A KENT town is to host the European Water Ski Racing Championships this July.

Around 70 skiers from Britain, Belgium, Holland, Spain, France and Austria are expected to take part in the event in Ramsgate, hosted at the marina from Saturday July 5 to Saturday July 12.

Thanet District Council made the announcement at this week’s London Boat Show. Ahead of the Formula 1, 2 and 3 races the competitors will parade through the town with their boats during a week long opening ceremony.

Competitors are likely to include former World Champion Kim Lumley, who took the ladies silver medal at the World Championships in New Zealand.

She has also won the prestigious Catalina Island race five times in the past six years and is the only European woman to ever win this event.

Tony Williams, the British water ski chairman of racing and Great Britain team captain, said: "We are really looking forward to bringing the 2008 European Water Ski Racing Championships back home to Britain and to Ramsgate Royal Harbour Marina for the first time. We are very lucky to have the marina helping us and the waters off Ramsgate should prove to be very challenging and enjoyable for the skiers. It is also an excellent spectator sport, with plenty of thrills and spills to be seen out on the water."

Cllr Roger Latchford, cabinet member for culture and economy, said: "It is a great coup for the area to be bringing the European Water Ski Racing Championships to Ramsgate and we are confident that the competitors will enjoy the facilities we have to offer, while local people and visitors will be able to enjoy the thrills and excitement of water skiing. The London Boat Show is a superb shop window for the Royal Harbour and it is only right that we are launching news of this latest addition to the events line-up at the Boat Show."