POWERING ON
POWERING ON Shelley Jory-Leigh is a totally fearless character who has achieved a great deal in her half century! British and World Record Powerboat Champion, TV Presenter, Charity Ambassador, Motivational Speaker and Successful Businesswoman, with the potential, later in the year, to add another accolade to the list.
She has been lucky enough to have always had the Solent as her back yard! However in her early 20s she enjoyed it more as her personal pleasure playground: water-skiing and chilling out with friends on their speed boats - and occasionally casting a glance as the Cowes - Torquay - Cowes Powerboat Race took place. She loved the way the boats appeared to fly across the water, but never did she think she would one day swap her ski’s for a powerboat! Although the seed had been clearly sown, she didn’t feel it was within her reach, she assumed it was a millionaires club – until she discovered that she could actually enter at low level, in the production class, which is what she did. It began as a hobby at the weekends nothing more. It wasn’t long, however, before other racers realised she was a good team player, organised, tough, and very well prepared for all the races. She started to be asked by other team owners to join their teams and race with them. She credits some of her inspiration to these men who put their trust in her to race alongside them, and she was determined she would not let them down. She never did! Fast forward to 2005, and Shelley winning the British Honda Powerboat Championships. She was over the moon: “My all-girl
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