Race History
The Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic is Australia 's internationally renowned water ski race. Set amidst the backdrop of the picturesque scenery of the incredible Hawkesbury River, this event attracts competitors nationally and globally. The thrill of competing in the Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic is incomparable. It is a great adventure that commences at Dangar Island in Broken Bay and proceeds along the length of the Hawkesbury River finishing in the historic town of Windsor . Interstate and overseas competitors are amazed at the beauty and hospitality of the Hawkesbury region and in particular the township of Windsor , the renowned home of the Bridge to Bridge.
In 1961 a field of only 20 entries just 80 competitors participated in the inaugural Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic. Teams were a mix of the super competitive intermingled with the weekend skier who wanted to brag I conquered the Hawkesbury.' Less than 20 years later over 300 boats (1200 competitors) raced up the Hawkesbury River. In 1984 the Bridge to Bridge entries record was set at 415 boats (1660 competitors). Now 50 years since a dedicated band of pioneers co-ordinated the first Bridge to Bridge, the challenge of this great race attracts a City to Surf mix of participants. Whether a regular ski racer or a once a year Bridge to Bridge competitor or a happy family enjoying a sport together- the goal is the same- to achieve a personal best time in the greatest ski race in the world. It requires commitment and careful planning to complete the112 kilometre course. There is no time to appreciate the beautiful meandering scenery as you negotiate the course in this challenging event. Everyone who as completed this fabulous race agrees that a feeling of euphoria envelops each competitor as he turns the final bend and is greeted by the cheers of the excited crowd of spectators awaiting each team's arrival at Windsor Stadium, Governor Philip Park. On passing the finish buoy the first words that come to each competitor's mind universally translate as I did it!
Hawkesbury's Heros
Outright Winners
Sponsors
Class Record Holders
Class Record Holders (Grid Start)
|
Year |
Boat |
Time |
Skiers |
Driver |
Observer |
1961 |
Yogi Bear |
1hr.33 |
C.Courtenay/F.Croft |
E.Palmer |
L.Lawler |
| 1962 |
Fleet Fun III |
1hr 18.30 |
C.Courtenay/F.Croft |
P.Bugden |
L.Lawler |
| 1963 |
Patricia |
1hr 18.15 |
J.Butler/D.Herring |
B.Peacock |
T.Hilliard |
| 1964 |
Fleet Fun III |
1hr 14.15 |
C.Courtenay/F.Croft |
P.Bugden |
W.Hopkins |
| 1965 |
Turbofire |
1hr 12.33 |
P.Reeson/D.Herring |
J.Reeson |
I.Pilz |
| 1966 |
Shy Anne |
1hr 21.57 |
P.Ward/R.Bouffler |
J.Perry |
F.White |
| 1967 |
Drag On |
1hr 17.22 |
B.Weick/C.Nurthen |
C.Weick |
J.Stevens |
| 1968 |
Caroline |
1hr 03.35 |
P.McManus/C.Billington |
B.Hooper |
M.McManus |
| 1969 |
Louise J |
1hr 05.56 |
R.Stephens/C.Nurthen |
N.Griffin |
L.Hogan |
| 1970 |
Caroline |
59 .10 min |
P.McManus/C.Billington |
W.Hooper |
M.McManus |
| 1971 |
Louise J |
58.32 min |
W.Jones/G.Faust |
N.Griffin |
L.Hogan |
| 1972 |
Drag Hunter |
1hr 01.55 |
G.Torrens/S.Clifton |
J.Timbs |
J.Wolfswinkel |
| 1973 |
Louise J |
57.19 min |
W.Jones/G.Faust |
N.Griffin |
L.Hogan |
| 1974 |
Wahoo |
56.35 min |
C.Hill/G.Eastgate |
