Snowsport England Grand Prix Series
Race 7 - ERSA Grand Prix
Xscape Milton Keynes
Sunday 16th August, 2009
And so after the six previous races in the series had taken us the length and breadth of our green and pleasant land, the final race of the 2009 Snowsport England Grand Prix series took place in Milton Keynes, smack bang in the centre of the county, home of concrete cows, stolen football teams and the first snow centre in the UK to come close to replicating 160 metres of Alpine fun.
With much still to play for in most categories and many of the traditional summer plastic race fraternity somewhat out of their hexagonal dendix comfort zone there were plenty of opportunities available for racers to climb the category rankings and ski themselves into overall contention or score a morale boosting result right at the mid point between the last and next winter’s racing.
In the girls event Lucy Peel stamped an immediate authority upon the race, posting a first run 17.03s time that only Florence Bell & Charlotte Davies looked anywhere capable of matching. Indeed had Davies not lost 0.26 seconds on the first run she may have been able to capitalise on her storming 2nd run that not only overhauled Bell into the runners up spot but also threatened to claim the event victory that would have also jumped her into the runners up spot in the overall series. Peel, however, had other ideas and a 2nd run time of 14.85 seconds proved to be enough to ensure that the final race of 2009 was hers.
Unlike the ladies race the first run of the male event left us with probably more questions than we were likely to get answers for. Had Gerard Flahive’s first run blaster provided him with enough of a buffer to hold Georgie Hunt and the rest of the male field at bay? Did Georgie have enough in the tank to rectify a first run defeat? And could Dan Evans or James Greenwood overturn their small deficits to rattle a few reputations right at the front of the field?
Time – and an overly worn course - eventually provided us with the answers however and with Greenwood & Evans producing outstanding times the screw had been turned sufficiently tightly for Hunt to fail to negotiate his way through Ross Green’s course, exiting the race early and leaving the proverbial hen house door open for the cunning fox we all know as Gerard Flahive. Strangely however a subdued 2nd run time, around two tenths of a second off the pace, proved to be just short of what was required and in a blink of an eye Daniel Evans had sneaked in, sent feathers flying and captured his first ever overall Grand Prix victory.
In the categories Abby Clifford’s unusually disappointing 1st run time forced her to settle for 3rd spot behind Peel & Davies. Caroline Powell claimed 1st in Junior 1 with Claire Brown in 2nd and the elder Bell sister, Victoria in 3rd. Fifth place overall proved enough for Lottie Mayer to claim 2nd behind Florence Bell in Children 2 category with Nia Jenkins claiming 3rd. In Children 1 Jessica Anderson’s first run blast proved the decisive factor in her win over runner up Megan Jenkins who in turn leapfrogged 3rd placed Yasmin Cooper on run 2.
In the seniors Stuart Riches proved too good for 2nd place Andrew Crawford with Christopher Crowther 3rd. Gerard Flahive’s overall runners up spot was one place too far for runner up James Greenwood in Junior 2 whilst 5th placed overall James Knock claimed 3rd. Samuel Fairburn’s 6th overall was enough to claim the runners up berth in Jun 1 behind race winner Dan Evans with Giacomo Ghislanzoni in 3rd. In the children’s categories Daniel Poth proved too good for his contempories, scoring a fine win whilst Barney Lewis overturned a small first run deficit to squeeze into 2nd with Ashley Breese in 3rd. In Children 1 Robert Poth made it a family double nudging Jordan Fellows into the runners up spot with Benjamin Smith in 3rd.
The day however belonged to a young man who over the years has suggested that there were a number of Grand Prix victories in his young and highly talented feet. Always competitive, always smiling, always flat out and never one to scrub speed – you always know where you are with young Mr Evans, and at the final GP event of 2009 Dan proved very much that he was indeed the man.
Friday 4 September 2009
Saturday 1 August 2009
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Snowsport England Grand Prix Series
Race 6 - ERSA Grand Prix
Hemel
Sunday 26th July, 2009
Apparently only mad dogs & Englishmen go out in the mid day sun. Quite what Noel Coward would have made of us Brits spending a summer sabbath inside a gigantic refrigerator is anyone’s guess. One thing that is for sure however is that the song he’d have written about it wouldn’t be half as catchy as his more famous ditty.
So in the middle of summer the mad dogs, or at least those without florescent jackets and clip boards, were left outside in the sunshine whilst the 2009 Snowsport England Grand Prix series took its first tentative steps onto indoor dome racing. That was just about as far as the new adventure went however as, on the hill, events were soon being dominated by two rather familiar figures.
In the ladies race Joanna Ryding proved a class apart from the rest of the field. Leading by almost a second after run 1 the Pendle racer doubled her advantage in the 2nd run to claim her 2nd victory of the 2009 GP series. Lucy Peel did her upmost to keep Ryding honest and in the process capitalised on a Charlotte Davies 2nd run error to claim the overall runners up spot, whilst in 3rd overall Caroline Powell successfully continued her 2009 GP campaign.
In the categories, overall top ten positions were enough for Monica Gash to claim 2nd place in the senior category just pipping Hannah Parker into 3rd. In Jun 2 Charlotte Gould and Rebecca Lyth also profited from Davies’s error to post 2nd & 3rd respectively whilst the Telford duo of Claire Brown and Charlotte Shrimpton claimed 2nd & 3rd in the jun 1 category. The children’s categories were dominated by the Jenkins sisters as Nia not only claimed a superb 4th overall to win the older category but could claim to be the only child to beat her sister and chi 1 victor Megan. Georgia Hallet and Samantha Baxter claimed 2nd & 3rd in the older children category with Yasmin Cooper & Emma Peters both continuing fine 2009 GP campaigns in 2nd & 3rd respectively
In the men’s race Georgie Hunt returned to Grand Prix racing for the first time since 2005 and promptly celebrated the event by winning the race. Hunt’s first run time was just enough to provide him with a half way lead but a stunning second run proved the decisive factor in the day’s proceedings. In the runners up spot Gerard Flahive’s cracking 1st run ensured that Hunt had to fully commit to his 2nd run and also ensured a smidgen of daylight that divided the Hemel powerhouse from the 3rd placed Matt Thompson.
In the categories Andrew Crawford claimed 2nd place in the seniors whilst Andrew Watson and Benjamin Porter finished 2nd & 3rd in junior 2 behind Flahive. Runners up spot in Junior 1 behind Thompson was claimed by Daniel Evans with Max Greenfield in 3rd. In the children’s categories Barney Lewis again proved his capabilities on the indoor surface by claiming a deserved win with home racer Thomas Grant in 2nd and Edmund Fenton-Fowler in 3rd. In Chi 1 George Richardson deservedly claimed a first GP category victory with Callum Begg in 2nd and Ethan Powell in 3rd.
So as Snowsport England’s premier summer series broke new, somewhat chillier ground, it was left to two of our more senior stagers to remind the young guns who will race this surface long into the future that whilst they might not spend so much time in the company of those mad dogs outdoors, when it comes to the white stuff the Ryding’s and Hunt’s of British skiing are most certainly still around and more than competitive.
Race 6 - ERSA Grand Prix
Hemel
Sunday 26th July, 2009
Apparently only mad dogs & Englishmen go out in the mid day sun. Quite what Noel Coward would have made of us Brits spending a summer sabbath inside a gigantic refrigerator is anyone’s guess. One thing that is for sure however is that the song he’d have written about it wouldn’t be half as catchy as his more famous ditty.
So in the middle of summer the mad dogs, or at least those without florescent jackets and clip boards, were left outside in the sunshine whilst the 2009 Snowsport England Grand Prix series took its first tentative steps onto indoor dome racing. That was just about as far as the new adventure went however as, on the hill, events were soon being dominated by two rather familiar figures.
