GB's Pink Lady and Team GB bring home Nations Trophy 

The UK’s Team GB Jet Skiers return home from the IJSBA World Championships with the Home Nations Trophy.

The UK’s Anya Colley “Pink Lady” has just returned home to Nottinghamshire after representing team GB at the International Jet Sports Boating Association World Finals in Lake Havasu, Arizona last month. The 17 year old was one of 600 entries from 37 different nations taking part in the games that took place from the 10th -18th of October.  

Anya had a fantastic time competing at the event and managed to secure herself another two World titles in the process. Competing against a male field of racers Anya, known nationally and internationally as the “Pink Lady” secured the World titles of World Amateur Ski Open and World Expert Ski Limited Champion.  

On top of these fantastic achievements she took the bronze medal position in the Pro/Am Ski limited class and bronze in the Pro/Am ladies class. Anya’s total of World titles has now reached 7 over the last 3 years and still at just the age of 17.

“This year saw some great racing and I had a few good battles – there are some really fast guys out there, I had a great time and loved almost every minute of it” commented Anya she went on to say  “It is quite difficult for us to race in the USA as we have to ship everything out there and this year I had a lot of trouble with one of my ski’s. My Dad, Malcolm had to work constantly on it to try and get the problem sorted with limited parts and tools out there and I would like to say a huge thank you to him and to everyone else who helped try to sort the ski – you know who you are!”  

Anya continued “Although I’m the only one on the Ski doing the riding it really is team work and I couldn’t do it without the support of my Mum, Dad and brother Joel. Joel doesn’t come to the racing but he is always there for me I’d also thanks to my boyfriend Pro rider James Bushell for his encouragement and support.”  

Whilst enjoying their time in Arizona and stocking up on the silverware team GB were sadden by the news that a fellow Jet Skier at the competition had been involved ina tragic racing accident and killed. Anya’s friend Italy’s Cesare Vismara (36) who rode for Team Serbia lost his life when his ski was hit by a competitors ski during a race. The K38 rescue team were immediately on hand but Vismara was declared dead at the scene.   

The Jet Ski Racers are a very close knit community and all the riders were deeply shocked by this very tragic and rare accident and took the vote to postpone racing on Friday out of respect. “Vismara and Team Serbia loved racing and he will always remain in our hearts and my thoughts go out to all his family & friends.” Reflected Anya “It was difficult for us all to race again on Saturday, but it is what Vismara would have wanted.”  

Anya admitted that team GB were already having an emotional World championships as it was the first World Finals without IJSBA and the UK’s JSRA much loved race director Jeremy Hoyland from Barnsley who sadly went missing at sea without a trace whilst acting as race director in Bali at the Asian games shortly after the World Finals last year. “It was very strange not having Jeremy on the beach. But Jeremy would have been very proud of team GB this year especially with us returning with the Nations Cup” said Anya.  

Team GB secured the Nation’s Cup with Anya’s two World titles wins contributing to the achievement along with two world titles from Lisa Barsby. A further two World Titles from Jim Goodchild and hard charging junior Joseph Edward’s taking 2  World titles making a total of 8 World Titles in all. Anya is very proud of the achievement of team GB “it’s a great achievement for a little country like Great Britain against much larger countries like the USA, Good job  done by everyone” commented Anya.  

The whole of team GB did an amazing job and every rider finished top ten so that says a lot about the standard of British riders.  

Anya would like to say a big Thank you to all her sponsors and for more news and photos visit her website www.anyas.co.uk