A.Field |
K.George |
| 1975 |
All Torque |
56.18 min |
T.Wood/J.Millhouse |
W.Allen |
J.Leeds |
| 1976 |
Thunderbolt |
55.37 min |
B.Robberds/R.Woods |
W.Hackett |
L.Hogan |
| 1977 |
The Assassin |
50.02 min |
G.Hardaker/T.Longhurst |
J.Catania |
R.Hardaker |
| 1978 |
Firebird |
49.31 min |
R.Wheeler/S.Harrod |
D.Richardson |
N.Lee |
| 1979 |
The Assassin |
48.04 min |
G.Hardaker/R.Woods |
J.Catania |
R.Hardaker |
| 1980 |
The Assassin |
47.50 min |
G.Hardaker/J.Hardaker |
J.Catania |
R.Hardaker |
| 1981 |
The Judge |
48.16 min |
G.Hamilton/R.Brown |
B.Lindner |
D.Morris |
| 1982 |
The Assassin |
46.41 min |
G.Hardaker/J.Hardaker |
J.Catania |
I.Hogan |
| 1983* |
The Assassin |
48.46 min |
G.Hardaker/J.Hardaker |
J.Catania |
R.Hardaker |
| 1984 |
Plus One |
46.40.97 |
M.Pickering/B.Fletcher |
P.Burke |
P.Kunze |
| 1985 |
Moonshot |
46.06.77 |
G.Hardaker/J.Hardaker |
L.Freemantle |
G.O’Brien |
| 1986 |
Moonshot |
46.04.02 |
G.Hardaker/J.Hardaker |
L.Freemantle |
R.Hardaker |
| 1987 |
Moonlight Creeper |
46.30.06 |
R.Twitchin/S.Twitchin |
K.Broughton |
S.Broughton |
| 1988 |
Supafortruss |
44.37.50 |
C.Brown/D.Cropper |
G.Harris |
C.Stock |
| 1989 |
Top Gun |
43.53.48 |
D.Cropper/J.Campbell |
T.Hughes |
D.Parkin |
| 1990 |
Top Gun |
43.01.33 |
D.Cropper/J.Campbell |
T.Hughes |
P.Hanckel |
| 1991 |
Top Gun |
43.23.69 |
D.Cropper/D.Matthews |
T.Hughes |
P.Hanckel |
| 1992 |
Wild Turkey |
45.26.79 |
D.Kaal/B.Calder |
G.Foran |
C.Rafferty |
| 1993 |
Warlord |
44.43.41 |
S.Kell/R.Brown |
S.Thompson |
J.Lord |
| 1994 |
Mirage |
43.51.02 |
C.Brown/D.Cropper |
K.Broughton |
J.Hickey |
| 1995 |
God’s Gift (Vic) |
43.43.16 |
J. Oliver/N. Glynn |
G. Rithcie |
S. Thomas |
| 1996 |
Mr Walker |
39.54.27 |
D. Hanckel/S. Robertson |
S. Najar |
D. Haw |
| 1997 |
The Sting |
40.57.12 |
D.Auld/B.Lehmann |
K.Broughton |
H.Broughton |
| 1998 |
Wild Turkey |
44.54.59 |
T. Graziano/J. Hamilton |
B. Hobson |
D. Cook |
| 1999 |
The Sting |
40.38.37 |
S.Robertson/D.Auld |
K.Broughton |
H.Broughton |
| 2000 |
Mirage |
40.44.96 |
S. Rowe/T. Haig USA |
B. Gallard |
T. Whetstone |
| 2002 |
Stinga |
42.40.81 |
M. Galvin/J. Graziano |
G. Houston |
K. Boylan |
| 2003 |
Stinga |
42.50.25 |
J. Graziano/C. Gelle |
G. Houston |
K. Boylan |
| 2004 |
Stinga |
42.22.47 |
J. Graziano/M. Galvin |
G. Houston |
K. Boylan |
| 2005 |
Stinga |
38.57.53 |
C. Gelle/J. Walmsley |
G. Houston |
K. Boylan |
| * New Lengthened
Race Distance from 1983 |
back to top
SPONSORING THE BRIDGE TO BRIDGE |
Class |
Sponsor |
| Women |
Auto Group Auctions |
| Under 8 Litre Inboard |
Russell Jones Engines |
| M.O.C |
Watersports Marine |
| S.M.O.C |
Labsport Power Boats |
| Under 5.2 Litre |
Performance wholesalers |
| 141 - 175 Outboard |
Precision Marine finishing |
| Stock Inboard |
Rencraft Fiberglass Pty Ld |
| Under 19 Boys |
Lewis Fabrications |
| Under 16 Boys |
JLB Developments |
| Under 19 Girls |
Blue Mountain Motor Wreckers |
| Under 16 Girls |
Narellan Pools - Hawkesbury |
| Social Outboard |
Tri Steel Ballina |
| Under 13 Girls |
Bushy Race Skis |
| Social Inboard |
Cassell Marine |
Under 13 Boys |
J & J Robertson and Sons |
| Country Inboard |
Stephens Boats |
| Country Outboard |
Super Class Boats |
| Weekend Warriors |
TR Marine World |
| Super Class |
Table Grape Growers |
| Unlimited |
Argo Engineering |