In the ladies race Joanna Ryding proved a class apart from the rest of the field. Leading by almost a second after run 1 the Pendle racer doubled her advantage in the 2nd run to claim her 2nd victory of the 2009 GP series. Lucy Peel did her upmost to keep Ryding honest and in the process capitalised on a Charlotte Davies 2nd run error to claim the overall runners up spot, whilst in 3rd overall Caroline Powell successfully continued her 2009 GP campaign.
In the categories, overall top ten positions were enough for Monica Gash to claim 2nd place in the senior category just pipping Hannah Parker into 3rd. In Jun 2 Charlotte Gould and Rebecca Lyth also profited from Davies’s error to post 2nd & 3rd respectively whilst the Telford duo of Claire Brown and Charlotte Shrimpton claimed 2nd & 3rd in the jun 1 category. The children’s categories were dominated by the Jenkins sisters as Nia not only claimed a superb 4th overall to win the older category but could claim to be the only child to beat her sister and chi 1 victor Megan. Georgia Hallet and Samantha Baxter claimed 2nd & 3rd in the older children category with Yasmin Cooper & Emma Peters both continuing fine 2009 GP campaigns in 2nd & 3rd respectively
In the men’s race Georgie Hunt returned to Grand Prix racing for the first time since 2005 and promptly celebrated the event by winning the race. Hunt’s first run time was just enough to provide him with a half way lead but a stunning second run proved the decisive factor in the day’s proceedings. In the runners up spot Gerard Flahive’s cracking 1st run ensured that Hunt had to fully commit to his 2nd run and also ensured a smidgen of daylight that divided the Hemel powerhouse from the 3rd placed Matt Thompson.
In the categories Andrew Crawford claimed 2nd place in the seniors whilst Andrew Watson and Benjamin Porter finished 2nd & 3rd in junior 2 behind Flahive. Runners up spot in Junior 1 behind Thompson was claimed by Daniel Evans with Max Greenfield in 3rd. In the children’s categories Barney Lewis again proved his capabilities on the indoor surface by claiming a deserved win with home racer Thomas Grant in 2nd and Edmund Fenton-Fowler in 3rd. In Chi 1 George Richardson deservedly claimed a first GP category victory with Callum Begg in 2nd and Ethan Powell in 3rd.
So as Snowsport England’s premier summer series broke new, somewhat chillier ground, it was left to two of our more senior stagers to remind the young guns who will race this surface long into the future that whilst they might not spend so much time in the company of those mad dogs outdoors, when it comes to the white stuff the Ryding’s and Hunt’s of British skiing are most certainly still around and more than competitive.
Sparks Fly As Watson & Flahive Tee Off
Snowsport England Grand Prix Series
Race 5 - NWSA Grand Prix
Rossendale
Sunday 19th July, 2009
In the summer of 1977 the two best golfers on the planet bumped into each other on Scotland’s west coast and produced a Sunday afternoon of epic sporting proportions as Jack Nicholas and Tom Watson slugged out what became forever know as the Dual in the Sun. Exactly 32 years later the name Watson again adorned the winners circle, though sadly for the 59 year old American golfing legend Tom it wasn’t to be at Turnberry. For a much younger namesake- amid the mud, rain and a smattering of dendix- it was a different story however.
Step forward Andrew Watson, more Cardiff than Kansas City, but very much from the same competitive mould of his illustrious namesake. Indeed with Gerard Flahive playing the Nicholas role to a tee and the rest of the field almost out of sight the final outdoor race of this summer’s GP series encapsulated much of the heroics of all those years ago.
So it was somewhat fitting that after Flahive’s metaphoric 30 footer of a second run – which up to that point was in excess of 0.6 seconds faster than any other racer - had laid down the gauntlet that Watson reacted like a true champion with a faultless afternoon run that matched the challenge laid before him and led him to a second SSE GP win of 2009. The fact the Watson was over a full second in front of third place, with Flahive less than 0.10 behind Watson only emphasised their dominance of the event.
In the ladies race Abby Clifford also made it 2 GP wins in 2009, however unlike her victory at Silksworth, Clifford this time had it all to do on run 2. However a faultless display of aggressive racing saw her not only overturn the slender first run lead held by Cardiff star Alice Hales but find herself with breathing space on the other side.
With the overall top 6 in the men’s field all fighting out the junior 2 category third placed overall went to Tom Hales the Cardiff racer building on a slender first run advantage to shed Benn Hall, Daniel Curtis and Adam Hutchings into 4th, 5th & 6th overall respectively. In the seniors Andrew Crawford shaded Colin Armstrong on both runs to claim victory whilst Samuel Stephens eased to a comfortable win the junior 1 category with Keigan Witts & Nicholas Miller in 2nd & 3rd. In the children’s categories Ashley Breese overturned a small deficit to squeeze an impressive James Davies into the runners up category with Mikey Knowles following home in 3rd. In the youngest category Jordan Fellows secured victory with Midland racer Nicholas Phelps in 2nd & first year racer Zak Vinter capturing a fine 3rd place.
In the ladies categories Hannah Parker’s 2nd run DNF opened the senior door for Lesley Mearns & Vivien Watson to challenge, Mearns doing enough on both runs to claim victory. In Jun 2 Charlotte Gould claimed 3rd behind overall winner Abby Clifford with 3rd placed overall Alice Hales being the meat between a Telford sandwich. Caroline Powell claimed the honours in Jun1, with Ellen Hathway 2nd & Charlotte Shrimpton in 3rd. In the children’s categories Sarah Lambden did more than enough to claim victory though runner up Nia Jenkins pushed her all the way with Beth Widdup doing enough to hold off a determined Kelly Greenbank for 3rd. In the children 1 category Megan Jenkins continued to dominate though runner up Emma Peters pushed her close with Isabella Hathway completing the podium positions.
Amid the impressive sight of Watson & Flahive’s battle it was important to also spare a thought for young Ravens racer Rory Farren whose horror fall on gate 2 cast a shadow over the final half of the men’s event. Dendix is an unforgiving surface amid a truly unforgiving sport. To be reminded quite how dangerous ski racing can be is never a nice thing, to be reminded by an injury to a lad so young is even less so and hopefully any injuries sustained will heal quickly. Everyone’s best wishes are with him.
Race 5 - NWSA Grand Prix
Rossendale
Sunday 19th July, 2009
In the summer of 1977 the two best golfers on the planet bumped into each other on Scotland’s west coast and produced a Sunday afternoon of epic sporting proportions as Jack Nicholas and Tom Watson slugged out what became forever know as the Dual in the Sun. Exactly 32 years later the name Watson again adorned the winners circle, though sadly for the 59 year old American golfing legend Tom it wasn’t to be at Turnberry. For a much younger namesake- amid the mud, rain and a smattering of dendix- it was a different story however.
Step forward Andrew Watson, more Cardiff than Kansas City, but very much from the same competitive mould of his illustrious namesake. Indeed with Gerard Flahive playing the Nicholas role to a tee and the rest of the field almost out of sight the final outdoor race of this summer’s GP series encapsulated much of the heroics of all those years ago.
So it was somewhat fitting that after Flahive’s metaphoric 30 footer of a second run – which up to that point was in excess of 0.6 seconds faster than any other racer - had laid down the gauntlet that Watson reacted like a true champion with a faultless afternoon run that matched the challenge laid before him and led him to a second SSE GP win of 2009. The fact the Watson was over a full second in front of third place, with Flahive less than 0.10 behind Watson only emphasised their dominance of the event.
In the ladies race Abby Clifford also made it 2 GP wins in 2009, however unlike her victory at Silksworth, Clifford this time had it all to do on run 2. However a faultless display of aggressive racing saw her not only overturn the slender first run lead held by Cardiff star Alice Hales but find herself with breathing space on the other side.
