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Interview with Paul Richardson
Full name: Paul Anthony Richardson
Any nicknames: Richo
Age: 47
Birthday: 03/07/1962
Where do you live (town)? Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
Where do you train? I train on my ski at Tattershall Lakes
Country Park which is just 10 minutes from my house.
How often do you train? I try to do 40 litres of fuel as
often as I can but with the cold weather recently I haven't
been out much at all.
What's your training regime? Not much at all, my work as
a window fitter is very physical, so sometimes when it
comes to racing it feels like a rest!!
Have you always worked out? Not really, I joined a gym
last year, but because I have been so busy at work, I
hardly got a chance to go.
What other sports do you participate in? I do a bit of pint
lifting at the local pub!
When did you first start riding? I first got on a ski when
you could hire them in about 1997 and was hooked, it's a
shame skis are not hired out like they used to be. How are
people supposed to try things out before they buy them?
How did you get into the sport? My step son Michael Astridge
wanted to try racing, lots of his friends at Tattershall at the time
were racers, Josh Harvey, Luke Brookes, Gemma Mason, Jason
Young and Matt Youens. He wanted to compete so we decided
to do it together. We both did well, he won the beginner Junior
and I won beginner runabout title.
When did you first start racing? In the winter series 2005/2006.
The JSRA knew how to break you in with the cold weather; it's
different now you had to do the winters before you could do the
summer series.
What was your first craft? It was a Yamaha Waverunner 701 cc
What craft do you ride now? It's a Seadoo RXP super charged
GP boat.
What made you start racing at your age? I've never done any
sports really before and I used to stand on the side thinking
"I could do that" for years, but I thought I wouldn't be good
enough to race, also money has freed up a bit now that the
kids are older.
Which was your first competition? It was at Nitro Jet in Oxford
in 2005, my god that was scary, standing on a line with 14 or so
other people and going to the hole shot thinking "what the hell am
I doing here"
Who is your hero in the sport? I wouldn't say 'Hero', but a
certain Franky Zapata is up there, I once saw a video of him in
Europe in front, leading the pack, he came off, ended up at the
back and came back to win, now that's good riding. And also
I have a lot of respect for the 'Godfather' Alan Pickard. I don't
mind losing against Alan, I have learnt a lot from him over the
years.
What is your best moment in the sport? Winning Veteran
runabout 2 years in a row, and coming second in GP last year.
Best aftermarket part? I have just had my ignition re-mapped and
new injectors by someone in Australia, what a difference!!
Best piece of kit? My ski, it handles well and anyone who has
gone on it comments how good it is.
Titles won:
- Beginner runabout winter champion 2005/2006
- Veteran runabout champion 2008
- Veteran runabout champion 2009
- Glasgow River Festival runabout champion 2008
- Runabout winter champion 2009/2010
- and finishing 2nd in runabout GP 2009
What title would you like to win most? Veteran runabout champion
2010, see if my luck holds up for another year. I would also love
to go to Havasu to the world finals to try my hand at racing over
there. A lot of the riders have said I would stand a good chance of
winning if I went, so if there is anyone out there willing to sponsor
someone in thier prime, please get in touch.
How do you think your experience and age help with racing? I race
hard, but not dangerously, I know I have to work the next day so I
am always aware of everything going off around me. At the end of the
day, it's just a race.
Anything else you would like to tell us........Could you please mention
that I am sponsored by Barry Matson at Tattershall Lakes Country Park.
My daughter is Anya Colley so it must be something in the genes!!
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