About Me
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Below these first few pictures I have written a brief history of my racing life so far for you...... World Finals Video clip low quality but fast - click here. for higher quality but slower click on photo below.
UIM Ladies European Championship 2007
Central News TV Coverage - click here.
for full download go to downloads page (above button)
2007 Junior World Champion
World Champion Drag Race
2007 UIM European Ladies Champion My Racing Life so far......
Hi my name is Anya Colley and I live in Derbyshire, England with my Mum - Michelle, Dad -
Malcolm, my brother Joel
and my beautiful golden retriever Riva.
I also have two big step brothers Alan & Gary. Thank you for taking the time to learn a little about ADHD it is very important to me....now I hope you enjoy reading about my racing life so far.... I have been jet skiing since I was 5 years old. I used to just tootle around the lake at Tattershall on my old Kawi 550.
I started out on a Kawasaki 550! Then mum and dad bought me a Yamaha super jet in 2002. I played on the ski at Tattershall – Xtreme Leisure with all of my pals, Gemma Mason, Luke Brooks, Sam Clifton, Josh Harvey and many other great friends. One of my favourite things was ‘2 upping’ when I would try to ride the ski with both Gemma and I in the tray. However I had to put my superjet to rest for several months when the insurance regulations changed and you had to take an RYA certificate but couldn’t do this until you were twelve. I really missed my ski-in at weekends. As soon as I was twelve I took my RYA certificate with Nick at Beachrock. So I was able to ski again now. We took the Yamaha to Europe in 2004 (on the back of our motorhome) just in case we were able to leisure ski somewhere while on holiday touring Europe. Our first stop was to support the British riders racing at a European race meeting in Mirendella, Portugal. This event has changed my life forever because I met Ria Pickard and fell in love with the sport of Jet Ski Racing. The whole race event was so fantastic, so friendly and I felt like I was a part of the team. The venue was so exciting and the British riders were so lovely to me and my family. Ria Pickard is my hero. There are so many men and not many women at all in Jet ski racing. I was hooked but the biggest problem was to convince mum & dad that I wanted to race. Ria came to my rescue and helped me explain that it would be a safe sport! My mum still curses Ria every race meeting! Mum & dad eventually gave in so after the holiday I became the lucky owner of a red Kawasaki SXR 800.
I had already passed my RYA so I already felt safe but this extra race training was very good. So good that I jumped at a chance in December 2004 given to me by Craig Barnett to meet Karine Paturel 5 times World Champion and Vicky Beale GB & World Novice Champion for more practise and training (article featured in Jet Skier Feb 2005). They were both lovely and very positive about my racing. I still keep Karine up to date with my racing achievements by email and I meet up with my pal Vicky lots. So with as much practice and training as I could get under my belt in January 2005 I had my first race and I went on to race the first three out of four winter rounds and I loved it. It was very cold at times though and at my first race at Tyram Lakes my ski froze so much that the throttle cable froze stiff. I wasn’t able to make the 4th race as we had a pre booked holiday planned but was happy with what I had learned and tried my best to be safe and get better. I soon learned that my ski which had no modifications at all was a bit slow compared to others so we decided to change the ski and fit some parts to make it handle better. So for 2005 I had a Kawasaki SXR 800 fitted with a better intake grate and ride plate. Mum wanted me to be seen in the water if I fell off so as to avoid any collisions and me getting hurt so my ski and helmet and wetsuit all went pink - my favourite colour!
You could see me a mile away! It sounds mad but getting Pink is very difficult as jet ski racing is a very male dominant sport. Doug at AFX kindly provided my lovely pink helmets. This was my first Sponsorship deal. Cheers Doug.
