Junior Lupton wins again

Waverley's Jack Lupton retained the Masport Cup on the Nelson Lakes this month. Photo by Jeremy Ward, SHOT360.co.nz

The Masport Cup remains Jack Lupton's possession and only a talking point for his brother and father when they come to visit after the 92nd running for the trophy on Nelson's Lake Rotoiti this month.

Seven of the country's top GP hydroplanes contested the trophy two weekends ago, with the favourites being Jack Lupton, who was the youngest ever Cup winner at age 18 in 2014 and again last year, as well as his father and 2015 winner Warwick Lupton, plus older brother Ken Lupton.

Jack Lupton, driving his Canadian import GP57, would win both heats to retain the trophy, but through very different methods with Ken Lupton racing deck-to-deck with him both times in the Lucas Oils craft.

"It was real good. Just the first heat we got away pretty good - got a good start and dictated the race," Jack Lupton said.

Local racer Julian Stilwell got his Formula One Tunnel Johnson Associates craft ahead of the other 2500hp hydroplanes by keeping close to the buoys on the 2km course over three laps, finishing third behind the Lupton brothers.

Warwick Lupton (Annihilator), Christchurch's Raymond Hart (The Boss), Otorohonga's Scott Coker (Fair Warning) and Lupton cousin David Alexander (The Steeler) had swapped third and fourth amongst them at top speeds of 253.59km.

In the second heat, Ken Lupton shot out and Jack Lupton was struggling to catch up to him for the pass.

"The second heat we got pushed at the start," Jack said.

"We were just being patient, [but] we were going to have trouble getting around him.

"Reliability got us there."

Putting himself into position should Ken Lupton make a mistake, Jack seized his chance when Ken pulled into the middle of the course on the last lap, shooting past him for a repeat 1-2 finish.

Younger brother made sure his older sibling knew he had made a costly error.

"Oh, yeah. You wind him up, don't you?"

The heat saw other drama as Hart was disqualified for not holding his lane until the rounding of the buoy at the first turn.

After a busy season due to an extended stay for boats and crews to race in Australia before New Year, the Lupton's will now prepare for the final round of the Masport Hydro Thunder Series, being held this weekend at the Mangere Bridge in Auckland.

Jack Lupton has put GP57 in storage for the winter and will be racing his father's Annihilator boat, while Ken Lupton has taken the Lucas Oils engine down to Palmerston North for some tinkering to get ready for Saturday and Sunday.