focusinterview.
MADISON YARROLL
AFTER JUST 12 MONTHS OF COMPETING, NINE YEAR OLD LOCAL MADISON YARROLL WAS CROWNED AUSTRALIAN FORMULA POWERBOAT GRAND PRIX JUNIOR CHAMPION. BUT MADISON NOT ONLY
HAS A NEED FOR SPEED … MEET A WONDERFUL YOUNG LADY WITH A BIG HEART AND A BRAVE SOUL.
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i Madison. Tell us a bit about yourself and your family ... Hello Jo. I live in Old Bar, NSW, and go to Old Bar Public School. I have a four year old sister named Lola and a big sister who is 11 years old, and her name is Jaimie. I live with my mum and dad and sisters. You received a very special gift for your eighth birthday last year. Tell us what it was? It was a junior speed boat named GIRL POWER. It has a 6 hp mercury motor; that is all my age group is allowed to race. It does 45 km/h, and I am looking forward to when I am 10 years old, so I can have a larger motor. It is white, purple and pink in colour. I believe you were given the choice between a boat and a motorbike as a present. Why did you choose the boat? When asked what I would like for my birthday, I said I would like a motorbike or a boat. I did have a quad bike when I was four, but I broke my arm being crazy on it. Dad had taken my sister and me in to watch the boat racing at Taree when I was six; when I saw that kids could race, I just had to have one. It was Mum’s idea for the boat, thinking if I crash at least it will be in water and not on hard ground. What are some the races you’ve com-
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peted in ... and which ones are your favourites? I really like the AFPGP (Australian Formula Powerboat Grand Prix) series; it consists of four races held in four different locations, from Yarrawonga on the NSW/VIC border to Grafton, NSW. I love the way these races are started, as you have to line up beside a start boat and all go at the same time. These are the types of boats that I would like to race when I am older - an F1 tunnel hull. Another race I really liked was the Hawkesbury Double Dash. In this race I had to race the other competitors a few kilometres up a river, then we turned around and raced back to where we started. I was coming first out of all the juniors around the very last turn, but I did not know where to go; I had to slow down and wait for one of the bigger boats so I could follow them. I still came first in my class and second overall. Most junior racing is all started by handicap clock starts, and I am usually last to leave, as my boat is so fast compared to others. After only 12 months of racing, you were crowned the Australian formula powerboat grand prix junior champion. That is amazing! How did you feel when you received this title? I felt very excited and I could not stop blushing when I went up to receive my big trophy. I congratulated my friends, especially
my good racing buddy Montana Atkinson. then OK, so my dad helped by taking me Mum helped me write a speech, where around to the Old Bar shops, where people I thanked everybody at the presentation gave me donations. I also had a lot of dodinner. nations from friends’ parents and the boat What do you think it takes to be a good racing community, and ended up raising a Formula 1 Powerboat Racer? total of $1,078. Well, it takes being brave, as What do you want to be /do the boats go very fast; you when you grow up? need to concentrate and Sometimes I want to be need to be a little bit a forensic scientist, and I was coming e th “cuckoo”! They are so other times I wish to l first out of al e fast - it is awesome be a professional boat th juniors around I t bu , to watch them, esperacer. I think boat rn very last tu to re he w ow cially when they go racing will win, as I kn did not wn do ow sl to d around the corners. already know how to ha go; I of e on r fo t ai w I hear you also do it and I would get d an so I took part in a the bigger bo ats . ” to travel around the could follow them “Shave for a Cure” world competing against event, raising money the best drivers. for Leukaemia. When Where can we follow your and where did this happen race progress/achievements? ... and why did you want to take My dad started a Facebook page part? that we both post about my racing It happened at the Old Bar chemist in adventures on; it’s called “GIRL POWER March this year. I wanted to do it because I Racing”. We put up photos of my racing felt sorry for all the people in the world who and any events that I am attending. Dad has have to suffer from Leukaemia or any cancer also started making a website, but it is not or disease. I wish I could help everyone in finished yet. the world; I get sad when I think of all the If anyone is interested in getting started homeless and sick people, and one day I will in junior racing, you can go to the Facebook try to help them all. page and Dad or I will point you in the right I saw the ad on TV and asked Mum if I direction. could do it. She said if I could raise $500, Thanks Madison.
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