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The 1998 Diamond water ski race in Belgium

Huge trucks strung across the banks of the canal promoting sponsorship, beer tents, RVs and millions of pounds of motorboats set the stage. The music was pumped into the air with engine exhaust, anxiety and adrenaline to once again create that unique Diamond Race atmosphere.

Former world champion and 1980s legend Danny Bertels was there promoting his balloon flights and old and new faces from all over Europe came together here to prepare for Europe’s biggest event of 1998.

With four races on the line, Sunday 31 May nearly got busy, providing ten thousand spectators with first-class value for money. Around six thousand paid their £5 each, while another four thousand were injured with free admission.

There was a degree of disappointment when Steve Robertson did not arrive after the earlier announcement that he would be taking the 12,000-mile journey for the race, but his compatriot Jason Martin was there to fly the Australian flag.

All eyes were on Kirkland and Cramphorn, but Italy’s Carlo Cassa and Devid Conti were also confident. Then of course the Belgian contingent of Micha Robijn, Filip Vervecken and Peter Bertels were good bets due to their recent level of skiing and special canal water expertise.

Kirkland’s No Mercy Hallett had started the weekend playing and the mechanical misfortune that dogged this team in 1997 was once again trying to rear its head. But everything was going well for the beginning of the race.

The races began with an open category where Dan Cramphorn took the field by storm and dominated the race until he entered (no, he didn’t fall -ok Dan-). It was Chris Cole who was there to pick up the pieces and record his second straight open race win here in Belgium.

The cocky piece of Belgian dynamite named Rick de Brabander took over F3 while the British team Pog with skier Glenn Manchett suffered mechanical misfortune. Ashley Copper, Steve Bird and other Brits did a good job finishing this grueling event.

But the big surprise of the day was in the Junior race when Belgium’s Christoff Van Gaeveren put on a ski display that reminded me of Wayne Mawer’s debut performance here in 1996. This tiny piece of dynamite put on a gutsy performance in his home water and the The young man is ready to go far. But a fall put him in second place behind teammate Magdeleyn, while Britain’s Kim Lumley took third place after recently recovering from a subsequent crash from last year’s World Cup.

It was time for the main race. At 4 in the afternoon the teams lined up in grids. At the five-minute flag, tension built up in the channel and on the banks. The first flag fell giving 19 drivers thirty seconds to pull out the short 190 foot ski lines, and then they were off.

Screaming down the first flat straight, the teams pushed their skiers to the limit on such short lines. Two big disappointments were that Micha Robijn’s boat failed to start and that Filip Vervecken missed the start. But the rest was gone.

Carlo Cassa was round one behind a new Bernico Foxy twin with Devid Conti 100 yards behind in Martin McLaughlin’s Cyclone. Kirkland trailed another 100 yards back, but he’s not usually a fast start.

As the race wore on, it was clear that Carlo Cassa was back on form. It also became clear that the young Conti was further up the ladder to the top and is determined to follow in the footsteps of the Great Gregory.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Briton Jamie Cramphorn was not far behind, with ambitions to follow in the footsteps of another former world champion. Those of Steve Moore MBE-his uncle.

Kirkland’s boat broke down after several slip-ups, and while he is recognized as one of the most talented sailors in the world, he has also probably suffered more bad luck than anyone else. It was only his third time in the water since the World Cup in October and his first race of the season. Competitors Cassa and Conti ski every day, backed by significant funding through the Italian Federation. The reality is that Kirkland is constantly at a clear disadvantage. A tragic situation for this world-class British athlete.

Cassa dominated the event, overcoming the harsh conditions, but with Conti always within 30 second range. And the race ended that way, with Belgian Peter Bertels in third and Cramphorn a good fourth.

As Cassa scrambled ashore, she was met with champagne, flowers, and a cheering crowd. Cassa was back once more. Her year in 1997 was plagued with misfortune. First her ski broke in an English race at 80 mph. He injured his knee, ankle and head went to the World Cup. After a traumatic time of being misdiagnosed by doctors, everything finally worked out. Last year he was about to give up, just like Gregorio after the 1993 World Cup. But with the support of his team, he kept fighting.

His Conti teammate was praised by Cassa, who told me how natural Conti is on a social ski. “Given a little bit of time and more strength, David will do just fine,” Cassa said. And when I asked Cassa about the race, she cried. You couldn’t help but be happy for this great Italian character.

Meanwhile, the awards ceremony was about to start. A very emotional event with the delivery of commemorative awards in memory of people from years past. It was an event in which many felt close.

And then the party. The big top tent was set up for a wild night of table dancing, singing, beer drinking, beer throwing without a dry person in sight (I blame Tom Lumley). Cassa & Co. performed the Full Monty and the night continued. And in. And in.

Monday came and the Diamond Race ended. Viersel had already returned to his quiet way of life in the country. The teams were gone and the atmosphere too.

By Robbie Llewellyn

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