The 13-year-old steered her boat Cheap Trick into the runner-up position behind by Harry Bennett-Wright from Raymond Terrace. Third place went to Joel Smith, also from Raymond Terrace.

Rigby said the outstanding result came as somewhat of a surprise to her.

“It felt really good and I was pretty proud of myself because I didn’t think I would go that well,” she said.

“In the end it was pretty close, there were only a couple of points between first and second. It would have been nice to finish first but second is still a really good result.”

Rigby had raced at the venue for the 2012 state titles previously and she said that experience held her in good stead for the event.

“I’d raced at Deepwater and in the state titles before and that helps a lot because you know what the track is like and what to expect,” she said.

“Sometimes the water conditions can be flat or choppy so you have to adjust.”

After her stunning success at Deepwater, Rigby has set her sights firmly on going one better when her hometown club hosts its Powerboat Spectacular on February 25-26.

“It’s a major race meet for the club and I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.

Rigby said that since she could remember power boat racing had always been an important part of her life.

“I grew up around it with my stepfather and my uncle both racing,” she said.

“I just want to continue to learn to drive better and compete to the best of my abilities.”