I raced in the JSRA summer 2005 rounds and had my best results at American Adventure getting a 2nd in moto 2 which meant I got 3rd on the day, then I got 2nd on the day at Grendon with some great holding and advice by Garry Smith, who continued to help me throughout the British and European rounds and taught my dad all about the carbs. In May half term week we went to Europe to support our British riders in Austria. We took my friend Gemma with us too. Austria was beautiful and so was the race venue but I wish I had taken my ski because I so wanted to race with the pro riders (well on the same lake anyway). It was in Austria that the Hydrospace was launched – how different it sounded and Chris Macluggage looked awesome on it. It was time to talk mum & dad into going to a European race with my ski – to race! Dad said if I came in top 4 at Liverpool he would take me to the next round in Italy. Mum went very quiet! Ria kept telling me I could do it but then the weather was so bad that day in Liverpool, making the water very rough I thought I had no chance but guess what, I came in fourth. Everyone kept teasing my dad saying he had best go book the ferry! And so it was in Italy I raced my first European round. I was also told by Ria and Yves Van Heers (the European race director) that I was the first girl ever to represent GB in the juniors. More pressure I was so nervous. So many juniors on the line and all of them really great riders, plus it was on the sea. The British team really helped me especially Ria and Luke Brooks. Alan Pickard held for me and gave me a real boost. I loved it. (See my article in Jet Skier Sept 2005)
I wanted to race with the Ladies as well as juniors in Europe and the UK but mum and dad thought adult racing was a very different sport. They spoke to Lisa Barsby, British, European and World Champion about ladies racing and she kindly agreed to spend some time with me. Mum wanted some re-assurance that I would be OK in a ladies race. Lisa was great and it was lovely to practise with her. Lisa thought I would be OK and safe in the ladies race so mum allowed it. My first Ladies race was in Mirandella – Portugal in July 2005 where I also competed in juniors. It was great to race at the venue that started my racing life going. Mirandella was as great as my previous visit, but better, because now I was racing there. I got to race with Lisa Barsby and Vicky Beale not to mention many other great lady racers. Imagine racing with your heroes and best friends all together at a fantastic race venue in hot sunny conditions with so much buzz and excitement. It was almost unreal. My friend Lee Stone was going to a UIM race event the week after my race in Mirandella so we tagged along and ended up racing in the UIM European Championship which was 2 rounds, Portugal and Switzerland. The UIM race is very different and the course and rules are not the same as the European or British races but it was great fun. I managed to get 5th overall against adult male riders. We stayed in Europe for the whole of the school summer holiday and had time to visit Vicky Beale and her boyfriend Laurent Boucher(The Boss) at their home in France. Laurent is a great mechanic and fitness trainer (he used to ski and work with Rius, Paturel & Farthing to name a few, see his web site www.B7sport.com) and he helped me with my riding style. We did some circuit training every morning and then went to their local lake every day to practise. The local lake held a fun race day so Vicky, Laurent and I all took part, it was such a laugh and I got to meet even more great racers. Vicky and I paired up in an endurance race which was so funny.
Then we were off to Belgium but dad had a few problems with my ski so we visited Peter De-Smit to get them sorted out. That’s where I met Rius. He was really sweet and kind and Peter was great. We had a good time. In Belgium I was allowed to race in Ladies so I used my stock ski against the ladies in a limited class, Garry Smith very kindly brought me a Limited ski but I felt it was too fast so chose not to ride it. It meant everyone else was a lot faster than me but I had a great time and the other lady riders were lovely towards me. I made so many new friends. With 2 more British rounds and the last European round to go I was already to try and improve my technique and lap speeds. Round 5 of the British at Stockton went well and my sights were set on trying to move up from my 4th position after 5 races into 3rd if possible because the 2nd/3rd/and 4th position points were all very close. So at Willen, the last race I really wanted to do well. The lake and course was huge and a really great place to race. I even had time to go wakeboarding there with Luke which was great fun. But then disaster struck and despite my ski being great on the Thursday it destroyed the crank in practice and wouldn’t even get off the line in the first Moto. I was so upset but soon realised that these things happen and this was just my turn. Luckily for me I was able to borrow a stock ski from Abby Littlechild to use in Moto 2 so I kept my 4th place in the summer rounds. We then decided to make a move to Hydrospace and I had the first ever Hydrospace in the UK. I also accepted a sponsorship deal from Lagoona Park at this time. My first Hydrospace arrived in the UK at the end of September and we took it to Xtreme Leisure at Tattershall to ride. (you can see photos of this by clicking on photos then the hydrospace link)