With the overall top 6 in the men’s field all fighting out the junior 2 category third placed overall went to Tom Hales the Cardiff racer building on a slender first run advantage to shed Benn Hall, Daniel Curtis and Adam Hutchings into 4th, 5th & 6th overall respectively. In the seniors Andrew Crawford shaded Colin Armstrong on both runs to claim victory whilst Samuel Stephens eased to a comfortable win the junior 1 category with Keigan Witts & Nicholas Miller in 2nd & 3rd. In the children’s categories Ashley Breese overturned a small deficit to squeeze an impressive James Davies into the runners up category with Mikey Knowles following home in 3rd. In the youngest category Jordan Fellows secured victory with Midland racer Nicholas Phelps in 2nd & first year racer Zak Vinter capturing a fine 3rd place.
In the ladies categories Hannah Parker’s 2nd run DNF opened the senior door for Lesley Mearns & Vivien Watson to challenge, Mearns doing enough on both runs to claim victory. In Jun 2 Charlotte Gould claimed 3rd behind overall winner Abby Clifford with 3rd placed overall Alice Hales being the meat between a Telford sandwich. Caroline Powell claimed the honours in Jun1, with Ellen Hathway 2nd & Charlotte Shrimpton in 3rd. In the children’s categories Sarah Lambden did more than enough to claim victory though runner up Nia Jenkins pushed her all the way with Beth Widdup doing enough to hold off a determined Kelly Greenbank for 3rd. In the children 1 category Megan Jenkins continued to dominate though runner up Emma Peters pushed her close with Isabella Hathway completing the podium positions.
Amid the impressive sight of Watson & Flahive’s battle it was important to also spare a thought for young Ravens racer Rory Farren whose horror fall on gate 2 cast a shadow over the final half of the men’s event. Dendix is an unforgiving surface amid a truly unforgiving sport. To be reminded quite how dangerous ski racing can be is never a nice thing, to be reminded by an injury to a lad so young is even less so and hopefully any injuries sustained will heal quickly. Everyone’s best wishes are with him.
Stuart Shines in Suffolk Sunshine
Snowsport England Grand Prix Series
Race 4 - ERSA Grand Prix
Ipswich
Sunday 5th July, 2009
There is no better place to watch ski racing in the UK than the Suffolk Ski Centre on a warm summer day. Perched on that grass bank at the bottom of the hill, soaking up the suns rays whilst watching skiers negotiate those idiosyncratic contours that make this hill one of the most interesting on the circuit the only thing that seems missing is the poolside bar and a multitude of Germans fighting for deckchairs at dawn.
Quite what it’s like on a bleak day in February is anyone’s guess, however since the race organisers seem to have the ability to order good weather for this event each and every year the thought of a Glastonbury-esque GP mudbath isn’t worth worrying about. Indeed, whilst temperatures soared and parents took cover underneath sun beaten gazebos the action on the hill somehow managed to be even hotter.
In the girl’s race Emily Evans immediately set about rectifying her defeat in the Norfolk leg of the 2009 series, this time producing a brace of error free runs that produced breathing space from the morning run and doubled her advantage in the later run to complete a relatively comfortable victory. The Chatham racer again proving that despite her relatively small frame there is bags of power available when she reaches for the accelerator.
In the male race Norfolk warhorse Stuart Riches, like Evans, produced the fastest run of the day on both courses to claim overall victory despite Dan Curtis pushing him every single inch of the way. Indeed with Curtis only nine hundredths of a second behind Riches after both runs he can count himself somewhat unlucky not to have added to his hat-trick of Club National wins in Southampton by completing his first overall GP victory.
In the categories Emily Goddard proved too good for the other seniors in the field with Stacey Luck claiming 2nd. Overall runner up Charlotte Davies took the spoils in the Junior 2 category with third placed overall Alice Hales 2nd and Charlotte Gould in 3rd. In the Junior 1 category Caroline Powell placed 2nd behind Emily Evans whilst Charlotte Shrimpton claimed 3rd. In Children 2 an excellent 6th place overall was sufficient to provide Sophie Skipper with the category victory, though 2nd placed Stephanie Davies and 3rd placed Bethany Widdup were not that far behind. In the children 1 category Yasmin Cooper went one better then her runners up spot at Sunderland to claim victory with Isabella Hathway 2nd and Emma Peters 3rd.
In the male categories Andrew Crawford followed Riches home for 3rd overall and runners up spot in the seniors with Andrew Leeson completing the podium positions in 3rd. In Jun 2 an impressive 4th place overall was enough to provide Harry Hornsby with 2nd overall and squeeze Ian Williams into 3rd by the very smallest of margins. Ashley Richards deservedly claimed the spoils in the Jun 1 with James Grant and Max Wheatman following each other home for 2nd & 3rd respectively. In the child categories Norfolk’s Shaun Blythe simply blew away the rest of the children’s field, claiming the older child category win by well over a second and a half. Ambition racer Max Moss proved to be the best of the rest in claiming 2nd with James Gibb in 3rd. In the younger category William Wheeler overturned a first run deficit to claim his second Grand Prix category victory of 2009 whilst Jordan Fellows claimed 2nd and Angus Ives 3rd.
So as the 2009 Grand Prix series passed the half way point, the only thing really decided was that everything was still undecided and just about every racer has something to race for. With this being a seven race series and two of the last three races indoors it would take a brave man (or lady) to claim they know the winner of any category or indeed the overall title. Much racing lies ahead, if it’s anywhere near as good as what has gone before then the final half of the season will be worth waiting for.
Race 4 - ERSA Grand Prix
Ipswich
Sunday 5th July, 2009
There is no better place to watch ski racing in the UK than the Suffolk Ski Centre on a warm summer day. Perched on that grass bank at the bottom of the hill, soaking up the suns rays whilst watching skiers negotiate those idiosyncratic contours that make this hill one of the most interesting on the circuit the only thing that seems missing is the poolside bar and a multitude of Germans fighting for deckchairs at dawn.
Quite what it’s like on a bleak day in February is anyone’s guess, however since the race organisers seem to have the ability to order good weather for this event each and every year the thought of a Glastonbury-esque GP mudbath isn’t worth worrying about. Indeed, whilst temperatures soared and parents took cover underneath sun beaten gazebos the action on the hill somehow managed to be even hotter.
In the girl’s race Emily Evans immediately set about rectifying her defeat in the Norfolk leg of the 2009 series, this time producing a brace of error free runs that produced breathing space from the morning run and doubled her advantage in the later run to complete a relatively comfortable victory. The Chatham racer again proving that despite her relatively small frame there is bags of power available when she reaches for the accelerator.
In the male race Norfolk warhorse Stuart Riches, like Evans, produced the fastest run of the day on both courses to claim overall victory despite Dan Curtis pushing him every single inch of the way. Indeed with Curtis only nine hundredths of a second behind Riches after both runs he can count himself somewhat unlucky not to have added to his hat-trick of Club National wins in Southampton by completing his first overall GP victory.
In the categories Emily Goddard proved too good for the other seniors in the field with Stacey Luck claiming 2nd. Overall runner up Charlotte Davies took the spoils in the Junior 2 category with third placed overall Alice Hales 2nd and Charlotte Gould in 3rd. In the Junior 1 category Caroline Powell placed 2nd behind Emily Evans whilst Charlotte Shrimpton claimed 3rd. In Children 2 an excellent 6th place overall was sufficient to provide Sophie Skipper with the category victory, though 2nd placed Stephanie Davies and 3rd placed Bethany Widdup were not that far behind. In the children 1 category Yasmin Cooper went one better then her runners up spot at Sunderland to claim victory with Isabella Hathway 2nd and Emma Peters 3rd.
In the male categories Andrew Crawford followed Riches home for 3rd overall and runners up spot in the seniors with Andrew Leeson completing the podium positions in 3rd. In Jun 2 an impressive 4th place overall was enough to provide Harry Hornsby with 2nd overall and squeeze Ian Williams into 3rd by the very smallest of margins. Ashley Richards deservedly claimed the spoils in the Jun 1 with James Grant and Max Wheatman following each other home for 2nd & 3rd respectively. In the child categories Norfolk’s Shaun Blythe simply blew away the rest of the children’s field, claiming the older child category win by well over a second and a half. Ambition racer Max Moss proved to be the best of the rest in claiming 2nd with James Gibb in 3rd. In the younger category William Wheeler overturned a first run deficit to claim his second Grand Prix category victory of 2009 whilst Jordan Fellows claimed 2nd and Angus Ives 3rd.
