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.