A HORSES for courses policy paid off for Hell Racing team owner Mark Cranny when he piloted Hellrazor to its maiden victory in the 47th Feros Hotel Hawkesbury Bridge to Bridge Waterski Classic on the Hawkesbury River on Sunday.
Cranny, who has two quality boats to choose from in Hellrazor and Hellbent, picked the former to take on Australia’s toughest waterski race.
And it proved a masterstroke as Hellrazor, which has been in the Hell Racing stable since March last year, gave Melbourne’s Cranny and observer Damien Matthews their second Bridge to Bridge title after Hellbent’s victory in 2006, with skiers Paul Robertson and Peter Procter claiming their first titles in the closest race since Mr Wallace won by six seconds in record time in 1996.
Hellrazor blasted across the line in a snappy 39:38.79, the second quickest winning time in race history and just 41 seconds outside Stinga’s 2005 record, finishing just 12 seconds clear of Hawkesbury 120 winner Blazen (39:50.16) for Noel Griffin, Bernie Simpson, Grant Turner and Chris Stout, while Superman was third for Darren McGuire, Adrian Pickering, Daniel Graziano and Daniel Cotton, 3:55 behind the winner.
After the first four boats raced side by side in the early going, Ebenezer champion Stinga took a 300m lead from Hellrazor until just short of Wisemans Ferry before suffering engine trouble and slowing down, although they were still third until they were forced to abandon their bid for a record sixth title downstream of Wilberforce.
But nothing can be taken away from the winner, with Cranny saying it was sweet to return to the top of the podium.
He said both his boats were the equal of each other, with Hellrazor more proficient in rough water and the new Hellbent better on the flat, with the conditions dictating which boat he competes in.
It was still a popular victory for the large crowd at the Windsor Marine Stadium, with Robertson, who skis at Sackville, finally claiming his first Bridge crown at 39, 17 years after winning the world title and less than two after coming out of retirement.
“It was exciting to win, especially with a new crew – the crew only came together this season and they’ve done a fine job,” he said.
“We lost (skiers) Jason (Walmsley) and Chris (Gelle) to injury through no fault of our own, but these things happen, it was disappointing at the time but we were lucky enough to get a commitment out of two great skiers to come and ski for us.
“Paul won the open men world title in 1991 and he was the best skier never to have won the Bridge so it was satisfying for him to see his dream come true.
“Peter is only 23 and has done exceptionally well in the past two years and was always going to win one.
“The boys have put in a lot of effort this year and to do the time they did is a testament to where they ended up on Sunday.”
While Cranny has a new version of Hellbent in his stable, the boat that won the 2006 event was sold to the Sapphire Racing Team after the Hawkesbury 120 and, rebadged as such, won the Unlimited Class and finished third overall in 43:22.42 for driver Tim Pickford, observer Andrew Glover and skiers Aaron McQualter and Michael Kelly.
The third placegetter in Super Class – Superman – is also a former Hellbent.
“We still maintain the boat in our workshop (at Patterson Lakes) and to see it and Superman also do so well was satisfying and it says something for the quality of boats we put out,” Cranny said.
There was plenty to smile about in the junior divisions, with Still Sparken winning the under 16 boys for Craig Boswell, Murray and Ben Hackett and Jack Houston; Underbelly taking the under 13 boys for Steven, Phillip and Ben Atkins and Joel Whitton; ahead of Blake Atkins behind Bloody Mary; and Jack Harrison and Codey Wood with Big Loll.
Amy Boylan was in the Slightly Twisted team that won the under 13 girls, while both under 10 teams featured last week safely finished, with Paradise Afloat winning for Brad Osmotherly and Luke Harrison.
Meanwhile, the grand old lady of the river, Mary McMillan, beat the odds to maintain her record of being the only skier to complete every Bridge since its 1961 debut.
McMillan had a hip replacement earlier this year and only received medical clearance two days before the race. She needed a break midway through but made it to the finish behind family boat Looney Tunes alongside great grandson Brock, with grandson David driving and his wife Bobette observing.