So as the 2009 Grand Prix series passed the half way point, the only thing really decided was that everything was still undecided and just about every racer has something to race for. With this being a seven race series and two of the last three races indoors it would take a brave man (or lady) to claim they know the winner of any category or indeed the overall title. Much racing lies ahead, if it’s anywhere near as good as what has gone before then the final half of the season will be worth waiting for.
Thursday 25 June 2009
Sunshine and Suicide in Silksworth
Snowsport England Grand Prix Series
Race 3 - NESA Grand Prix
Sunderland
Sunday 21st June, 2009
The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new. Half of the girl’s field sat out of it, having no alternative, following a communal first run suicide.
Oh, the irony of it. Like lemmings perishing from a cliff top, one by one the female field left the start gate and less than half a dozen turns later found that on this, the longest day of 2009, that their day was over before it have barely began.
Granted Lee Bennett’s first run eliminator was a bit of a tester and the killer gate on Silksworth’s second ridge in particular didn’t exactly offer either time or room for any activation of a Plan B but to see the mass elimination of single and low double pointed female racers was both bizarre and somewhat disappointing.
Disappointing isn’t an adjective that could be used to describe the efforts of Abby Clifford however. A start number of 2 provided Clifford with the ideal opportunity to watch her contemporaries deal (or fail to deal) with the challenge ahead and then use her vast experience to learn from their efforts and mistakes. This she did quite magnificently, negotiating every single gate on the course with a fantastic display of precision touch, timing and technique to cross the line almost a full second in front of her closest rival.
Any debate surrounding the suitability of the Bennett’s course was rightly concluded there and then. Reliance on a ceramic hooked edge and a hefty push out of the start gate was simply never going to be enough. Good course inspection, sound technique and the combination of feet and brains was the only answer to the questions raised by course 1. And with regard to the ladies field, only Abby Clifford ticked every one of those boxes.
To be fair to the ladies their compatriots in the men’s field faired little better. With 8 out of the top 20 racers making their way off the hill without troubling the timing beam it could be argued that they were equally culpable. However, there appeared to be a touch more conviction with the boys and they at least mainly negotiated the killer turn only to perish in the tight verticali that followed.
In addition, the greater experience of those who competed at the top end of the male section told a little more of the story. With the exception of home slope starlet Daniel Evans every other male in the overall top 10 came from the senior or junior 2 category. Experience clearly plays a part in the ability to read a course, quickly digest that information and re-produce it at racing speed.
No-one did that better Pendle’s Dan Wyatt who in producing the fastest run of the day not only on course one but also on Pierre Mohan’s second run double matter stamped an impressive authority on the day’s proceedings. Team mate Bradley Morgan matched Wyatt diamond for diamond on run 1, separated by the small matter of 0.01 seconds, but a slower second run left Morgan disappointed in 3rd place overall and allowed the 2008 GP champion and tight course specialist Andrew Crawford to leapfrog him into a well deserved overall runners up spot.
In the categories Alice Thelwell’s 3rd overall was enough to win the senior category, one place in front of Ravens Lesley Mearns with co-Gloucester racer Emily Goddard in 3rd. Pendle’s Lauren Elliot and Sharks Melanie Wilcockson followed Abby Clifford in the Junior 2 category whilst overall runner up Caroline Powell did more than enough to claim the honours in Junior 1 ahead of Gloucester racer Natassja Linley in 2nd and Southampton’s Emma Stafford in 3rd. Telford’s Kelly Greenbank took the win in Children 2 with Pendle racer Victoria-Lynn Orrell in 2nd whilst Beth Widdup's first round hike was justified with a 3rd place finish that provided an invaluable 3 point haul towards the overall GP series. In the youngest category Megan Jenkins provided the latest confirmation of her undoubted talent with a 6th place overall finish for the category win with Hemel’s Yasmin Cooper 2nd and Ravens Emma Peters in 3rd.
With experience dominating the males field it was no surprise that Colin Armstrong’s 4th overall was required to guarantee 3rd in the senior category behind Wyatt & Crawford and 5th & 6th respectively were needed to see Michael Thelwell and Harry Hornsby onto the podium in Jun 2. In Jun 1 Daniel Evans claimed the victory with Pendle duo Richard Leeson and Kaigan Witts in 2nd & 3rd. In the Children’s category Telford racer Ashley Breese proved too sharp for the chi 2 field though 2nd placed Jake Morgan and 3rd placed Graham Dickson pushed him close. In chi 1 Telford’s Jordan Fellows overturned a 1st run deficit to win the youngest category ahead of Gloucester’s Matthew Davis and Muckhart’s Fraser Buchan in 3rd.
The day belonged to Abby Clifford however. 365 days after leaving Sunderland with her hand in plaster the Telford warhorse returned somewhat gingerly to the slope where that injury happened. Little more than 36 hours later she’d added the NESA GP to the previous afternoon’s Sunderland Club National title and proved to be very much the class act of the weekend.
Race 3 - NESA Grand Prix
Sunderland
Sunday 21st June, 2009
The sun shone, having no alternative, on the nothing new. Half of the girl’s field sat out of it, having no alternative, following a communal first run suicide.
Oh, the irony of it. Like lemmings perishing from a cliff top, one by one the female field left the start gate and less than half a dozen turns later found that on this, the longest day of 2009, that their day was over before it have barely began.
Granted Lee Bennett’s first run eliminator was a bit of a tester and the killer gate on Silksworth’s second ridge in particular didn’t exactly offer either time or room for any activation of a Plan B but to see the mass elimination of single and low double pointed female racers was both bizarre and somewhat disappointing.
Disappointing isn’t an adjective that could be used to describe the efforts of Abby Clifford however. A start number of 2 provided Clifford with the ideal opportunity to watch her contemporaries deal (or fail to deal) with the challenge ahead and then use her vast experience to learn from their efforts and mistakes. This she did quite magnificently, negotiating every single gate on the course with a fantastic display of precision touch, timing and technique to cross the line almost a full second in front of her closest rival.
Any debate surrounding the suitability of the Bennett’s course was rightly concluded there and then. Reliance on a ceramic hooked edge and a hefty push out of the start gate was simply never going to be enough. Good course inspection, sound technique and the combination of feet and brains was the only answer to the questions raised by course 1. And with regard to the ladies field, only Abby Clifford ticked every one of those boxes.
To be fair to the ladies their compatriots in the men’s field faired little better. With 8 out of the top 20 racers making their way off the hill without troubling the timing beam it could be argued that they were equally culpable. However, there appeared to be a touch more conviction with the boys and they at least mainly negotiated the killer turn only to perish in the tight verticali that followed.
In addition, the greater experience of those who competed at the top end of the male section told a little more of the story. With the exception of home slope starlet Daniel Evans every other male in the overall top 10 came from the senior or junior 2 category. Experience clearly plays a part in the ability to read a course, quickly digest that information and re-produce it at racing speed.
No-one did that better Pendle’s Dan Wyatt who in producing the fastest run of the day not only on course one but also on Pierre Mohan’s second run double matter stamped an impressive authority on the day’s proceedings. Team mate Bradley Morgan matched Wyatt diamond for diamond on run 1, separated by the small matter of 0.01 seconds, but a slower second run left Morgan disappointed in 3rd place overall and allowed the 2008 GP champion and tight course specialist Andrew Crawford to leapfrog him into a well deserved overall runners up spot.