It was awesome. I let everyone at the lake that day have a go on it and they loved it too. It is just so easy to ride although it’s different in the corners. I rang Chris Wilko to come and meet me at the lake to practice because he was going to be riding a Hydrospace in the World finals too. Before I knew it is was time for Havasu, the World Finals and I was going to be riding there – wow. So many British riders were going it was so exciting. My hero Ria, Vicky Beale, Lisa Barsby, Phil Pope, James Bushel, James Goodchild, Luke Brooks, Chris Wilkinson, Sam Clifton & Lee Stone. Havasu was amazing. What a sight as Luke Brooks and Chris Wilkinson and I all practised on our HSR's at Body Beach near the race venue. I felt so much a part of a British team everyone was there supporting each other. It was truly amazing. I was due to ride in Limited and Stock 13 – 15 age group alongside Luke Brooks and Chris Wilkinson. Limited class was first with qualifier rounds. So tough because these were the best riders in the world on limited skis which were much faster than my stock Hydrospace. Nobby very kindly held for me but I had a spill off on the way to the hold shot and although I did my best after that I ended up in the LCQ, where only the first two riders transferred through to the finals. And Kevin Reiterer the Hydrospace factory rider was in my LCQ also. No pressure then! I thought I had no chance. As I walked to the pits to get my ski dad explained that everyone was so proud already just to be there so I should just go out and be safe with a big smile and enjoy myself. He explained that it wasn’t possible for me to qualify and we should accept that and enjoy the race. So I had nothing to loose and gave it everything off the start line. When I got to the holeshot I was puzzled about where everyone was until I realised I was in the lead. I thought the race had been stopped at first because I had never been the first to a buoy before!! But I soon realised Kevin was right behind me and stayed there the whole race but I kept pushing and concentrating on my race lines. I won – my first ever win in a race, I was so happy and everyone went wild. Kevin and I congratulated each other and back at the shore line everyone was beaming with smiles. Whatever race result in the world finals from that point onwards didn’t matter. I had won a moto. My first moto win and what a place to do it ….the World Finals. I finished 11th overall in the junior ski limited class and the best girl junior in the world. Finishing 9th overall in junior ski stock class and best girl again, infact I was the only girl to qualify in the junior Stock class. But most of all I had such a wonderful time. So many friends there and such a fantastic atmosphere and place to be.
The British team did amazing with Chris Wilkinson #777 bringing home 2 World Titles, with Luke Brooks runner up World Champion, Sam Clifton bringing home a 3rd along with Ria, Vicky Beale and James Bushel earning 4th places, Lisa Barsby 7th and Phil Pope 10th. In Freestyle Lee Stone became the Amateur Freestyle World Champion. At the presentation Great Britain was 3rd in the Nations cup and a huge trophy was collected on behalf of the British racers by Steve Bushel. We were all so proud to be part of that. To finish off the season I was honoured to have been awarded the JSRA 2005 British Championships Sports Person of the Year award and 4th place 2005 Junior Ski awards.
Everyone kept telling me that’s really good in your first year of racing. Most important though is I had a great time. I love racing. Many people have helped me to learn how to race. When I started I thought it was just about jumping on my ski and driving fast but now I know so much more about racing lines, splitters, deviation buoy, start and pole position not to mention how much dad had to learn about how a ski works and holding (oh and how much money he has had to spend too!!). Dad “tooled up” as he calls it, with a race truck ready to help me get better and better. Skis on racks and everything to support my racing. The 2006 season started brilliantly for me by winning the British Junior Winter Championship – the first girl in the UK to ever take the title I am told.
