Twenty-year-old Anya, known as the Pink Lady, raced in Belgium, Portugal and Austria in the IJSBA (International Jet Sport Boating Association) European Championships and says she has had a great season’s racing this year, although she could have managed without the added pressure of the last round.

Anya Colley

The European Championships started in May in Belgium where Anya had the best possible start, taking the pole position win followed by all three moto wins to get her campaign off to a flying start. The Belgian success meant heading into round two in Mirendela (Portugal), she was in a fantastic position to retain her title. Mirendela is known as the toughest track on the Jet Ski circuit but despite the tough conditions Anya took the pole position and another trio of moto wins. It meant she only needed to finish in the top four in the final event in Austria to take overall victory.

But disaster struck when she suffered a mechanical failure, relegating her to last place in the first moto, so now she would now need a first and a second in the next two races to secure the overall win. And despite having to ride the back-up ski, she took victory in both final motos, and with eight out of nine moto wins for the season, the European Ladies title for 2012 stayed with Anya for another year.

Next up for Anya is the World Finals in Lake Havasu City, Arizona where she will compete for the Pro Ladies Title followed by the King’s Cup in Thailand in December.

Written by: Alex Smith
Alex Smith is a journalist, copywriter and magazine editor with a long history in boating and a happy addiction to the water. He’s worked on boats, lived on boats, bought boats, sold boats and – when he’s not actually on board a boat – he can generally be found in his Folkestone office, tapping away at the computer and gazing out to sea.
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