In the categories Alice Thelwell’s 3rd overall was enough to win the senior category, one place in front of Ravens Lesley Mearns with co-Gloucester racer Emily Goddard in 3rd. Pendle’s Lauren Elliot and Sharks Melanie Wilcockson followed Abby Clifford in the Junior 2 category whilst overall runner up Caroline Powell did more than enough to claim the honours in Junior 1 ahead of Gloucester racer Natassja Linley in 2nd and Southampton’s Emma Stafford in 3rd. Telford’s Kelly Greenbank took the win in Children 2 with Pendle racer Victoria-Lynn Orrell in 2nd whilst Beth Widdup's first round hike was justified with a 3rd place finish that provided an invaluable 3 point haul towards the overall GP series. In the youngest category Megan Jenkins provided the latest confirmation of her undoubted talent with a 6th place overall finish for the category win with Hemel’s Yasmin Cooper 2nd and Ravens Emma Peters in 3rd.
With experience dominating the males field it was no surprise that Colin Armstrong’s 4th overall was required to guarantee 3rd in the senior category behind Wyatt & Crawford and 5th & 6th respectively were needed to see Michael Thelwell and Harry Hornsby onto the podium in Jun 2. In Jun 1 Daniel Evans claimed the victory with Pendle duo Richard Leeson and Kaigan Witts in 2nd & 3rd. In the Children’s category Telford racer Ashley Breese proved too sharp for the chi 2 field though 2nd placed Jake Morgan and 3rd placed Graham Dickson pushed him close. In chi 1 Telford’s Jordan Fellows overturned a 1st run deficit to win the youngest category ahead of Gloucester’s Matthew Davis and Muckhart’s Fraser Buchan in 3rd.
The day belonged to Abby Clifford however. 365 days after leaving Sunderland with her hand in plaster the Telford warhorse returned somewhat gingerly to the slope where that injury happened. Little more than 36 hours later she’d added the NESA GP to the previous afternoon’s Sunderland Club National title and proved to be very much the class act of the weekend.
Thursday 28 May 2009
Our First Time
Telford Club National
Saturday 25th April, 2009
Chill Factor, Manchester
And so after a few years thinking about how to make it possible, six months deciding to actually go for it and the best part of a year sorting it out forerunner A, Joanna Ryding, exited the start gate and the first ever Telford Club National was - as Murray Walker used to say - Go, Go, Go.
With a home slope that would need doubling in length and a facelift of a similar magnitude to somewhere in between Cher & Donnington Park the chances of Telford ever running the race on its own hill were about as less likely than a boat race not won by either Oxford or Cambridge. However the opening of Chill Factor an hour up the road in Manchester presented an ideal location and opportunity for the Club to add its name to the list of summer race venues.
With the weather controlled by a combination of the roof, superb snowmaking facilities and those gigantic refrigerator fans spectators were treated to the luxury of a guaranteed dry day of racing. Added to this was the somewhat rare but most welcome relaxed feel of the whole place. With the only rule being no wearing of ski boots beyond the changing area the Chill Factor staff appeared as laid back as Liam Gallagher performing a recital of Supersonic and given the incredible hassle experienced from specifically the legendary RoboScurityMan and generally all staff at just about every other indoor event this proved a more than welcome change.
Throw into the mix nice high ceilings and light levels that don’t make you feel like you’re entombed in a seventies night club, a viewing balcony that is worthy of it’s own description and most importantly a piste that doesn’t crumble and rut up after the first half dozen minis have been down it and the only conclusion to draw is that Chill Factor is without doubt the best place to go indoor ski racing in the UK.
In the minis race Emma Taylor continued her great start to the season with a 2nd place spot and Beatrice How on her Club National debut produced a brace fine runs to finish 4th. In the mini boys Nathan Breese left himself with too much to do after run 1 and had to settle for 3rd with William Lucas 9th, Edward Guy – again on debut – 16th and Joshua Ainsworth 19th.
With the girls race featuring a number of Telford heavyweights (and I do mean in regard to skiing ability) the possibility of a home win looked eminently possible. However, Danielle Polley spoiled the party by producing the fastest time in both runs to claim a deserved win. Not to be outdone however runner up Abby Clifford and 3rd placed Charlotte Mayer ensured that there was plenty of Telford representation on the overall podium.
In the categories Charlotte Gould’s 3rd place in Jun 2 complimented the 2nd placed Abby, whilst Claire Brown’s 2nd run DNF bought an abrupt end to her day. In Chi 2 Charlotte Mayer’s overall podium was more than good enough to claim 1st in category with Alex Bullock in 6th & Kelly Greenbank 7th. Charlotte Shrimpton posted 10th in Jun 1 with George Gould finishing 12th whilst in the Chi 1 category Claire Ainsworth finished 10th and Emmy Bullock in 15th
In the males race Callum Henderson made it a Scottish double in joining Polley on the winner’s step of the podium after overtaking first run leader Andy Roose on run 2 with Marek Behnke in 3rd.
So far as the Telford racers were concerned Ashley Breese led the charge dominating the Chi 2 (Chi 2! – I must be getting old) category. Marco Furio claimed 6th in Jun 1 to confirm the huge progress he has made over the winter with Joe Humfress placing 18th, Tarran Noble 21st & Anthony Bennett 23rd in the highly competitive category. In Jun 2 Jamie Conde claimed 13th place with Simon Wilkins finishing in 16th whilst in chi 2 Chris Yates perished on run 1 with Dieter Bowers claiming 21st. Jordan Fellows claimed 2nd in chi 1 and Daniel Taylor in 14th.
And so after a few years thinking about how to make it possible, six months deciding to actually go for it and the best part of a year sorting it out the first ever Telford Club National had been run, prizes given out, everyone – well almost everyone – went home happy and the race officials all got fed.
Eventually.
Saturday 25th April, 2009
Chill Factor, Manchester
And so after a few years thinking about how to make it possible, six months deciding to actually go for it and the best part of a year sorting it out forerunner A, Joanna Ryding, exited the start gate and the first ever Telford Club National was - as Murray Walker used to say - Go, Go, Go.
With a home slope that would need doubling in length and a facelift of a similar magnitude to somewhere in between Cher & Donnington Park the chances of Telford ever running the race on its own hill were about as less likely than a boat race not won by either Oxford or Cambridge. However the opening of Chill Factor an hour up the road in Manchester presented an ideal location and opportunity for the Club to add its name to the list of summer race venues.
With the weather controlled by a combination of the roof, superb snowmaking facilities and those gigantic refrigerator fans spectators were treated to the luxury of a guaranteed dry day of racing. Added to this was the somewhat rare but most welcome relaxed feel of the whole place. With the only rule being no wearing of ski boots beyond the changing area the Chill Factor staff appeared as laid back as Liam Gallagher performing a recital of Supersonic and given the incredible hassle experienced from specifically the legendary RoboScurityMan and generally all staff at just about every other indoor event this proved a more than welcome change.
Throw into the mix nice high ceilings and light levels that don’t make you feel like you’re entombed in a seventies night club, a viewing balcony that is worthy of it’s own description and most importantly a piste that doesn’t crumble and rut up after the first half dozen minis have been down it and the only conclusion to draw is that Chill Factor is without doubt the best place to go indoor ski racing in the UK.
In the minis race Emma Taylor continued her great start to the season with a 2nd place spot and Beatrice How on her Club National debut produced a brace fine runs to finish 4th. In the mini boys Nathan Breese left himself with too much to do after run 1 and had to settle for 3rd with William Lucas 9th, Edward Guy – again on debut – 16th and Joshua Ainsworth 19th.
With the girls race featuring a number of Telford heavyweights (and I do mean in regard to skiing ability) the possibility of a home win looked eminently possible. However, Danielle Polley spoiled the party by producing the fastest time in both runs to claim a deserved win. Not to be outdone however runner up Abby Clifford and 3rd placed Charlotte Mayer ensured that there was plenty of Telford representation on the overall podium.
