The NextGen class continues to prove its value as a pathway into the New Zealand Jet Sprint Championship, with young competitors delivering committed and increasingly confident performances during qualifying at Whanganui.
As the afternoon session started, lap times dropped and driving sharpened. Several competitors posted strong runs, showing improved throttle control, better course awareness, and a growing ability to recover when things did not go to plan.
Cooper Silverton set the benchmark with a time of 52.396 seconds, the quickest recorded among the NextGen competitors. His run was controlled and decisive, setting a clear reference for the rest of the field.
Summer Harrab followed with a composed drive, recording 57.131 seconds, narrowly ahead of her brother Mason Harrab, who posted 57.732 seconds. Both runs reflected confidence returning after earlier challenges, including a rollover for Summer earlier in the event.
Tilly Silverton completed a tidy run in 1:04.64, managing the course cleanly and maintaining rhythm through the loops. Local competitor Ryan Patterson had a difficult pass, beaching the boat several times, but still completed the course in 1:14, showing determination to finish and secure a time. Sam Berry recorded 1:12, continuing to build experience as qualifying progressed.
The post-lunch session included a small number of incidents, underlining the demands of the course and the learning curve faced by developing competitors. The final run before a brief stoppage was completed by Ruby Verry, who experienced a rollover during her pass. She was not injured, exited the boat safely, and was attended to immediately by safety crews. A short time later, Verry returned to the bank smiling and relaxed, taking time to speak with the crowd and drawing warm applause for her composure and the professionalism of the response teams.
