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?
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Friday, 17 October 2008
DazFellows
So you put your ticket offer in, your ticket offer out, in, out, in out, you mess it all about, you do the okey cokey and, erm, admit that you've made another mess of trying to attract fans into Bescot.
For those who missed it, on Wednesday morning the official website proudly boasted a rather impressive offer of getting your Johnston's Paint Trophy ticket for the Luton game for free should you invest in the two league games either side of it. Great, this was the kind of inventive thinking that many fans had been pleading for over the past decade or more. A well deserved pat on the back was due, not least from this columnist, who has constantly questioned why any initiative to increase attendance levels always appeared, half hearted, half baked and smacking of desperation.
So when, 24 hours later, the offer was withdrawn for fear of upsetting season ticket holders I doubt that I was the only one who felt like banging my head up against a brick wall. Yes the terse statement that accompanied the notification of offer withdrawl barely disguised the frustration at being forced to backtrack, but after producing such a commendable offer was it really too much to ask that the hierarchy at WFC stood their ground and honoured their excellent promotion?
Indeed for this deal to get anywhere near to the publication stage without consideration being given to season ticket holders feelings is pretty inconceivable. The first question asked at the meeting where this idea was muted should (and hopefully would) have been "What will season ticket holders think?" and after deciding to ride out the minor storm that this offer was always likely to brew the Club really should have had the courage and backbone to stand by their decision. Season ticket holders are generally forgiving folk, indeed anyone who forked out another £300 after the carnage of the first 5 months of 2008 has already proved that they will accept almost anything and still return for more.
So, in a week where we were the only league team in the area in action and could only muster a few stragglers over 4100 in home support, in retracting this latest offer the club have again opened the door for those who question their policy of increasing attendances to have another field day. Usually I'd oblige fully but, on this occasion, even I'm too embarrassed for them to have a dig.
Finally a quick mention to Geoff Horsfield, a player whom I have always admired. His bullish presence, spearheading his teams frontline, ensured that every centre half he faced knew that they'd been in a hell of a battle. Feared by most, repected by all, Horsfield is the kind of player that any supporter born with a love of the game but without the talent to match would have given their right arm to be for an hour and a half each Saturday afternoon. Defeat was utterly unthinkable.
Personally I'd hoped over the past few weeks that Horsfield would do enough in his training with us to convince Jimmy Mullen that there was one more winter in those tree trunks he called legs. Sadly this was not to be and he now faces the fight that every young parent must dread. However if anyone was ever up for a battle then it was Geoff Horsfield, indeed should he tackle his current opponent in the same manner that he terrorised hard nosed centre halves such as Messrs Viveash, Barras and Ritchie then his illness is in for a bit of a battering. We all wish him well.
For those who missed it, on Wednesday morning the official website proudly boasted a rather impressive offer of getting your Johnston's Paint Trophy ticket for the Luton game for free should you invest in the two league games either side of it. Great, this was the kind of inventive thinking that many fans had been pleading for over the past decade or more. A well deserved pat on the back was due, not least from this columnist, who has constantly questioned why any initiative to increase attendance levels always appeared, half hearted, half baked and smacking of desperation.
So when, 24 hours later, the offer was withdrawn for fear of upsetting season ticket holders I doubt that I was the only one who felt like banging my head up against a brick wall. Yes the terse statement that accompanied the notification of offer withdrawl barely disguised the frustration at being forced to backtrack, but after producing such a commendable offer was it really too much to ask that the hierarchy at WFC stood their ground and honoured their excellent promotion?
Indeed for this deal to get anywhere near to the publication stage without consideration being given to season ticket holders feelings is pretty inconceivable. The first question asked at the meeting where this idea was muted should (and hopefully would) have been "What will season ticket holders think?" and after deciding to ride out the minor storm that this offer was always likely to brew the Club really should have had the courage and backbone to stand by their decision. Season ticket holders are generally forgiving folk, indeed anyone who forked out another £300 after the carnage of the first 5 months of 2008 has already proved that they will accept almost anything and still return for more.
So, in a week where we were the only league team in the area in action and could only muster a few stragglers over 4100 in home support, in retracting this latest offer the club have again opened the door for those who question their policy of increasing attendances to have another field day. Usually I'd oblige fully but, on this occasion, even I'm too embarrassed for them to have a dig.