In the categories Charlotte Gould’s 3rd place in Jun 2 complimented the 2nd placed Abby, whilst Claire Brown’s 2nd run DNF bought an abrupt end to her day. In Chi 2 Charlotte Mayer’s overall podium was more than good enough to claim 1st in category with Alex Bullock in 6th & Kelly Greenbank 7th. Charlotte Shrimpton posted 10th in Jun 1 with George Gould finishing 12th whilst in the Chi 1 category Claire Ainsworth finished 10th and Emmy Bullock in 15th
In the males race Callum Henderson made it a Scottish double in joining Polley on the winner’s step of the podium after overtaking first run leader Andy Roose on run 2 with Marek Behnke in 3rd.
So far as the Telford racers were concerned Ashley Breese led the charge dominating the Chi 2 (Chi 2! – I must be getting old) category. Marco Furio claimed 6th in Jun 1 to confirm the huge progress he has made over the winter with Joe Humfress placing 18th, Tarran Noble 21st & Anthony Bennett 23rd in the highly competitive category. In Jun 2 Jamie Conde claimed 13th place with Simon Wilkins finishing in 16th whilst in chi 2 Chris Yates perished on run 1 with Dieter Bowers claiming 21st. Jordan Fellows claimed 2nd in chi 1 and Daniel Taylor in 14th.
And so after a few years thinking about how to make it possible, six months deciding to actually go for it and the best part of a year sorting it out the first ever Telford Club National had been run, prizes given out, everyone – well almost everyone – went home happy and the race officials all got fed.
Eventually.
Wednesday 27 May 2009
Well here's to you Mr Robinson
Snowsport England Grand Prix Series
Race 2 - ERSA Grand Prix
Norfolk
Sunday 17rd May, 2009
The doom & gloom merchants continually tell me that plastic racing is on its last legs, that indoor dome racing is the future and that plastic will be finished in 3 years. There is no investment in plastic slopes apparently. Well, as slopes disappear faster than Ferraris with their keys left in the ignition it is often to argue against this point of view.
That is of course until you pull up on the car park at Norfolk Ski Club and witness first hand what is the very best ski facility on this wonderful island of ours. For me, plastic will always have a future so long as the guardians and administrators of our sport retain similar foresight and commitment to those at the Trowse based club. So with somewhat poor numbers attending the first Grand Prix of the summer Norfolk was probably the most appropriate venue to kick start SSE’s premier race series.
With two testing courses set racers were clearly going to blend attrition into the regular mix of speed and talent. Many would find them tough and many would fail to finish but Grand Prix courses are there to test racers – and these were certainly going to do that.
In the ladies race Caroline Powell kept her nerve, balance and line to chalk up what will surely be the first of a number of Grand Prix wins over the next few years. In producing two mistake free runs the Brentwood Park racer’s consistency proved too much for the rest of the field to match and when the timing sheets were published it was clear that Powell had created a comfortable buffer of daylight between her time and those of her piers.
Behind Powell, Emily Evans had to settle for the runners up spot after a big mistake on run 2 wiped out the comfortable lead built up after the morning run with Beth Widdup claiming 3rd overall.
The men’s race proved to be a real heavyweight tussle as Junior 2 category racers dominated proceedings. With 0.03s separating the top 3 after run 1 it was very much a case of waiting to see who blinked first on the afternoon’s course. 3rd placed after run 1 Michael Molloy had the perfect opportunity to nail a time and insert a bit of pressure on the racers marginally in front of him and this looked entirely probable right up until a last gate error resulted in elimination for the Norfolk based racer.
Penultimate racer Andrew Watson then nailed run 2, maintaining the gap back to Brad Morgan and so with the ‘luxury’ of a 0.01s lead after run 1 only Nicholas Robinson could deny Watson back to back Grand Prix wins. To his enormous credit Robinson reacted to Watson’s efforts magnificently and in posting the fastest run of the afternoon added his name to the competition won by his elder brother 12 months earlier.
In the categories David Hatcher claimed victory in the seniors with Ben Clark 2nd and Alexander Abbott in 3rd. Jun 2 saw Nick Robinson, Andrew Wason & Brad Morgan replicate the overall standings for 1-2-3 and in Jun 1 Daniel Evans prevailed over James Grant in 2nd and Daniel Molloy in 3rd. In the children’s categories Shaun Blyth returned to the winners step on the podium in fine style claiming victory by a clear 2 second margin from runner up George Davis and third placed Max Moss. In the younger category William Wheeler’s 2nd run was enough to squeeze Matthew Davis in 2nd with Nicholas Phelps in 3rd.
In the female categories Hannah Parker claimed top spot with Emily Goddard 2nd & Lesley Mearns 3rd. In Jun 1 Claire Brown claimed 3rd behind Caroline Powell & Emily Evans whilst in chi 2 Sarah Lambden in 2nd and Stephanie Davise in 3rd finished behind Beth Widdup. In chi 1 Jazmine Butcher’s 1st run proved the decisive factor in her victory with Emma Peters in 2nd and Beatrice Martin-Harrington in 3rd.
As ever the location and quality of facility in Norwich proved that there very much is still life in dendix both as a training and race surface. In Nick Robinson the day also proved that if you’re good enough you can still compete at the very highest level on any surface. Indeed combine a good quality mat with imaginative and testing courses and you will almost certainly end the day with the right winner. Take a bow Mr Robinson.
Race 2 - ERSA Grand Prix
Norfolk
Sunday 17rd May, 2009
The doom & gloom merchants continually tell me that plastic racing is on its last legs, that indoor dome racing is the future and that plastic will be finished in 3 years. There is no investment in plastic slopes apparently. Well, as slopes disappear faster than Ferraris with their keys left in the ignition it is often to argue against this point of view.
That is of course until you pull up on the car park at Norfolk Ski Club and witness first hand what is the very best ski facility on this wonderful island of ours. For me, plastic will always have a future so long as the guardians and administrators of our sport retain similar foresight and commitment to those at the Trowse based club. So with somewhat poor numbers attending the first Grand Prix of the summer Norfolk was probably the most appropriate venue to kick start SSE’s premier race series.
With two testing courses set racers were clearly going to blend attrition into the regular mix of speed and talent. Many would find them tough and many would fail to finish but Grand Prix courses are there to test racers – and these were certainly going to do that.
In the ladies race Caroline Powell kept her nerve, balance and line to chalk up what will surely be the first of a number of Grand Prix wins over the next few years. In producing two mistake free runs the Brentwood Park racer’s consistency proved too much for the rest of the field to match and when the timing sheets were published it was clear that Powell had created a comfortable buffer of daylight between her time and those of her piers.
Behind Powell, Emily Evans had to settle for the runners up spot after a big mistake on run 2 wiped out the comfortable lead built up after the morning run with Beth Widdup claiming 3rd overall.
The men’s race proved to be a real heavyweight tussle as Junior 2 category racers dominated proceedings. With 0.03s separating the top 3 after run 1 it was very much a case of waiting to see who blinked first on the afternoon’s course. 3rd placed after run 1 Michael Molloy had the perfect opportunity to nail a time and insert a bit of pressure on the racers marginally in front of him and this looked entirely probable right up until a last gate error resulted in elimination for the Norfolk based racer.
Penultimate racer Andrew Watson then nailed run 2, maintaining the gap back to Brad Morgan and so with the ‘luxury’ of a 0.01s lead after run 1 only Nicholas Robinson could deny Watson back to back Grand Prix wins. To his enormous credit Robinson reacted to Watson’s efforts magnificently and in posting the fastest run of the afternoon added his name to the competition won by his elder brother 12 months earlier.
In the categories David Hatcher claimed victory in the seniors with Ben Clark 2nd and Alexander Abbott in 3rd. Jun 2 saw Nick Robinson, Andrew Wason & Brad Morgan replicate the overall standings for 1-2-3 and in Jun 1 Daniel Evans prevailed over James Grant in 2nd and Daniel Molloy in 3rd. In the children’s categories Shaun Blyth returned to the winners step on the podium in fine style claiming victory by a clear 2 second margin from runner up George Davis and third placed Max Moss. In the younger category William Wheeler’s 2nd run was enough to squeeze Matthew Davis in 2nd with Nicholas Phelps in 3rd.
