Siblings take one and two in national championships

10:33am Tuesday 12th September 2006

A BROTHER and sister are ruling the waves after taking first and second place in the Jet Ski Racing Association (JSRA) British Championships.

Danny and Brooke Mace were competing in the summer series beginner junior ski class which culminated in Milton Keynes last weekend.

Going into the final of six rounds spread throughout the summer, any of the top four in the class of seven could have won the title.

Brooke, 15, was in top spot and leading her brother by 23 points but in the end Danny, 13, took the chequered flag and the overall trophy with a winning margin of just nine points from his sister.

Dad Russell, who also races and finished sixth in the novice class, said: "I am very proud of them and it is just a shame one of them had to win.

"As brother and sister they are getting a lot of attention and we have been invited to race abroad next year which will be a great experience for them."

The family, who live on Erith Road, Bexleyheath, discovered the siblings' talent for jet skiing purely by chance.

Russell said: "I used to go jet skiing as a recreational thing about five years ago and I got involved in racing about two years ago.

"The kids came along to watch and they said they wanted a go, so we decided to see what they were like before we brought them a bike as they can be expensive.

"A friend of mine who trains jet skiers said Brooke and Danny had a natural talent for the sport and so we went for it."

Their bikes are Kawasaki SX 800R machines which cost around £5,000 each with an additional £2,000 costs for any modifications.

Russell said: "We have sponsorship from a company called Southern Ductwork but we're always grateful for any help.

"The children have over taken my racing now and I come second to their development.

"It is a question of them getting established now and then we can look at other options.

"There is no prize money in the UK at their level but some competitions abroad do have prizes."

Brooke and Danny attend Erith School, Avenue Road, Bexley, and they travel to either Northampton or Oxford to train.

Russell said: "Jet skiing is a minority sport but anyone who comes and watches is always amazed at how good it is.

"A friend who likes motocross came once and really liked it, I guess it is like motocross on water."

The JSRA has cleaned up the sport's image of late as it had poor press due to what Russell calls idiots causing problems on coastal resorts'.

He said: "They would break all the rules and give us a bad name but now you have to be licensed and it has really helped to clean up the sport."

If you want to get involved in sponsoring the Mace family, email tashton@london.news quest.co.uk

Explore News Shopper