CLASSES & TEAMS
UNLIMITED CLASS

CLASS INFO

Normally Aspirated Engines over 454ci including Gas Turbines

Traditionally the domain of large capacity normally aspirated V8's over 454ci or with turbo or supercharger (multiply ci x 1.4), today the fastest race boats are powered by repurposed helicopter gas turbine engines.

UNLIMITED CLASS
SPONSOR

UNLIMITED CLASS COMPETITORS

36 - JOHN DERRY

No racer has won more in New Zealand - John has nine NZ Championships to his name as well as two UIM World Champion titles. His current co-driver is Nick Smith and this pair is considered the team to beat.

His passion for jet boating and racing came from growing up around the sport when his father Blue Derry also raced. John first raced in the then B Class before moving into A class which became Unlimited. In 2010 he was the first Kiwi to race a gas turbine engine which he has done ever since.

SPONSORS

Christchurch Helicopters

Speights Ale House Blenheim

The Good Home Blenheim

SSS Engineering

249 - NIGEL CROMIE

Following in the footsteps of his father Mark, Nigel is blazing his own trail in river racing, starting in FX before stepping up to gas turbine power. Mechanical issues have sidelined him from two world championships making him all the more hungry for a title win.

Regular co-driver Bruce Alexander has temporarily stepped out of the hotseat, allowing George Ward the chance to point the way in a very quick and well driven Unlimited race boat.

SPONSORS

Mark Cromie Motor Group

Outdoor Access

301 - ROB POOLEY

310 - ROB POOLEY

Rob is the longest serving active river racer in New Zealand and is also Patron of NZJBRRA. He's one of the few Unlimited class racers not running a gas turbine, opting for the conventional big block Chev - a 632 ci monster V8 pushing some 900hp.

Rob has raced in all four UIM accredited countries and has a passion for Canadian events.

For two decades his brother Mike was navigator but since his return to driving, Glen Bateman has been pointing the way for the Silverback Racing Team while team manager is Kelvin Aicken, another accomplished racer.

SPONSORS

Family and Friends

307 - SHAUN KELLY

Shaun is another long standing racer, competing since 1996. His whole life revolves around jet boating as an owner of KJET in his hometown Queenstown. He's had numerous achievements but is especially proud of his NZ2 title in 2017 and NZ3 in 2019.

Shaun competes with his son Joseph navigating who did share the role with Mark Jackson until he died unexpectedly at the beginning of 2021. Shaun will dedicate the rest of his racing career to Mark - his best mate and greatest supporter.

SPONSORS

K-Jet Queenstown

310 - BRANDON CROWLEY

Brandon competed in a small supercharged jetski powered race boat in the 2018 marathon, clinching sixth outright. He caught the bug and now after purchasing the ex Mark Cromie gas turbine he's showing he has what it takes to mix it with the big boys.

Alongside him is George Ward, owner of Attack Marine and between them they are building a new 23ft tunnel based on his father Tony's famous race boats.

SPONSORS

Crowley Earthmovers

Mark Cromie Motor Group

Attack Marine

366 - MIKE POOLEY

Mike Pooley first won a New Zealand title back in 1985 before teaming up with brother Rob as co-driver for nearly two decades. In 2016 he re-entered the game as a driver in an unlimited piston engine before stepping up to the big time converting to a gas turbine. He's been a dominant force ever since, narrowly missing the NZ crown in 2020 after spinning on a flooded Waimakariri.

His current co-driver is Kevin Hyde and between them there is no team who pre-boats rivers like Mike and Kevin!

SPONSORS

Diggers Canterbury

Independent Helicopters

367 (NZ1) - ROGER PRESTON

Roger moved from piston to gas turbine five years ago and regularly is a top three finisher gaining the NZ1 title this year. He and regular co-driver, son Ben push right to the edge and sometimes a bit beyond. When the stars align they are hard to beat

Racing since 1986, Roger Preston from Winton has gained plenty of experience. His main two navigators over the years have been Kerri Wilson and his eldest son Ben.

Between 2010 and 2015 - NZ2 twice & NZ3 twice.

IP Series Champion 2012, 2015 & 2016.

Roger has also competed in both Canada and USA.

SPONSORS

NuFarm

Heliops Southland Ltd

Booth Ag (2008) Ltd

377 - TOM KELLY

Tom is the nephew of Shaun Kelly, so jet boating's in his blood too! He's a Queenstown resident and has been racing on and off for the last 7 years in both Unlimited and CX class.

He finally gave up on piston engines - which were proving unreliable - opting for the popular gas turbine and hasn't looked back since. Tom is proud of winning at Waitaki in 2020. He has always competed with his co-driver Matt Grant and supported onshore by Ethan Smith, owner of Golden Homes in Queenstown and himself a huge supporter of River Racing NZ as Principal Sponsor and Media Partner.

SPONSORS

Golden Homes

Welco Heating

Dart Engineering

Get It Built

777 - REGAN WILLIAMSON

Regan Williamson boasts the largest horsepower race jet boat in NZ... but for now 777 Russian monster gas turbine is domiciled in North American, shipped there pre Covid-19 ready for the Worlds.

Blair Christmas handles spanners on the 2500hp Russian Kilmov gas turbine and also nav duties when they're competing. This season however Regan has been the face of River Racing working with Black Magic Media's social media videos.

SPONSORS

Talleys

Dart Engineering