In the female categories Hannah Parker claimed top spot with Emily Goddard 2nd & Lesley Mearns 3rd. In Jun 1 Claire Brown claimed 3rd behind Caroline Powell & Emily Evans whilst in chi 2 Sarah Lambden in 2nd and Stephanie Davise in 3rd finished behind Beth Widdup. In chi 1 Jazmine Butcher’s 1st run proved the decisive factor in her victory with Emma Peters in 2nd and Beatrice Martin-Harrington in 3rd.
As ever the location and quality of facility in Norwich proved that there very much is still life in dendix both as a training and race surface. In Nick Robinson the day also proved that if you’re good enough you can still compete at the very highest level on any surface. Indeed combine a good quality mat with imaginative and testing courses and you will almost certainly end the day with the right winner. Take a bow Mr Robinson.
Pendle Proves a Breeze for Ryding & Watson
Snowsport England Grand Prix Series
Race 1 - NWSA Grand Prix
Pendle
Sunday 3rd May, 2009
With the current financial squeeze biting harder than a hungry crocodile and general corporate belt tightening of Simon Cowell proportions going on just about everywhere the loss of Grand Prix series sponsorship was hardly the most shocking news of the winter. Indeed given the state of the once valued British pound and the doom and gloom overwhelming the foreign travel industry it would possibly have been more of a surprise should Inghams have not suspended their generous sponsorship of the event.
The sport however has to go on and so with a reassuringly chilly and extremely blustery Pendle Hill providing the first challenge for racers in 2009. With the exam season on the horizon and little time to train plastic post Meribel a somewhat sparse start list assembled at the top of the hill, snapped their bindings closed and commenced battle for 2009 Grand Prix supremacy.
In the girls race a familiar figure returned to haunt the ambitions of every female in the field. With a knee injury sidelining Pendle racer Jo Ryding for the best part of 2 years it was going to be interesting to see if the rest of the field had been able to close what was - pre knee injury - a somewhat dominating gap. Indeed was there anyone out there in a position to mix it with the best of the best on plastic?
The answer, when it came, was about as conclusive as it gets and 15.25 seconds after Ryding flicked the start wand open she metaphorically swatted away the rest of the ladies field with a genuinely classy display of power skiing. Only Telford’s Charlotte Gould managed to limit the damage to less than a second as Ryding re-established herself as the female to beat in 2009. A safe second run allowed the field to limit the overall time differential between themselves and the winner but a winning margin of 1.72 seconds proved to be pretty conclusive.
With Charlotte Gould unable to maintain the fine form of her 1st run and 4th placed Alexandra Bullock perishing on the bottom section of run 2 there was plenty of opportunities for the rest of the field to compete for the overall podium places. However, consistency proved decisive as Gloucester duo Charlotte Davies & Emily Goddard combined experience and speed to close out the minor podium placings.
In the categories Hannah Parker posted 3rd in the seniors behind Ryding & Goddard, whilst Charlotte Gould’s super first run proved enough to claim 2nd behind Davies in Jun 2 with Emily Dawes claiming 3rd. Charlotte Shrimpton proved to be the best in the Jun 1 field with Alexandra Greasby and Georgina Gould claiming 2nd & 3rd respectively. In the Children’s categories Stephanie Davies edged out home racer Beth Widdup to claim the win with Nia Jenkins claiming 3rd. The closest category of the day however proved to be the youngest category as Beatrice Martin-Harrington edged out 2nd placed Megan Jenkins and 3rd Place Emma Peters by 0.05 & 0.20 seconds respectively.
Unlike the ladies the men’s overall race proved to be a real tussle as Cardiff duo Andrew Watson & Tom Hales found themselves split by 0.04s after run 1. In run 2 third placed home favourite Andrew Roose turned the screw on the Welsh pair with a fine run & time and suddenly the pressure was on. Who would crack? Who would prevail? Penultimate racer Hales gave it his best shot but a time of 14.53 opened the door of opportunity for Watson. A door that was ripped off its hinges moments later as the younger Cardiff racer faultlessly basted to a time of 14.14 and the first of what promises to be a number of Grand Prix wins in 2009.
In the categories the podium threesome of Watson, Hales & Roose locked out the rest of the Jun 2 field, whilst in Jun 1 another Cardiff racer Samuel Stephens managed to build daylight between himself and 2nd Placed Swansea racer Ashley Richards with Kaigan Witts in 3rd. Indeed it was quite a day for the Welsh male contingent with Masters victor Rob Hales posting 10th overall and Colin Davies (tied 7th) ensuring that 7 of the top 10 men came from that pictuesque corner of England that is hopeless at football.
In the children’s categories the Telford double act of Ashley Breese and Jordan Fellows claimed the honours with the Gloucester pairing of James Davies and George Davis 2nd & 3rd in the older category whilst the Pendle duo of Zach Burrow and Dougie Whitelock closed out the rest of the Chi 1 field.
However, this was most certainly Jo Ryding’s day. After the horror knee injury that every parent and racers fear it would have been easy to pack the skis and boots away and never race again. Ryding isn’t the average racer however and somehow I think that the rest of the girls field may well be reminded of this fact three or four times over the summer months.
The sponsor might have gone but the summer’s premier series is, like Joanna Ryding, most certainly back.
Race 1 - NWSA Grand Prix
Pendle
Sunday 3rd May, 2009
With the current financial squeeze biting harder than a hungry crocodile and general corporate belt tightening of Simon Cowell proportions going on just about everywhere the loss of Grand Prix series sponsorship was hardly the most shocking news of the winter. Indeed given the state of the once valued British pound and the doom and gloom overwhelming the foreign travel industry it would possibly have been more of a surprise should Inghams have not suspended their generous sponsorship of the event.
The sport however has to go on and so with a reassuringly chilly and extremely blustery Pendle Hill providing the first challenge for racers in 2009. With the exam season on the horizon and little time to train plastic post Meribel a somewhat sparse start list assembled at the top of the hill, snapped their bindings closed and commenced battle for 2009 Grand Prix supremacy.
In the girls race a familiar figure returned to haunt the ambitions of every female in the field. With a knee injury sidelining Pendle racer Jo Ryding for the best part of 2 years it was going to be interesting to see if the rest of the field had been able to close what was - pre knee injury - a somewhat dominating gap. Indeed was there anyone out there in a position to mix it with the best of the best on plastic?
The answer, when it came, was about as conclusive as it gets and 15.25 seconds after Ryding flicked the start wand open she metaphorically swatted away the rest of the ladies field with a genuinely classy display of power skiing. Only Telford’s Charlotte Gould managed to limit the damage to less than a second as Ryding re-established herself as the female to beat in 2009. A safe second run allowed the field to limit the overall time differential between themselves and the winner but a winning margin of 1.72 seconds proved to be pretty conclusive.
With Charlotte Gould unable to maintain the fine form of her 1st run and 4th placed Alexandra Bullock perishing on the bottom section of run 2 there was plenty of opportunities for the rest of the field to compete for the overall podium places. However, consistency proved decisive as Gloucester duo Charlotte Davies & Emily Goddard combined experience and speed to close out the minor podium placings.
In the categories Hannah Parker posted 3rd in the seniors behind Ryding & Goddard, whilst Charlotte Gould’s super first run proved enough to claim 2nd behind Davies in Jun 2 with Emily Dawes claiming 3rd. Charlotte Shrimpton proved to be the best in the Jun 1 field with Alexandra Greasby and Georgina Gould claiming 2nd & 3rd respectively. In the Children’s categories Stephanie Davies edged out home racer Beth Widdup to claim the win with Nia Jenkins claiming 3rd. The closest category of the day however proved to be the youngest category as Beatrice Martin-Harrington edged out 2nd placed Megan Jenkins and 3rd Place Emma Peters by 0.05 & 0.20 seconds respectively.
