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Rising star Lily Elston is a two-times hovercraft champion and is aiming for the world title in 2026

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Friday, 5th December 2025, 15:00

It’s full speed ahead for Lily Elston

A former youth club in Bishop’s Cleeve has played its part in producing a British and European champion.

Elm Tree Youth Club was very popular back in the day and it was a place where Dave Elston, a former Bishop’s Cleeve School pupil, used to spend a lot of time.

He was a member of the hovercraft club and that love for hovercrafts has rubbed off on his 14-year-old daughter Lily, who is a two-times champion.

“She’s British and European junior champion,” said proud grandad Martin Elston, who has lived in Bishop’s Cleeve all his life.

“She won every weekend this year. She won the European title in France at the end of August and the British title at Whittlebury Hall in Towcester in October.”

Her dad, who is now 47, first joined the hovercraft club in Bishop’s Cleeve when he was 14.

“The club was forced to close when he was about 17 but he wanted to continue working on the hovercraft, so I bought a trailer and bought the hovercraft," said Martin.

“He still builds hovercrafts, maintains them and races them today.”

Dave lives just over the county border in Charlbury in Oxfordshire and Lily is clearly a rising star.

“The new season starts in April, Lily will hopefully compete in the world junior championships in Towcester in August,” said Martin.

And it’s not a sport for the faint-hearted.

“They are kneeling down six inches off the ground, they run on land and water,” said Martin.

“At junior level they are restricted in power but they can still get up to 55mph, they’ve got no brakes and there aren’t any gears.

“You have to be brave, I’m very, very proud of Lily.”

Other Images

Lily Elston driving her hovercraft showing her racing number of 44 in her Team Elston colours

Lily Elston being crowned British champion at Whittlebury Hall, near Silverstone, in October

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Rising star Lily Elston is a two-times hovercraft champion and is aiming for the world title in 2026

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