Finally a quick mention to Geoff Horsfield, a player whom I have always admired. His bullish presence, spearheading his teams frontline, ensured that every centre half he faced knew that they'd been in a hell of a battle. Feared by most, repected by all, Horsfield is the kind of player that any supporter born with a love of the game but without the talent to match would have given their right arm to be for an hour and a half each Saturday afternoon. Defeat was utterly unthinkable.
Personally I'd hoped over the past few weeks that Horsfield would do enough in his training with us to convince Jimmy Mullen that there was one more winter in those tree trunks he called legs. Sadly this was not to be and he now faces the fight that every young parent must dread. However if anyone was ever up for a battle then it was Geoff Horsfield, indeed should he tackle his current opponent in the same manner that he terrorised hard nosed centre halves such as Messrs Viveash, Barras and Ritchie then his illness is in for a bit of a battering. We all wish him well.
Wednesday, 1 October 2008
You Don't Have To Be Mad......
British Dry Slope Championships
September 28th, 2008
Pontypool
You don’t have to be mad to be a ski racer but it most certainly helps. Indeed, secured upon on a couple of wood & plastic planks by a spring that’s designed to release when you get into trouble, whilst achieving speeds that make Usain Bolt look sluggish, the commitment and belief in their own ability that every dry slope racer requires and displays on each and every summer weekend is, in truth, utterly mind blowing.
And whilst madness is not a compulsory component in the career of a dendix ski racer, a high pain threshold, the ability to recover quickly and, often quite literally, bounce back after a high speed collision with that synthetic brillo-pad underneath your boots, are characteristics that no ski racer can survive or prosper without. Bravery and bottle only tell half the story whilst the word fear doesn’t even come close to the equation.
So when, only 14 days earlier, Gerard Flahive’s skis rebounded at full velocity and catapulted the young Hemel racer into virtual orbit before gravity took over and smashed him back onto the most unforgiving of surfaces, his chances of making it to the top of Wales’ premier ski slope in order to challenge for the 2008 Cadog British Dry Slope Championship probably looked thinner then the sheet of skin the matting had just left on his back. The fact that less then 30 seconds later he was back in a vertical position, albeit slightly dazed and on legs that made Amir Khan look rock solid, was testimony to how tough these athletes truly are. Not only would he be back, he would be back to challenge.
And what a challenge. Indeed, as he powered his way through the demands of speedily dealing with Championship level offset gates down the daunting Pontypool steep section, amid the pressure and tension of the British Dry Slope Championships, he could have surely been forgiven for a momentary negative thought and to consider if he really did want to risk putting his body through another bone crunching meeting with the matting.
If the negative thought came, it certainly wasn’t acted upon. Indeed, if anything, this young, hugely talented racer accelerated through the demons of a fortnight earlier and, in producing a flawless second run display of power and precision, he magnificently brushed aside the challenge from each and every one of his piers.
And whilst Flahive’s devastating afternoon run proved the conclusive difference between himself and the rest, the pressure placed upon him in the start gate should also not be underestimated. With runner up Alex Jeal squeezing just inside the combined time of third placed Benn Hall, Flahive would have been fully aware that room for mistakes was non existent. To then produce a time fully half a second inside that of any other racer showed a great deal of mettle to accompany his undeniable abilities.
In the categories Andrew Crawford again confirmed his status as a master of tricky conditions, with a well deserved 4th pace overall and 1st in the seniors with Ben Clark and Jonathon Powell joining the Swansea racer on the podium. In the Masters David Blackwell and Rob Hales again produced another fierce battle for supremacy, Hales eventually overturning a first run deficit to claim the category spoils and 6th place overall. In Jun 2 James Crowther joined Jeal and Hall on the podium, whilst Cardiff racers Andrew and Colin Davies joined Flahive in 2nd & 3rd respectively in Jun 1. James Grant triumphed in a fascinating battle for Chi 2 with Timothy Dannatt and Kaigan Witts not far behind and in Chi 1 Ashley Breese capped an absolutely fantastic season in top spot and 13th overall with Daniel Poth and Luke Seymour also claiming podium positions.
