YOUR RACING CAREER SO FAR…

LIKES & DISLIKES OR A FUN FACT ABOUT YOU
Well, I definitely like Guinness. I have always gravitated towards fixing things, and have now managed to end up riding, racing and repairing Jet Skis for a living, which is good fun. “Try living with you!” says my long-suffering partner, chef, personal trainer and pit bitch, Kel.

Over the winter months I race model cars which I do truly love, but often get frustrated with and wonder how it appears to be more expensive than Jet Ski racing!!

I dislike training for the Jet Ski racing season, it is extremely boring trying to get in shape 🙁 Fun facts: first learnt to walk whilst on board a boat, and my initials spell my first name 🙂

STORY BEHIND YOUR RACE NUMBER 
A couple of years after I got my first few skis I attended a Jet Action meeting at Fosse Hill. Numbers were handed out first come first serve in the sign-on queue, and I just so happened to be 13th in the queue. I commented that receiving unlucky number 13 was ironic seeing as Roy (my X2) who was allocated #13 had spent the entirety of my ownership proving that he was the most unreliable Jet Ski in the Northern Hemisphere. Equally remarkably I bumped into a chap at the meeting who knew my ski of old, incidentally the only person I’ve ever spoken to did, and he said that the previous owner had experienced all too similar woes whilst he owned the ski from new. “Always fast!” he said “but never managed more than 1 lap!” I have worked extremely hard over the last 10 years to improve on that 1 lap record, but Roy always likes to keep me on my toes 🙂 Worth mentioning at this point I named the ski Roy in honour of his first owner “Roy” who appeared to dedicate much of his life to maintaining the ski, and I hope to be able to do the same.

CLASSES YOU HAVE COMPETED IN Vintage X2, 550, Naturally Aspirated

TITLES OR CHAMPIONSHIPS (PAST, PRESENT OR FUTURE!)
British Championship Vintage X2 2021 1st Place
British Championship Runabout Naturally Aspirated 2021 3rd Place
British Championship Runabout Naturally Aspirated 2023 2nd Place

BEST/FAVOURITE RACE STORY (ON OR OFF THE TRACK)
As you can imagine, there are quite a few stories, even over just a few years of competition. The most dramatic was crashing at the Winter Round 2022, on my X2 of course, and fracturing 2 vertebrae in my spine. That was pretty much indescribably bad, but I have been extremely lucky to make a quick and
trouble-free recovery, with just 6 weeks before I could attempt to open the shutter at work, months off skis, and was able to make it back racing for a gentle attempt at the final round of 2022, which was my goal. It wasn’t easy or particularly impressive on track, but it was a great achievement, and mostly made possible by the day to day intensive care from Kel who nursed me through many months of recovery. Off the track, there is always a smashing atmosphere, at least when the sun is shining in the afternoon and evenings. My two favourite memories from the paddock involve a 2 stroke weed whacker engine powered cocktail blender which was used to create some rocket fuel beverages in Belgium 2019, and the Ooni pizza oven night at the final round Kingsbury 2021 which combined with the after-party was simply the tastiest and best fun we have had round the camp fire at a race meeting!

RACE SUPERSTITIONS OR ROUTINES YOU DO BEFORE A RACE 

Nerves do sometimes creep up on me so I will often be seen head down and eyes closed whilst waiting in the start gate, preparing myself for the band snap! I’m not a superstitious person, but i always check my ride plate bolts before a race these days, having lost a few 😀

THE 2024 SEASON

MODEL OF YOUR SKI Kawasaki X2 / Kawasaki STX-15F
WHO BUILT YOUR SKI Me!
SPONSORS Fat Boy Jet Ski Shop