

Will post plenty of Pictures during the Week

19th February 7.00am - New Zealand Championships

Added pictures of the New Zealand Champions to the List Below

Wont be another update until later tonight depending on travel arrangements as there is no coverage at the lake. should be a Good day with the GP Boats running in the King of the Nationals as well as the South Island Championships.

18th February 2006 11.06pm - New Zealand Championships

"Madaz" Clark Powell Lives up to his name (he was ok after his swim)

Official Results
Series 3000

1st - "Madison Blues" Mike Wotton
2nd - "Going Going Gone" Paul Robertson
3rd - "Star Trax" Geoff Robinson


Pro Com

1st - "Cut Loose" Gary Gregory
2nd - "Dancing Bear" John Ryan
3rd - "Gladiator" Mike Ryan


Formula Vee

1st - "Unforgiven" Nathan Lindsey
2nd - "Unicorn" Mark Kelly
3rd - "Superman" Darren Randle


Pro Stock

1st - "Cut Loose" Gary Gregory
2nd - "Madison Blues" Mike Wotton
3rd - "Star Trax" Andrea Robinson


Formula One

1st - "Total" Steve Hughes
2nd - "The Advocate" Ian Thomas
3rd - "KRB" Malcom Jamieson


Modified Hydroplane

1st - "Little Cracker" Alan Lewis
2nd - "Armageddon" Brendon Hall
3rd - "Reckless" Michael Harvey


Formula Three

1st - "Sinista" Geoff Morrish
2nd - "Instigator" Jamie Hargreaves
3rd - "Black Thunder" Josh Preece


Mod VP

1st - "Southern Storm" Andrew Morris
2nd - "No Mercy" Paul Morris
3rd - "Striker" Brent Dawson


Grand National Hydroplane

1st - "Terminator" Darryl Friend
2nd - "Little Cracker" Alan Lewis
3rd - "Fair Warning" Scott Coker


Grand Prix Hydroplane

1st - "Annihilator 3" Ken Lupton
2nd - "KRB" Malcom Jamieson
3rd - "Annihilator" Warwick Lupton

Ken Lupton is rather Proud to say that he Dusted the Current World Champion Warwick Lupton.



Tomorrow I will be in the Passenger Seat of this Boat in a Race Bloody Awesome! and he only wanted a photo for it.

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18th February 2006 7.00pm - New Zealand Championships

Ken Beats World Champion Warwick

Their was no Mobile Service available at the Lake with many Phones out of commission as well so a brief update before Prizegiving and a substantial update first thing tomorrow Morning.

Ken Lupton has defended his New Zealand title defeating the consistent Malcolm Jamieson in KRB In Heat One it was all over for Warwick at the start as the boat hit a rough patch of water and broke his Blower Belt. Malcom Jamieson stormed to the lead and was slowly run down by Ken Lupton and David Alexander who managed to just pip KRB on the line in a tight finish for Second. There was a lengthy delay between Heats for the Crew but sadly David Alexander was unable to compete anymore to day with another crack in the Belly pan needed fibre glassing. He will be running tomorrow however.
Heat Two and it was a big battle between Warwick Lupton on the Outside and Ken Lupton on the inside which went right down to the line and neither driver would admit who Won so officially we are not sure until Prizegiving very soon.

I will do an update of all the Class winners Tonight or early This Morning.
Unofficially
Grand National Winner is Darryl Friend in Terminator
Modified Hydroplane winner is Alan Lewis in Little Cracker
Mod VP Southern Storm??
Formula 3 winner is Geoff Morrish in Sinister.
Formula One winner is Malcolm Jamieson in KRB

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15th February 2006 - Masport Cup


The Masport Cup is being Staged as Part of The Rotoiti Power Boat Clubs Regatta which is held on the 25th & 26th February 2006.

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11th February 2006 - EC Griffiths Cup


The 93rd Running of the "E.C.Griffith Cup" will take place on the 29th and 30th April 2006 at Lake Mulwala, Yarrawonga"
The Event is being run again by the Victorian Council and all Clubs in Victoria.
Competitor Kits are now available and if you were not at Melton please contact:
John Niddrie on (03) 9747 8700 BH
or
email bresara@bigpond.net.au and a pack will be forwarded to you

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8th February 2006 - Bryan Denham

Bryan Denham's has one of his last races at Mangakino on New Years Day

Its sad to report the passing of the NZPBA Vice President Bryan Denham. Bryan was diagnosed with Terminal Cancer shortly after the Mangakino Regatta on New Years Eve. Bryan was in attendance at the UIM World Championships held last weekend and passed away on Tuesday.

Bryan's funeral is to be held on Friday 10th Feb at the Civic Centre in Ferguson drive, Upper Hutt.
The funeral starts at 1pm.

The Wairarapa regatta to be run on the 11th and 12th of March will also include a special tribute to Bryan.

The New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club which to pass on their Deepest Sympathies to the Denham family


Bryan runs his old boat at last years Goldcup Regatta while helping its New Owner with setup tips and advise

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8th February 2006 - News

4 Guys Auto Barn one of the New Zealand Grand Prix Hydroplane Drivers Club Major Sponsors Gratefully supplied Event Organizer Denise Moughan with this Wagon so she could get around the Place towing her Trailer full of Event Equipment.
This Particular Wagon was a very useful Vehicle and the Club very Much Appreciates the Efforts of 4 Guys Auto Barn



Warwick Lupton will be appearing on the Sky Sports 2 Show "Pitlane" on Thursday Night at 8.30pm.
There's bound to be some Footage as well as an Interview with Warwick Lupton which should be Great.


There were two stories printed in the papers that I could Find about the UIM World Championships held on the Weekend click the Links below to read them

Wanganui Chronicle
Waikato Times

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