In the ladies race Rachel Adcock provided the Arrows Race Club with a fitting conclusion to their racing activities in producing a breathtaking afternoon run that turned the tables on a number of her rivals and catapulted her up onto the top spot on the podium. Indeed with first run leader Alice Hales, the precociously talented Emily Evans and warhorse Abby Clifford all in front of Adcock prior to run 2, the situation certainly required something special.
Again, like Flahive, Adcock found time in the afternoon course that none of her compatriots could, producing a wonderfully smooth, controlled second run that was half a second quicker than the rest of the field and this proved more than enough to leapfrog Adcock to victory.
Hales eventually claimed the runners up spot with Evans comfortably keeping the rest of the field at arms length for 3rd place overall. Abby Clifford ended up settling for 4th overall just in front of Cardiff racer Jeni Thomas and her rapidly improving Telford team mate Charlotte Gould in 5th and 6th respectively.
In the categories; Alice Thelwell made it an Arrows 1-2 in the seniors with Aimee Broughton completing the podium. In Jun 2 Emily Dawes claimed runners up spot in front of 3rd placed Niamh Lyons. Jun 1 was dominated by the Hales, Thomas & Gould triumvirate whilst Emily Hopkins and Stephanie Davies followed Emily Evans home in Chi 2. In the youngest category Kelly Greenbank justified the decision to re-embrace plastic slope summer racing by deservedly claiming 1st place in front of Georgia Hallet and Florence Bell in 2nd & 3rd respectively.
And as the racing concluded and the trophies and medals were being distributed it was impossible not to reflect upon the horror crash suffered by Charlotte Davies earlier that morning. Less than twenty four hours before that another nasty fall had rearranged the direction that her thumb was pointing. On that occasion she rose from the floor, removed her glove, realised the damage, put her glove back on and continued racing dual slaloms. This time was enough however to bring an end to her rather impressive season. As Gerard Flahive proved, she will be back though- injuries heal, whereas the desire to race, challenge and go even faster does not.
You don’t have to be mad to be a ski racer. But, blimey, it certainly helps!
September 28th, 2008
Pontypool
You don’t have to be mad to be a ski racer but it most certainly helps. Indeed, secured upon on a couple of wood & plastic planks by a spring that’s designed to release when you get into trouble, whilst achieving speeds that make Usain Bolt look sluggish, the commitment and belief in their own ability that every dry slope racer requires and displays on each and every summer weekend is, in truth, utterly mind blowing.
And whilst madness is not a compulsory component in the career of a dendix ski racer, a high pain threshold, the ability to recover quickly and, often quite literally, bounce back after a high speed collision with that synthetic brillo-pad underneath your boots, are characteristics that no ski racer can survive or prosper without. Bravery and bottle only tell half the story whilst the word fear doesn’t even come close to the equation.
So when, only 14 days earlier, Gerard Flahive’s skis rebounded at full velocity and catapulted the young Hemel racer into virtual orbit before gravity took over and smashed him back onto the most unforgiving of surfaces, his chances of making it to the top of Wales’ premier ski slope in order to challenge for the 2008 Cadog British Dry Slope Championship probably looked thinner then the sheet of skin the matting had just left on his back. The fact that less then 30 seconds later he was back in a vertical position, albeit slightly dazed and on legs that made Amir Khan look rock solid, was testimony to how tough these athletes truly are. Not only would he be back, he would be back to challenge.
And what a challenge. Indeed, as he powered his way through the demands of speedily dealing with Championship level offset gates down the daunting Pontypool steep section, amid the pressure and tension of the British Dry Slope Championships, he could have surely been forgiven for a momentary negative thought and to consider if he really did want to risk putting his body through another bone crunching meeting with the matting.
If the negative thought came, it certainly wasn’t acted upon. Indeed, if anything, this young, hugely talented racer accelerated through the demons of a fortnight earlier and, in producing a flawless second run display of power and precision, he magnificently brushed aside the challenge from each and every one of his piers.
And whilst Flahive’s devastating afternoon run proved the conclusive difference between himself and the rest, the pressure placed upon him in the start gate should also not be underestimated. With runner up Alex Jeal squeezing just inside the combined time of third placed Benn Hall, Flahive would have been fully aware that room for mistakes was non existent. To then produce a time fully half a second inside that of any other racer showed a great deal of mettle to accompany his undeniable abilities.
