Large lorries strung across the canal banks promoting sponsors, beer tents, RVs and millions of pounds worth of 
powerboats set the scene. Music was pumped into the air with engine fumes, anxiety and adrenalin to once again create that unique Diamond Race atmosphere.Former world champion and eighties legend Danny Bertels was there promoting his balloon flights and faces new and old from throughout Europe merged here to get ready for Europe’s major event of 1998.With four races on the cards, Sunday 31 May was about to be busy, providing ten thousand spectators with first class value for money. Around six thousand paid their £5 each while a further four thousand were blessed with free entry.There was a degree of disappointment when Steve Robertson didn’t arrive after the earlier announcement that he’d be taking the 12,000 mile trip to race, but fellow countryman Jason Martin was there to fly the Aussie flag.
All eyes were on Kirkland and Cramphorn but Carlo Cassa and Devid Conti of Italy were quietly confident too. Then of course the Belgian contingent of Micha Robijn, Filip Vervecken and Peter Bertels were hot bets because of their recent standard of skiing and their particular expertise on canal water.Kirkland’s No Mercy Hallett had begun the weekend by playing up and the mechanical misfortune which dogged this outfit in 1997 was once again trying to rear its head. But everything was running nicely for the start of the race.The races kicked off with an Open category where Dan Cramphorn took the field by storm and dominated the race until he went in (no he didn’t fall -ok Dan-). It was Chris Cole who was there to pick up the pieces and record his 2nd successive win in the Open race here at Belgium.The cocky piece of Belgian dynamite named Rick de Brabander took ownership of F3 while the British Pog team with skier Glenn Manchett suffered mechanical misfortune. Ashley Copper, Steve Bird and other Brits did a good job of finishing this gruelling event.
But the big surprise of the day was in the Junior race when Belgian Christoff Van Gaeveren put on a display of skiing which reminded me of Wayne Mawer’s debut performance here in 1996. This diminutive piece of dynamite delivered a gutsy performance on his home water and the youngster is set to go far. But a fall put him into second behind team mate Magdeleyn while Britain’s Kim Lumley took third after only recently recovering from a follow up fall since the Worlds last year.The moment of the main race arrived. At 4pm the teams lined up in grids. At the five minute flag, tension on the canal and on the banks built up. The first flag dropped giving 19 drivers thirty seconds to pull out the short 190ft ski lines, and then they were off.
Screaming down the first flat straight, teams pushed their skiers to the limit on such short lines. Two major disappointments were the failing of Micha Robijn’s boat to start and a missed start by Filip Vervecken. But the rest had gone.Carlo Cassa was first round behind a new Bernico Foxy twin with Devid Conti 100 yards behind with Martin McLaughlin’s Cyclone. Kirkland was trailing a further 100 yards back but he’s not usually a quick starter.As the race progressed, it was clear that Carlo Cassa was back on form. It was also clear that the young Conti was further up the ladder to the top and he’s determined to follow in the footsteps of the Great Gregorio.
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