British Winter Championship 2007/08  Round 1 – Tattershall Country Park, Lincolnshire.

This weekend – 24^th/25^th November saw the start of the British Winter series which encourages all rookie racers to come along and have a go……it really is great fun.  I started my racing in the Winter series in January 2005 and haven’t looked back and I have had some amazing times so if you are like I was and sat thinking how you would like to have a go then pop onto www.jsra.co.uk and find out more and I hope to see you at the next round which I believe is February 24^th at Tattershall Country Park but keep an eye on the JSRA website for up to date information.

During the winters I am competing in Open Ski along with my usual racing buddies – Jason, Lee, Graham, Kev, Simon, Jim etc and I am also pleased to say we have a couple of newcomers to this class too – welcome Stephen and well done on the move up to Emily, good luck and always remember it’s a tough class this one with GP boats and lots of champions so well done and what great experience.  When I first started racing I was against brilliant riders like British and European Champion Luke Brooks and it really was great training and it made me very determined.

My race boat (and my gear) unfortunately was not back from the World Finals so I had to race my back up – she doesn’t come out of the truck onto the water very often – bless her.  My dad also has had very little time since Havasu and so it was a rush to even just fit the hot hands.  I also had the film crew from ITV there filming me so dad had even less time and it was soon clear my ski wasn’t running at its best but not enough time to investigate why. 

I came out second in moto one behind Simon on his GP Kawadoo boat but then I took the blue splitter and the recently crowned (again) World Champion Jim took me leaving me in third place which is where I crossed the finish line.  It wasn’t a good race for me and I wasn’t comfortable – it was the first time I have worn my steamer since last winter and I didn’t realise until the race that I couldn’t bend it in as it was too tight.  When I came off the water I knew it was the first thing that Boss would say to me so we had a good laugh about why I was so stiff  and this time the excuse worked!!

Now changed into a larger wetsuit ready for Moto 2!  This time I had to call two mins as my boat wouldn’t start, eventually she did but coughed and spluttered as I left the gate almost throwing me off but she got going and I got myself to third place which again is where I crossed the finish line.  After the race my dad found the problem on my ski and said how she had been very good to me as she could very easily have broken down in the moto.  So problem sorted now ready for winter practice time although I won’t be able to practice as much this year as I have all my exams / course work  ready for my GCSE’s in May/ June which have to be my priority this year. I want to continue racing so I know I have to work hard to get a good career to fund it!