HAWKESBURY pair Jake Tegart and Kevin Boylen combined to win the Hawkesbury Bridge to Bridge ski race at the weekend.
The pair were part of the Merc Force outfit, which romped home with the second fastest time recorded in the race of 38 minutes and 47 seconds.
The Merc Force team, made up of driver Don Gulley, observer Kevin Boylen and skiers Kris Knights and Jake Tegart, upset favourites Superman and Stinga.
Tegart said it was a great feeling to win his home race after finishing second in it on more than one occasion.
“This is the one I've always chased, it is the one I have always wanted to win,” he said.
“When you sign up to start racing it is the one you want to win. It is the Bathurst of ski racing.”
It was a first for Tegart, Knights and Gulley, though not Boylen, who has now won seven Bridge to Bridge races.
Tegart said the team went into the race firmly believing they would emerge winners, despite other boats, namely Stinga and Superman, being the race favourites.
“We stuck to our game plan and got ahead early and dictated most of the race,” he said.
“Instead of hoping Superman made a mistake, we went in knowing we were good enough to win the race.
“We had a really good race. There were no mistakes, everyone did their job and executed perfectly.”
Despite the Superman team, which has won the past two races, being the firm favourite, Tegart said the Merc Force guys got along famously with their rivals.
“We're all very good friends. It is one of those sports where it is not fully professional yet, so we all sit together at the starts and have a chat and share a beer afterwards,” he said.
“In Sydney races Superman is definitely the team to beat and there is a rivalry there.”
Tegart said it was a nice feeling to know the team’s run was the second fastest time in race history.
“The water conditions weren't great. They were good enough to run a respectable time but the top end was pretty bumpy,” he said.
Stinga were runners-up in Super class, followed by Top Gun and then Superman in fourth.
In the unlimited inboard class, TR was first, followed by Supernova then 1350F1, while in the unlimited outboard class, Judgmental won, with Shooter in second and Mad Ranga in third.
In the under-19 boys, Hawkesbury duo Jack Harrison and Cameron Osbourne were first with the Temper team.
In the under six litre class, Nothin But won, followed by Racecraft and Sudden Impact.
The newly established weekend warrior class saw the All Dunn team win, with MB Marine Racing and Max Rampage in second and third.
The Think Pink team, which raised money and awareness for women’s cancer, was sixth in the class.
This weekend, Tegart and Stinga skier Raymond Ball are headed to New Zealand for their Bridge to Bridge race.
Tegart said he was excited to race in it for the first time.
