POWERBOAT aces slammed the looming 10mph limit as "preposterous" as they took part in what could be the last Windermere Records Week, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

Despite hundreds turning out to repeatedly smash speed records, the spectre of the looming limit hung heavy over the 35th event.

Newby Bridge's waterborne daredevil Ted Walsh did not mince his words when it came to the impending limit.

"It's the most preposterous thing to remove a well-organised and well-balanced activity with an impeccable public safety record for people who like to moan a lot."

By Thursday the world-class speedster had smashed the 03000 record, setting a new speed of 140.56mph and was still hoping to become the fastest man on the lake by breaking the 154mph record.

Meanwhile, record-breaking teenager Ryan Field took what could be his first and last taste of the world-famous record week.

The 16-year-old from Kent, who broke the K1000 class record in his Phantom 16 setting a speed of 44.34mph, said: "This is my first and it looks like the last time I'll get to take part in Windermere Record Week. It's a shame because I'd really like to come back next year."

Chairman of Record Week Robin Brown said he hoped pleas to make an exemption for Windermere Record Week would not fall on deaf ears at the Lake District National Park Authority.

"The end of Windermere Record Week would be a very great loss to the sport there is no other event in the world like it.

"But we are still in negotiations and hope once the 10mph comes in and everyone gets used to it the LDNPA board members will find a way of making an exemption."

Mr Brown added that the normally placid power-boating community had been pushed into protests.

"People have been driven into protesting because of the attitude of officialdom because of people who want to make the whole of the national park into a museum."

But spokesperson for the LDNPA Mick Casey commented: "If this is the last record week on Windermere it is not because of the National Park. It is because nobody has made an application for an amendment.

"In the past an application for an exemption was refused because it was tied in with other things and it was the wrong time. Somebody needs now to make an application to the National Park."