In the categories Andrew Crawford again confirmed his status as a master of tricky conditions, with a well deserved 4th pace overall and 1st in the seniors with Ben Clark and Jonathon Powell joining the Swansea racer on the podium. In the Masters David Blackwell and Rob Hales again produced another fierce battle for supremacy, Hales eventually overturning a first run deficit to claim the category spoils and 6th place overall. In Jun 2 James Crowther joined Jeal and Hall on the podium, whilst Cardiff racers Andrew and Colin Davies joined Flahive in 2nd & 3rd respectively in Jun 1. James Grant triumphed in a fascinating battle for Chi 2 with Timothy Dannatt and Kaigan Witts not far behind and in Chi 1 Ashley Breese capped an absolutely fantastic season in top spot and 13th overall with Daniel Poth and Luke Seymour also claiming podium positions.
In the ladies race Rachel Adcock provided the Arrows Race Club with a fitting conclusion to their racing activities in producing a breathtaking afternoon run that turned the tables on a number of her rivals and catapulted her up onto the top spot on the podium. Indeed with first run leader Alice Hales, the precociously talented Emily Evans and warhorse Abby Clifford all in front of Adcock prior to run 2, the situation certainly required something special.
Again, like Flahive, Adcock found time in the afternoon course that none of her compatriots could, producing a wonderfully smooth, controlled second run that was half a second quicker than the rest of the field and this proved more than enough to leapfrog Adcock to victory.
Hales eventually claimed the runners up spot with Evans comfortably keeping the rest of the field at arms length for 3rd place overall. Abby Clifford ended up settling for 4th overall just in front of Cardiff racer Jeni Thomas and her rapidly improving Telford team mate Charlotte Gould in 5th and 6th respectively.
In the categories; Alice Thelwell made it an Arrows 1-2 in the seniors with Aimee Broughton completing the podium. In Jun 2 Emily Dawes claimed runners up spot in front of 3rd placed Niamh Lyons. Jun 1 was dominated by the Hales, Thomas & Gould triumvirate whilst Emily Hopkins and Stephanie Davies followed Emily Evans home in Chi 2. In the youngest category Kelly Greenbank justified the decision to re-embrace plastic slope summer racing by deservedly claiming 1st place in front of Georgia Hallet and Florence Bell in 2nd & 3rd respectively.
And as the racing concluded and the trophies and medals were being distributed it was impossible not to reflect upon the horror crash suffered by Charlotte Davies earlier that morning. Less than twenty four hours before that another nasty fall had rearranged the direction that her thumb was pointing. On that occasion she rose from the floor, removed her glove, realised the damage, put her glove back on and continued racing dual slaloms. This time was enough however to bring an end to her rather impressive season. As Gerard Flahive proved, she will be back though- injuries heal, whereas the desire to race, challenge and go even faster does not.
You don’t have to be mad to be a ski racer. But, blimey, it certainly helps!
Monday, 15 September 2008
Telling Triumph to Stand Test of Time
All England Championships
6th September, 2008
Norfolk Ski Club
In a sporting world of media over-hype words such as outstanding, great and legendary tend to get so over used that they’ve become utterly devalued over time. In truth time is the only genuine judge of what was actually outstanding against what was pretty good. It differentiates disappointment from disaster and the sublime from the mundane. Time allows us space to take breath, to measure, compare and judge away from the adrenalin rush that you get by viewing sporting prowess. Time alone tells us who are our indubitable sporting legends and who, by contrast, were the fly-by-night heroes.
At around half past four on Saturday afternoon Marc Telling again re-confirmed his status as no fly-by-night hero. Amid the supercharged, testosterone fuelled atmosphere found at the start gate at the business end of Snowsport England’s showpiece summer event Telling, the 2006 Champion, regained his crown, producing another devastating 13 second blast of power, balance, complete control and ice cool nerve. Magnificent is another word that tends to become devalued by over use. In this case however it, unquestionably, is a more than appropriate description.
