Local powerboat racers returned from Gibraltar this week with a pair of national titles.

Blandford's Jon Taylor added to his European title with victory in the British Offshore Powerboat finals.

Navigator Taylor and his Hayling Island driving partner Scott Hodges took their 22ft 90hp monohull HPS Racing to double success in the Championship finale to clinch the 2001 crown.

Going into the double-header they trailed series leader Peter Berrow from Southampton, but when he turned his boat over in the first race and fellow rival Shelly Jory stopped with a mechanical failure they swept into the points lead.

Victory in race two confirmed them as the new champions.

They are hoping to move up to 2 litre next season so may miss the World Championships which take place in February in South Africa.

The second title of the championship finals went to the family duo of Thomas and William Bolton respectively from Blandford and Lymington.

In their 26ft Pascoe RHIB Phoenix II, the talented duo have had a highly consistent campaign in the RIB Formula 3 category and emphasised this with their title winning success in Gibraltar.

Poole's 2 litre title hopes Vicky Crump (Julia's House) and Chris Bryan (Marine On Line) went to the finals with only a slim chance of success needing to win with others failing to finish.

In the end neither could make progress in the overall standings and finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Victory in the last race of the year for the unlimited Ribs wasn't enough for father and son team John and Robert Puddifoot from Sway in Dragon's Revenge to snatch victory.

In a season in which they have achieved speed success they had to settle for third in class.