A 10-year-old from Mansfield will go head-to-head with the country’s best young powerboat drivers after qualifying for the national final of the 2018 Honda RYA Youth RIB Championships.

Welbeck Sailing Club’s Edward Ryder (above) will travel to the Southampton Boat Show for the national showdown in September after claiming victory in the 8-12 years category at the Midlands finals.

Edward, who attends King Edwin Primary School, Edwinstowe, was making his Honda RYA Youth RIB debut at the area finals and beat six competitors in his age-group, including his twin brother, Laurence, who was representing Girton SC.

He said: “I’ve been a member at Welbeck SC, in Norton, for about a year, having got my RYA Start Sailing certificate. I first learned to drive a powerboat, getting my RYA Powerboat Level 1 qualification, when I was eight.

“My club has never taken part in the Honda RYA Championships before, but when I saw a poster for the event at another local sailing club I wanted to enter.”