Wales is set to play host to the next two tour stops of the UK Zapcat Racing Championships with the first of the “Welsh Tour” events taking place in Prestatyn on the 24th & 25th July and then heading south to Barry Island on the 7th & 8th August.
Zapcats are small, inflatable, high powered, catamaran powerboats crewed by two people all trying get to the first turn first. Whether in breaking surf, along a coast or on the flat water of a river or dock Zapcat racing always guarantees plenty of thrills and spills!
Sian Davies, Events Officer of Denbighshire County Council said: “This is a great opportunity to showcase Prestatyn and North Wales to the world as Zapcat Racing has a big online following. People log on from all over the world to watch the racing live on the Internet!”
“I am sure all of the competitors, their friends and families are also going to enjoy the Carnival weekend too and we are looking forward to hopefully having this as a regular calendar event in the future, especially if we can work together with Pontin’s again.”
The Welsh venues form part of the Celtic Cup and the first two rounds were held In Edinburgh last weekend. Prestatyn will have two rounds over Saturday and Sunday and tides willing, there will be 16 heats and two finals on each day with practice starting around 11am on both days. Local interest and support will be for boats 35 and 28, Nine Lives and Westgate Buildings, who will be flying the flag for Wales.
Zapcat Event Director, Martin Jupp, said: “Prestatyn is an exciting new venue for us and to return to North Wales for the first time in six years in our 10th Anniversary Season is fantastic!
“It is thanks to Denbighshire County Council and Pontin’s that we have been able to bring the Championships here over the Prestatyn Carnival weekend and we are expecting a large number of spectators enjoying the action of this free to view event!”
“Zapcat Racing is an immensely enjoyable extreme sport, not only to participate in but to also watch and we know that all ages, both male or female will be entertained by the Zapcat teams and if they can inspire a few people to try a new challenge then even better!”.
There will be around 27 teams taking part, including the youngest competitor, Nick Martin who has just turned 16 and is co-piloting for Jack Weller, the Rookie Leader. Mixing it up quite literally will be husband and wife team, Russell & Sandra of Scaredy Cat and the Father / Daughter & Son combo of Greg, Adelle & Kieron Richardson in Team Suffolk, the longest serving Zapcat race teams, having competed for the last eight seasons.