| Under 6 Litre |
Bullet Racing |
| Over 50's |
Super Class Boats |
Veterans |
IG Autos |
Under 10 Boys and Girls |
J & J Robertson and Sons |
| Under 10s Shoot-out |
Bushy Race Skis |
Hot Shots |
Luhrman Group of Companies |
back to top
|
Class |
Team |
Time |
Year |
| Outright |
Stinga |
38:57.53 |
2005 |
| Super |
Stinga |
38:57.53 |
2005 |
| Unlimited Inboard |
Wild Turkey |
45.26.79 |
1992 |
| Unlimited Outboard |
Rampage |
45:21.89 |
1995 |
| Under 6 Litre |
Free Willie |
53:31.21 |
1995 |
| Under 8 Litre Inboard |
Shades of Gray |
49.37.97 |
1991 |
| Under 19 Boys |
Argo |
45.48.82 |
1991 |
| M.O.C Outboard |
Runnin Hot |
49:38.56 |
1995 |
| Under 16 Boys |
Spring Loaded |
50.26.98 |
1991 |
| S.M.O.C Outboard |
Sky Lab |
52.13.54 |
1991 |
| Country Outboard |
Airborne |
55.39.37 |
1992 |
| Under 19 Girls |
Top Shot |
50.21.00 |
1991 |
| Stock Inboard |
Sudden Impact |
56.49.03 |
1992 |
| Women |
Wild Turkey |
45.35.12 |
1993 |
| Under 5.2 Litre |
Red Pepper |
54:12.15 |
1995 |
| 141 Hp - 175 Hp Outboard |
K T Marine |
56.47.43 |
1991 |
| Under 16 Girls |
Bulletproof |
57.45.07 |
1991 |
| Country Inboard |
Argo |
51:04.20 |
1995 |
| Under 13 Boys |
Smuggler |
58.58.55 |
1992 |
| Social Inboard |
Noise Works |
56:59.40 |
1995 |
| Social Outboard |
Simplicity |
58.23.99 |
1991 |
| 0 - 140 Hp Outboard |
Wyvern |
63.03.42 |
1992 |
| Over 50s |
Hot Shot |
58.30.08 |
1991 |
| Under 13 Girls |
Peter Pann |
68.50.61 |
1995 |
| Social Class Novice |
Very Touchy |
67.27.82 |
1991 |
| Social Centremount |
Ripped |
67.37.92 |
1993 |
| Social Small Outboard |
Inlika Shot |
70.53.81 |
1993 |
| Under 10 Boys & Girls |
Stress Factor II |
77.37.72 |
1993 |
| Personal Water Craft |
Humdinga |
130.54.52 |
1992 |
NEW FORMAT CLASS RECORD HOLDERS (GRID START) |
Class |
Team |
Time |
Year |
| 1.Women |
Supershot |
43.12.59 |
1997 |
| 2.MOC |
Streamline Boat Covers |
46.23.00 |
2010 |
| 3.Under 8 Litre |
Vengeance |
48.29.22 |
2000 |
| 4.SMOC |
Viscious Rumours |
49.47.21 |
2009 |
| 5.Under 6 Litre |
Double Trouble |
47.09.98 |
2000 |
| 6.Under 16 Boys |
Revenge |
49.29.87 |
2002 |
| 7.Under 19 Girls |
Frantic |
51.58.17 |
2000 |
| 8.141-175 Outboard |
Alibi |
55.02.24 |
2002 |
| 9.Under 5.2 Litre |
The Culprit |
47.47.00 |
2010 |
| 10.Stock Inboard |
Loose n It |
50.03.68 |
2000 |
| 11.Country Outboard |
Tuff-E-Nuff |
48.46.01 |
1997 |
| 12.Under 16 Girls |
Tuff-E-Nuff |
54.34.26 |
1998 |
| 13.Country Inboard |
Nova |
53.36.02 |
1998 |
| 14.Social Outboard |
Crusher |
57.53.69 |
2002 |
| 15.0 140 Outboard |
The Menace |
63.40.19 |
2000 |
| 16.Under 13 Boys |
Cykotic |
55.44.74 |
2002 |
| 17.Social Inboard |
Rebel Yell |
57.41.00 |
2010 |
| 18.Under 13 Girls |
Emotions |
62.41.22 |
2000 |
| 19.Weekend Warriors |
Wizard |
69.56.00 |
1999 |
| 20.Under 10 Boys & Girls |
Big Loll |
63.51.00 |
2010 |
| 21.Super Class |
Stinga |
38:57.5 |
2005 |
| 22.Under 19 Boys |
Humble |
43.45.45 |
1997 |
| 23.Unlimited |
Crazy Horse |
44.09.31 |
1999 |
| 24.Twin Rig |
Cyclone Boats |
46.48.32 |
1997 |
| 25. 60MPH |
Confuzion |
67.20.00 |
2010 |
| 26. 2.5 Litre Outboard |
Saintin |
54.07.00 |
2010 |
| 27. Stock 6 Litre |
Ski Connection |
57.45.62 |
2007 |
| 28.Formula 2 |
Miss Force |
49.24.00 |
2010 |
| 29. 70MPH |
Krakatoa |
64.33.55 |
2008 |
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