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Round One 2008 JSRA held at Stockton on May 24th & 25th
At the last round of the winters we were all saying how we had 5 weeks now with no racing etc…..and that seemed ages but guess what ….those 5 weeks have flown by and the British 2008 season has now begun………….
I must admit though I am not as fit as I should be and my water time is down – I have still ridden every weekend but only one afternoon not the usual weekend practice as I am in the middle of my GCSE exams – I have had English Lit, Biology and D&T exams this week and still have Chemistry, Physics, Maths, English papers 1 & 2 to come!
I was really ready to get on my ski and have the challenge of a race – makes a change from revising!!
From early on it was clear it was going to be a busy weekend for my dad as not one but both of my ski’s were playing up. In practice my race boat had a cooling system leak and so we decided it best for me to race my back up boat – although I have almost the same set up (except the handle pole) I much prefer my race boat to my back up boat.
So for ski GP I raced no 2 boat. My class was full of champions – Lisa Barsby 2007 IJSBA Ladies Pro World Champion, Jason Young 2007 British Champion on his new Kawi-doo, Simon Gill Superstock Champion, Kev Pope, Steve Garland on his new Hydro-doo to name but a few so it’s a tough old class. I got a cracking start and was up there to the single holeshot and came out 2nd from the splitters behind Lisa and it stayed that way for the whole race with me battling Simon Gill every lap and I managed to hold him off right until the very last buoy when he passed me – how annoying but it was a great race, thanks Si. I was shattered 12 mins and 1 lap!!!! But that’s the only moto I had today luckily.
Sunday began with Ski Ltd and my dad had sorted out my ski so thankfully I could race my race boat in this class – which is my main class. I had a cracking start again and came out again behind Lisa Barsby and again it stayed that way for the whole race – have you ever tried passing the 2007 World Pro rider? Not a prayer!!!
For Moto 2 in Ski GP I had to race my back up boat as I had started the motos on this boat. Again I had a flying start coming out 2nd from the splitters behind Simon and I stayed there for most of the race until I developed a problem and had to let everyone pass me – a pipe had split and my boat was filled with water – not good but that’s racing!
For Moto 2 in Ski Ltd I was back on my race boat and it was my lucky day – I got another good start and this time I came out first from the splitters but I knew at this stage I would have a very tough race on my hands as Lisa was on my tail and I knew she would be every second of the race and pushing me hard – that’s why she is the Ladies Pro World Champion and she doesn’t make mistakes so I knew I had to be 110% throughout. It seemed a long race!!!! I did it though and I crossed the finish line in first place which meant I took the win on the day. I couldn’t have wished for a better start to the season.
Last moto of the day was Ski GP again – must admit I was shattered and it was a very right hand course and I could really feel it on my leg and bum muscles! Not such a cracking start this time but managed to come out 3rd and again I managed to stay there throughout what seemed a very long hard race!!
Well I can’t complain can I – a fantastic start to the season for me - I won limited on the day and came 3rd in Ski GP – many thanks to everyone I raced with for some great safe racing, to my holders my dad and Garry, to all my Girl Power supporters which I really appreciate and to the JSRA for a really great event I know you are all working really hard for us all so we can race. Thanks for all my dads hard work this weekend and to all my sponsors who make it all possible.
I must just add what a Girl Power weekend it was – Lisa and I finishing top 3 in Ski Ltd and Ski GP – sorry guys. Sophie Perrin who won Junior 2 stroke, Rhian, Charlotte and Lauran all on the podium.
GIRL POWER!!!