Competitors make the journey West this weekend to compete in their first ‘Surf Event’ of the season at Fistral Beach in Cornwall, for rounds 3 & 4 of the 2016 Microlink ThunderCat Racing Championship.

Last year the Event was one of the roughest in memory, as just 5 boats survived to compete in the Sunday afternoon Final, this year the surf is predicted to be slightly kinder.

That should be welcome news for ‘Galaxy Girl’ team member, Ria Pandey, who will be making her ThunderCat Racing debut with Jo Foxx.

Ria recently joined the British Army – Royal Signals Reserve, has rowed for the Thames Rowing Club, completed Half Marathons ‘barefoot’, ran a full Marathon, tackled a 100 mile ‘London Prudential’ bike ride and has signed on for an Ultra Marathon this October.

Mark Lloyd will be travelling to the event somewhat faster than his fellow competitors. The Team Endeavour 20 driver will be taking a plane from Florida, having represented Great Britain in the Invictus Games.

Lloyd from Wales, who suffered spinal and leg injuries while serving in Afghanistan, swam and rowed in the United States, neither of which he will be wanting to repeat in Newquay.

Front runners this weekend are likely to be the 2 boats from the Multispark Racing Products stable.

James Tapp will be making a ‘guest appearance’ in the #61 boat with his old racing nemesis Bligh Julius running under #33.

Uber experienced co-driver Charlie Hatfield rejoins Julius and the Poole based Multispark Team for this race.

The racing starts from 12.00 on Saturday and 11.30 on Sunday.

Images of last year’s event by Tim Tapping