Team GB sponsored by Clamcleat® Rope Cleats excel at the Kitebuggy European Championship

The European Kite Buggy Championships took place recently on Texel, one of the Frisian Islands in the Netherlands. This marked a historic milestone as the first Euros held in four years, and the first hosted in Holland in over two decades. A dedicated team of 7 GB pilots—comprising one female and six male riders—along with their supporters, travelled to the event. Following a sunny practice day on Wednesday, high-wind conditions took over for the next three days. With winds largely exceeding 30mph, mixed with sudden squalls and heavy rain, competitors faced gruelling racing conditions that led to several aborted starts. Buggycamp Holland delivered a fantastic event, supported by a 25-strong team of helpers who ran operations like clockwork every single day. Due to the 2km race track on Texel's Laguna Beach—situated in the shadow of its famous lighthouse—being unable to safely accommodate all 50 pilots at once, the fleet was split daily into two random groups of around 25 participants. Small dunes developed over the four days, adding an extra layer of excitement for the spectators watching along the beach. Stellar Results Following a nail-biting final race, Team GB’s own Ryan McGavin emerged as the overall Men's European Champion, 17 years after attending his first Euros in St. Peter-Ording, Germany. In the women's competition, Karen Cutbush secured an impressive second place after a fierce battle with Dutch overall ladies' champion Sarah Koppes. Interested in discovering more about how kite buggying or Class 8 sandyacht racing works? Get in touch with us through The PKA Pit Zone - The Parakart Association. Clamcleat® Rope Cleats provides Aerocleats CL826-11AN, which allow pilots to maintain precise control over their rigs under extreme wind conditions