This week Bill Carne met up with Simon Harding, who recently came fifth in the World Power Boat Championships in Malta and who loves being so heavily involved in a high-speed sport which is not for the faint-hearted...

SIMON Harding admits that he is just as happy in the sea as he is on land and has been involved in a range of aquatic sports but it is power boating that is his current sporting speciality and he can rightly be proud of the fact that in this year's World Championship he came a hugely creditable fifth place.

The championships were held in Malta and it is typical of Simon's indomitable spirit that he actually drove his fan, packed with all the boat's equipment and spare parts, from Pembrokeshire to Malta, via France, Italy, then a ferry to Sicily and another to their final destination - a mere 1,850 miles in two days.

He had an overnight stop in Italy with David Simon Williams of B Worx Ltd, one of his generous sponsors, and enjoyed ten days of racing, which started with free practice and revealed a slight problem.

Simon had entered the 'Stock' category but the ambient temperature was high and the sea temperature was 24-26 degrees which made it difficult to get the best out of his boat in terms of power - so he gained permission to change to the 'Pro-Stock' category, which allowed him to alter his reed valves, the exhaust system and other things to raise the maximum speed but also to ensure better handling of the boat.

The races were then held over the traditional three categories, starting with circuit racing (on a lake so a fair chance of flat water over six laps), long haul (about 68 miles of endurance racing on the coast) and surf racing (lots of thrills and spills as the course took them through some strong surf).

Simon was working hard with his co-driver Kurt Croft, whose job it is to see that he shifts his weight whenever and wherever he feels the boat needs balance, and in his first year he has done really well as he uses his previous experience racing motocross to good effect.

Simon and Kurt came fifth in the surf section, third in the long haul category and sixth in the circuit racing to gain fifth place overall, no mean feat since they were competing against all the 'big boys' whose budgets would have been far greater than the 'Pembrokeshire Pair'!

This success certainly raised Simon's profile in World Power Boat Racing because since then he has received an invitation to race in China next March, and exciting project in which the Chines Government has decided to increase interest in the sport, has purchased 40 boats, 20 of which will be raced by their own drivers now in training - and 20, including Simon, selected from the rest of the world!

Simon would readily admit that he has been lucky to have the total support of his wife Nia, who likes speed on the water but not in competition - whilst son Tomos (6) is already very keen and will hopefully start circuit racing when he's nine years old, using a GT15 monohull with 15 horse power engine on lakes where his top speed will be 25mph.

"Nia's parents Carol and Alan Bagnall have also been very helpful, with Alan a great help in helping convert the van and trailer to meet our needs, using his experience in those areas.

"Then there's my parents, Sue and Eric Scourfield, who have always given me total support and I couldn't do without any of them!"

It was at his parents' stables in Hundleton that he was brought up around horses and Simon started out his career in the equine world as a breaker-in of horses for Sheikh Mansoor in Newmarket, handling yearling colts and fillies whose prices were from £200,000 into millions!

“But I had a couple of injuries working with horses and as part of my rehab I did a course on water sports in conjunction with Pembrokeshire and Waterford Councils, staying for six weeks in both, and loved every moment of being on the water.

"I liked kayaking in a single seater around the coastline and became involved with Pembroke Paddlers alongside the likes of the late Sandy Battle and Paul Bracknell, both inspirational characters, plus Rob John.

“I was lucky to get a job at Pembrokeshire Watersports and was there for almost ten years and thoroughly enjoyed working with kids at kayak surfing, coasteering and anything else to do with raising confidence on the sea.

Simon also entered a few local competitions but then met up with Ceri Davies of Swansea Watersports, who did lots of work with regard to jet skis and power boats and Simon joined him to give demonstrations at the South Wales Boat Show in Margam Park.

They used a Thunder Cat boat and Simon enjoyed himself so much he decided to buy one, which is 4.1 metres long and is powered by a 50hp Tohatsu engine - and his co-driver Mark and he raced at venues like Lowestoft, Newquay, Southampton and Bedford.

He started in the 'Stock' category but after a few years gaining experience he moved up to 'Pro-Stock' (and will one day switch to 'Modified', which has top speeds of 75mph but is not currently raced in the UK.)

Simon might have regarded this season as a transitional one but he had a real boost when he and Kurt competed at Watergate Bay, near Newquay, with six feet high waves - and beat three former world champions to scoop the first prize.

But it wasn't the same when they returned to the area to compete at nearby Fistral Beach and flipped the boat off the crest of a wave and ended up in the water! At Southsea they rolled the boat in windy conditions at 55-60mph and were again thrown out of the boat.

"You have to just hold on whilst the safety boat picks you up," admitted Simon with a chuckle, "and then look after your boat in readiness for the next race!"

Simon's boat is part of his 51 Racing team and is emblazoned on the van that he uses to transport all the equipment, with the inevitable cost since there is so much travelling. He has sponsorship from News Transport and B Worx Ltd alongside Syncro Motor factors, Station Self Drive, (Haverfordwest), inprint (Pembroke Dock), and Steel Developments, who look after his propellers, but is always seeking further help - and anyone interested need only contact Simon for information about a great package which can include a great experience on the boat.

Simon also intends coaching alongside Ceri Davies and works well with Kelly Mayhew and Hester Walker at Neyland Yacht Club, with regard to jet skis and power boats, which is developing nicely.

But his main focus at the moment will remain competing in power boats at the highest level and we wish Simon Harding every success because he really is flying the Pembrokeshire Flag with distinction!