ROMSEY MAN BREAKS NATIONAL SPEED RECORD

John Bunyan, age 61, from Botley Road in Romsey, took part in the 50th International Powerboat Record Attempts on Coniston Water in the Lake District. 

The festival attracts competitors from all over the world and this year had entrants from France and Germany along with many from all over the UK. 

John, who holds three endurance speed records, attempted to break the OCRDA F2 national speed record in an Argo powerboat appropriately named “Problem Child.” 

It started badly when another competitor broke the existing record by 3mph. Frustratingly, in his first run, John was 9/100ths of a mile an hour too slow and despite numerous attempts, John could not increase his speed. 

With 20 minutes left of the event, John’s final run came good. He said: “The weather was still far from perfect, making controlling the boat quite challenging. I had no idea if I had done enough, and I felt that on at least one occasion we were about to go over on the side such was the state of the wind and water. I just could not go any faster.” 

“There seemed to be a long silence before the officer of the day announced my speed was 61.28 mph. I had done it, the relief was just incredible.”