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.
Saturday 1 August 2009
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.
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