For the summer 2006 season I set myself a couple of targets – tough ones! I wanted to finish in Europe just once throughout the season on the podium in either ladies or juniors – both very tough classes and again in just one moto I had a dream to win Lisa Barsby – British, European and Ladies Champion. Lisa is just so talented, she is unbelievable. Well to my amazement I met both of these targets in my first European round of 2006 in Spain. I was so proud and I took the Union Jack very proudly onto the podium – not once but twice as I finished podium in both juniors and Ladies (Beat in both by World Champions!). What a start to the season that was. The British season was going really well for me too but all that changed ….. In July 2006 at the start of round 4 (out of 6) I was winning Novice ski and was just 3 points behind Lee Wheeler in Juniors – we were set for a real battle but at round 4 I won my first moto in Novice but then got hit in my first moto in juniors resulting in grade 3 damage to my Gastrocuimous and Solous muscles and therefore putting me out of action for a few weeks. I attended a really good sports injury clinic locally and my therapist Eric took good care of me giving me ultrasound everyday and then when the swelling had reduced massage and Physiotherapy. However I did have to totally miss round 5 of the 2006 British Championship ending any chance at all of being a champion this year, infact of even being on the podium. I was really upset but Eric said I was no way fit enough to even ride a ski let alone compete, so I watched round 5 on my crutches (pink of course!!) and supported my friends. I was glad I supported everyone but it was hard just watching.
Things went from bad to worse though really because my friend Luke Brooks broke his ski at Stockton so I loaned him my Ltd and then mine broke whilst he was racing so now I had a broken ski and was going to Portugal to race in just a few days time as I was competing in the Portuguese nationals (which are held the week before the EJSBA round). After round 1 of the EJSBA I was in second place in ladies but dropped to fourth after a difficult round in Austria so I really wanted to maintain or improve my placing in Portugal. We left for Portugal with just my stock ski and hoped my Ltd would be repaired by Lagoona Park and brought to Portugal by them but unfortunately this just didn’t happen. It was in Portugal that as a family we decided our sponsorship wasn’t working for us and so we decided to go back to how we used to be with my dad taking care and control of my skis. I raced in Portugal on my stock ski in my Ltd class so will have dropped my 4th place now in the European Ladies Championship. I just didn’t have a good round in Portugal really - I had a lot of things happening and don’t think I was able to ride my best. Also it was pre planned that one of my ski's was going from Portugal to Russia and I wouldn't get it back until the Croatian round. This was a great plan when I had two ski's but now with no sponsorship ski it meant I had no ski's now to train on. I had got a ten day training session booked in with B7sport.com but without a ski this made things very difficult. Things continued to go from bad to worse and on the way back from Portugal Vicky and Laurent of B7sport. com had a terrible car accident - writing off their car and trailer. But despite everything we all pulled together and had a great 10 days doing different things. So with the financial help of my grandma Josie and Pete mum and dad bought me a new HSR and so with some amazing help -- Vicky and Laurent worked really hard along with my mum, dad and Kevin Liagle to ensure my new ski arrived, was painted up pink, had a Rick Roy pole fitted, was fully stickered up and some R&D to have her running brill all by the time the Croatian round came around - pretty amazing really don't you think! Also during this short space of time we fitted in the race in Russia which was a fantastic experience. I rode with Chris McCluggage - see my race report for more details on this one and all my 2006 races. In Croatia I was also re-united with my stock HSR so I am now back to having two ski's - my Ltd and my stock.
So at the end of the 2006 race season after starting off by winning the winter junior championship I have also just finished 3rd in the British Novice Championships (despite missing some motos due to injury), 3rd in the UIM Ladies Championship and 3rd in the EJSBA Ladies Championship - so I am very pleased. See my race schedule page for a full list of all my results this year. I was also nominated by my school for a Sports Award so on the 19th September 2006 I attended the Derby University in Buxton and I was presented with the Derbyshire Schools Individual Achievement Sports Award. Another great honour.
