Gosfield waterskier scoops two medals at championships

Ben Turp, 20, won two silver medals at the European Under-21 Water Ski Championships in Spain.

Both the 2020 and 2021 championships were taking place at the same time after last year’s competition fell victim to the pandemic.

Competing in the men’s slalom, Ben won one medal in the 2020 championships and another in the 2021 championships.

Ben surpassed his best ever score to go into the men’s slalom final as top seed.

As the last skier off the dock in the final, Ben faced a big challenge to beat Sweden’s Tim Tornquist, who had set his own personal best.

It was a step too far on the day for Ben but he got a personal best of 2.5 buoys at 10.75m. This is Ben’s first individual success at a major international competition.

He was part of the GB Team that won gold at the Under-21 World Championships in Canada in 2019 and bronze at the Under-17 World Championships three years earlier.

After his podium finish, Ben said: “I’m speechless, very happy, super happy getting on the podium.

“Thanks for all the support from Team GB, especially my parents.”

Ben is from Gosfield and a former pupil at Gosfield School.

He lives and trains with his family at Gosfield Lake.

Waterskiing runs in the family’s blood with grandad Carl Turp being part of the Team GB senior team and a European bronze medallist.

Dad Vince, who taught his children to waterski as soon as they could walk, was also in the GB team as a junior, and cousin Billy Turp won a silver medal in jumping at the European Under-17 Championships.

Ben’s sister Tilly, 18, and younger brother Seb, 13, were also called up for the championships, making them the first trio of siblings in history to be in the same Team GB squad.

Tilly and Seb, who was the youngest member of the GB team, were unable to progress to the finals in their events.

Seb achieved his best competition scores in slalom, tricks and jump, and just missed out on the Under-14s slalom final.

Tilly scored personal bests in jump and tricks.