Father and son take on 'adrenaline-fuelled' race

Yahoo

2 days ago

Those on a gentle weekend stroll around a South Yorkshire beauty spot may be surprised to hear revving throttles and crashing waves for the British Jetsport Championships.
More than 50 water scooters will take to Rother Valley Country Park's main lake, with a father and son duo among the competitors.
Harvey Booth, 53, and Harry Booth, 17, from Huddersfield, are members of the Sheffield and District Jet Ski Club.
"It all started in the 1990s - I was always keen on it and I started racing, then when my family came along I stopped," says Harvey.
"When my son got old enough we started again."
He adds: "The easiest way to describe it is it's a bit similar to motocross on water."
Harry joined Harvey on the water aged 11, when his father took his water scooter out of the garage and asked if he wanted a go.
"I did my first race at the end of 2020 in the junior's class and I just loved it," he says.
"I progressed into different classes and eventually now I'm in Ski GP."
Ski GP is the fastest of the water scooting classes – which include vintage, modified, clubman and GP.
Among the classes are juniors, novices and experts – ranging in age from 9 to 71.
The series has six championship rounds a year along with a winter round.
"It's just a real adrenaline rush, they're quite fast so it is a buzz," says Harvey.
Though both claim the sport isn't dangerous, Harry has come away with a few "near misses" and Harvey's wife and Harry's mother Katy struggles to watch them.
"She thinks it's a little bit dangerous," says Harvey.
"She finds it a bit scary, but she's all for it as it makes me happy," adds Harry.
Tim Atkinson, who is from Pontefract and is competing alongside the Booths on Sunday, is approaching 10 years of racing.
"In any sort of sport collisions or incidents can happen," says Tim.
"I've been fairly lucky over the years, I've never really seriously hurt myself but other people have had a few broken bones where they've come off."
The 40-year-old tree surgeon says he's keen for more people to get involved in the sport.
"It just seems to be sort of one of those hobbies and sports that's hidden," he says.
The race in Rotherham is the fifth round of the championships, with all three Yorkshiremen feeling quietly confident.
"It's our local round, it's our favourite, and obviously closest to home - so there will be plenty of friends and family spectating," says Harvey.
Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Similar stories
Swimmers jumping from pier rescued by jet skiers