As you know in the UK we have a winter racing series and for the winter 2007 I again decided to step up a level and I decided I wanted to compete with the big boys (well there are no girls in this class!!) and race in the open class with excellent riders like Luke Brooks, Jamie McLeod Ross, Simon Gill, Graham Leech, Lee Wheeler & Kevin Pope to name but a few. It was certainly a tough class for me but I think I made the right decision. I finished fifth overall. During the summer of 2007 in Britain I raced in Ski Limited and Superstock, in EJSBA I raced only in ladies dropping juniors this year and in the U.I.M. I raced in Superstock. The classes are all tough with some very good competition so its all good training for me for the future. The year didn't start too good for me as I got hit and injured in the first round of the British championship but again with the help of my local sports injury clinic I was soon back in action and fighting back. It was also confirmed that the fifth round of the EJSBA championship would be held in Disney again which is bad news for me as I am unable to ride there due to the age limit rule they have. I also very suddenly and unexpectedly lost my Grandma at Christmas and my Gran was a massive part of our life so this year was going to be very different for us as a family.
Because of the above I decided to just take each moto separately this year rather than looking at the overall championship. Once again I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to train with Laurent Boucher over the summer school holidays - which has been yet again amazing - Laurent has helped me with my physical training and stamina, my riding and my French (oh not to forget my dance moves!!!). I hope very much to spend some time living over in France with Laurent next summer once I have finished my exams at school.
Well the 2007 season has just ended and it couldn't have been on a higher note for me. I have just become the Junior Ski Limited World Champion and Junior Drag World Champion. I also won "Top Girl" at the World Finals.
A dream come true. Also in 2007 I have taken the U.I.M Ladies Superstock European Champion title, finished 4th in the U.I.M Ladies World finals. In GB I finished runner up in Ski Limited and at the end of the EJSBA championship rounds that permit me to ride I was in 3rd place overall.
In November at the JSRA annual presentation (despite my injury at round one of the British Championship) I was awarded runner up in the British Limited Open Ski Class.
Below you can see me finishing my amazing 2007 year off by being awarded a Derbyshire Young Achievers Award. I was nominated (un-be-known to me) by my college for the award.
“Outstanding achievement was celebrated by Derbyshire County Council at a glittering ceremony in a night full of smiles, tears and pride. The evening was compared by Ram Fm’s presenters J and Ruth Terry with councillor Saunders and TV presenter Gareth Jones handing out the award” (Insight magazine Jan 2008). What a year 2007 was for me! 2008 started out with loads of school work - course work and revising for final exams but that had all finished by June - yippee !!!!
and so now it's time to catch up on missed training and water time. The plan is do as many races as possible as I think this is the best training there is - so I am doing the British, European, as many French rounds as possible and the World Finals. I also plan to spend as much of my time as is possible training with the Boss (Laurent at B7sport.com) over in France. I also eagerly await my exam results at the end of August but until then I just plan to enjoy the summer doing what I love most.......... ski-ing, ski-ing, ski-ing!
So that’s my racing life story so far……..I hope you have enjoyed reading all about it, lots of things have happened and I only started racing in 2005……I have learnt that racing is tough but I absolutely love it and things that have happened that have meant that I can’t ski or ski at my best which have made me want to ski more. All of the above has only been possible with the help of many people - and I would like to say a special thank you to my wonderful Mum & Dad, A52hydrospace.com, who have dedicated so much of their time (and money!!) and have certainly changed their own life and plans to help me, my brother Joel who is just the best, To my Auntie and Uncle Nigel & Michele and family who since I lost my wonderful Mamma have really rallied around especially to help with Joel which means that I am able to continue with my Ski programme - and I know that's what Mamma would have wanted too and she would have been proud of how we pulled together as a family.
AFX for my helmets, James Bushell of 158racing.com for my racing totes and other bits and bobs and my summer coach Laurent Boucher of B7sport.com. I also have to say a special thank you to Les for all his invaluable help. Grip-Gear, Quakysense, Skat-Trak, Infineum, Star-Bar ......what can I say.....Please take the time to visit my very important sponsorship page for all the up to date info as without this combined help it really would be difficult. Thank you also to all the lovely people I have met through ski-ing and the great times we have shared. Thank you to everyone. Hope to see you soon x x x
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