Unlike the ladies the men’s overall race proved to be a real tussle as Cardiff duo Andrew Watson & Tom Hales found themselves split by 0.04s after run 1. In run 2 third placed home favourite Andrew Roose turned the screw on the Welsh pair with a fine run & time and suddenly the pressure was on. Who would crack? Who would prevail? Penultimate racer Hales gave it his best shot but a time of 14.53 opened the door of opportunity for Watson. A door that was ripped off its hinges moments later as the younger Cardiff racer faultlessly basted to a time of 14.14 and the first of what promises to be a number of Grand Prix wins in 2009.
In the categories the podium threesome of Watson, Hales & Roose locked out the rest of the Jun 2 field, whilst in Jun 1 another Cardiff racer Samuel Stephens managed to build daylight between himself and 2nd Placed Swansea racer Ashley Richards with Kaigan Witts in 3rd. Indeed it was quite a day for the Welsh male contingent with Masters victor Rob Hales posting 10th overall and Colin Davies (tied 7th) ensuring that 7 of the top 10 men came from that pictuesque corner of England that is hopeless at football.
In the children’s categories the Telford double act of Ashley Breese and Jordan Fellows claimed the honours with the Gloucester pairing of James Davies and George Davis 2nd & 3rd in the older category whilst the Pendle duo of Zach Burrow and Dougie Whitelock closed out the rest of the Chi 1 field.
However, this was most certainly Jo Ryding’s day. After the horror knee injury that every parent and racers fear it would have been easy to pack the skis and boots away and never race again. Ryding isn’t the average racer however and somehow I think that the rest of the girls field may well be reminded of this fact three or four times over the summer months.
The sponsor might have gone but the summer’s premier series is, like Joanna Ryding, most certainly back.
Thursday 30 April 2009
Ryding back into action, Jai walking to glory
British Indoor Championships
Chill Factor, Manchester
Sunday 26th April, 2009
With the Meribel slush still frozen onto ski boots and sun tanned goggle eyed faces still very much to the fore the British ski circus snapped closed its boot buckles, clicked into its bindings and descended into Manchester for the first big event of summer 2009.
With Chill Factore - Britain’s biggest and best indoor slope - hosting the event, the snow in prime racing condition and ski legs still full of Alpine training there was never going to be any need for excuses. This was indoor racing at its very finest.
In the girls race Jo Ryding, back in the start gate after two years decimated by a horror knee injury, took immediate control of the event producing a storming 1st run that left the rest of the field chasing her returning shadow. Indeed with a lead of over ½second Pendle based Ryding could even afford the luxury of being headed by Jun 1 racer and eventual runner up Alexandra Tilley in run 2. Third overall and winner of the Jun 2 category finished Telford racer Abby Clifford.
In the categories Hannah Parker claimed the runners up spot in the senior category with Monica Gash in 3rd. In Jun 2 Lucy Peel’s top 5 overall placing was enough to claim 2nd place whilst Charlotte Gould claimed 3rd. Fourth place overall was enough to guarantee Emily Whitelock 2nd place in Jun 1 behind Gordon Ski Club racer Tilley whilst Abbie Macey claimed 3rd in category.
In the children’s categories Telford & Snowsports racer Charlotte Mayer claimed top sport on the podium in the tightest category of the day, pipping Beth Widdup & Nia Jenkins by 0.04 & 0.05 seconds respectively. In the youngest category Xscape’s Bethany Soman claimed a comfortable victory with Isabel Kirk in 2nd & Freya Eaton in 3rd.
In the male race Torquay racer Jai Geyer confirmed his status as very much the man to beat on the British indoor circuit, dominating the event to post fastest times in both runs. Snowsport Scotland’s Callum Henderson pushed Geyer hard but eventually had to settle for the runners up spot with Ambition’s Ashley Hill in 3rd.
In the categories Tristram More-Molineux claimed 2nd spot in the senior category behind Henderson with Stuart Riches in 3rd. In Jun 2 Andrew Roose made the most of home slope knowledge to claim 2nd spot with Gerard Flahive in 3rd. Matthew Thompson followed Ashley Hill into 2nd place in the jun 1 category with Daniel Evans in 3rd.
In the Children’s event Telford racers closed out the top spot on the podium with Ashley Breese claiming the chi 2 category and team mate Jordan Fellows following suit to claim the victory in chi 1. In the older category Paul Henderson & Barney Lewis finished 2nd & 3rd respectively with Robert Poth 2nd & and Zach Barrow 3rd in the younger field.
The day however belonged to the event and sport as a whole. Fresh from the hullabaloo of a crammed week of racing in Meribel and Courchevel the entire field confirmed again that the depth of talent in British skiing is impressively deep and the future for British skiing is a bright as the sun that shone all day outside the impressive Chill Factore building.
Next stop Pendle Hill, though somehow I suspect the chances of seeing the aforementioned sun are about the same as those inside Chill Factore. Now where did I put that anorak?
Chill Factor, Manchester
Sunday 26th April, 2009
With the Meribel slush still frozen onto ski boots and sun tanned goggle eyed faces still very much to the fore the British ski circus snapped closed its boot buckles, clicked into its bindings and descended into Manchester for the first big event of summer 2009.
With Chill Factore - Britain’s biggest and best indoor slope - hosting the event, the snow in prime racing condition and ski legs still full of Alpine training there was never going to be any need for excuses. This was indoor racing at its very finest.
In the girls race Jo Ryding, back in the start gate after two years decimated by a horror knee injury, took immediate control of the event producing a storming 1st run that left the rest of the field chasing her returning shadow. Indeed with a lead of over ½second Pendle based Ryding could even afford the luxury of being headed by Jun 1 racer and eventual runner up Alexandra Tilley in run 2. Third overall and winner of the Jun 2 category finished Telford racer Abby Clifford.
In the categories Hannah Parker claimed the runners up spot in the senior category with Monica Gash in 3rd. In Jun 2 Lucy Peel’s top 5 overall placing was enough to claim 2nd place whilst Charlotte Gould claimed 3rd. Fourth place overall was enough to guarantee Emily Whitelock 2nd place in Jun 1 behind Gordon Ski Club racer Tilley whilst Abbie Macey claimed 3rd in category.
In the children’s categories Telford & Snowsports racer Charlotte Mayer claimed top sport on the podium in the tightest category of the day, pipping Beth Widdup & Nia Jenkins by 0.04 & 0.05 seconds respectively. In the youngest category Xscape’s Bethany Soman claimed a comfortable victory with Isabel Kirk in 2nd & Freya Eaton in 3rd.
In the male race Torquay racer Jai Geyer confirmed his status as very much the man to beat on the British indoor circuit, dominating the event to post fastest times in both runs. Snowsport Scotland’s Callum Henderson pushed Geyer hard but eventually had to settle for the runners up spot with Ambition’s Ashley Hill in 3rd.
In the categories Tristram More-Molineux claimed 2nd spot in the senior category behind Henderson with Stuart Riches in 3rd. In Jun 2 Andrew Roose made the most of home slope knowledge to claim 2nd spot with Gerard Flahive in 3rd. Matthew Thompson followed Ashley Hill into 2nd place in the jun 1 category with Daniel Evans in 3rd.
In the Children’s event Telford racers closed out the top spot on the podium with Ashley Breese claiming the chi 2 category and team mate Jordan Fellows following suit to claim the victory in chi 1. In the older category Paul Henderson & Barney Lewis finished 2nd & 3rd respectively with Robert Poth 2nd & and Zach Barrow 3rd in the younger field.
The day however belonged to the event and sport as a whole. Fresh from the hullabaloo of a crammed week of racing in Meribel and Courchevel the entire field confirmed again that the depth of talent in British skiing is impressively deep and the future for British skiing is a bright as the sun that shone all day outside the impressive Chill Factore building.
Next stop Pendle Hill, though somehow I suspect the chances of seeing the aforementioned sun are about the same as those inside Chill Factore. Now where did I put that anorak?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