And it had to be because with Bradley Morgan, Oliver Robinson and Peter Walters pushing him every inch of the way Telling found himself involved in a serious four-way battle for supremacy. Indeed as the second run start list edged towards its conclusion the UK ’s dendix heavyweights slugged it out and provided spectators, officials, sponsors and the other racers with a vintage festival of dry slope ski racing. One by one they each chipped a couple of tenths off the previous leading time and simultaneously nudged the pressure level up another notch for those still to race. Morgan’s run in particular looked capable of taking the title before Telling expeditious run left the Pendle racer to settle for the runners up spot in front of 3rd placed Oliver Robinson and the evergreen Peter Walters.
In the categories the 5th placed overall Andy Roose claimed 2nd place in Jun 2 in front of Tom Hales whilst Gerard Flahive continued his recent hot streak with 1st place in Jun 1 category and 9th overall. Ashley Hill and Andrew Davies completed the podium whilst Shaun Blythe, impressively dominated the field in Chi 2 category ahead of Kaigan Witts and Timothy Dannatt. In Chi 1 Ashley Breese eased to a deserved victory in front of Robert and Daniel Poth who collected 2nd & 3rd spots respectively.
Never ones to be outdone however the ladies race also made highly compulsive viewing and, as with Telling, Charlotte Davies proved not only a fierce competitor but also a worthy Champion. On numerous occasions this summer Davies has shown her opponents a clean pair of heels in compiling a number of notable successes but this, of course, was the day that truly mattered. Would she? Could she? Might she? Well yes, yes and yes came the emphatic response as the Gloucester racer completely dominated her event, posting fastest runs on both courses en-route to a well deserved victory and the title that all of her piers craved.
In runners up spot Alice Hales superbly tore up the form book and seeding list storming to the second fastest run on both courses, proving the only serious challenger to Davies and deservedly demolish her seed point ranking. In third place overall Emily Evans continued her excellent development producing a fine 2nd run that nudged elder sister Charlotte off the podium and into 4th place.
In the categories Rachel Adcock’s 5th place overall proved good enough to win the senior category ahead of Arrows team mate Alice Thelwell and Lesley Mearns. Kirsty Hatcher followed Charlotte(s) Davies and Evans onto the Jun 2 podium whilst Emily Whitelock’s 6th place overall was enough to secure runners up spot in Jun 1 category in front of Alessia Thomas Jackson in 3rd. In Chi 2 behind Emily Evans finished Nia Jenkins whose 2nd run proved too good for 3rd placed Sarah Lambden. Polly Shailes claimed the chi 1 title, just in front of Hannah Bozier in the runners up spot and Katie Eden in 3rd.
In the Minis race Megan Jenkins and Matthew Davis ensured that their summer of event domination continued as both claimed 1st place in the youngster’s event. Runner-up spots were claimed by Yasmin Cooper and Nathan Breese with Freya Eaton and Declan Huppach also celebrating podium positions in a race that offered real promise for the future of British skiing.
The day however belonged to Marc Telling. Behind that cheeky grin and happy go lucky exterior lies a highly skilled racer with the heart of a lion and the intelligence to match. Amid an intoxicating battle for the 2008 Ingham's All England Championship Telling applied those skills to again rise above his piers and re-claim the title that clearly means much to this superb athlete. Time may well judge our 2008 champion extremely well.
6th September, 2008
Norfolk Ski Club
In a sporting world of media over-hype words such as outstanding, great and legendary tend to get so over used that they’ve become utterly devalued over time. In truth time is the only genuine judge of what was actually outstanding against what was pretty good. It differentiates disappointment from disaster and the sublime from the mundane. Time allows us space to take breath, to measure, compare and judge away from the adrenalin rush that you get by viewing sporting prowess. Time alone tells us who are our indubitable sporting legends and who, by contrast, were the fly-by-night heroes.
At around half past four on Saturday afternoon Marc Telling again re-confirmed his status as no fly-by-night hero. Amid the supercharged, testosterone fuelled atmosphere found at the start gate at the business end of Snowsport England’s showpiece summer event Telling, the 2006 Champion, regained his crown, producing another devastating 13 second blast of power, balance, complete control and ice cool nerve. Magnificent is another word that tends to become devalued by over use. In this case however it, unquestionably, is a more than appropriate description.
And it had to be because with Bradley Morgan, Oliver Robinson and Peter Walters pushing him every inch of the way Telling found himself involved in a serious four-way battle for supremacy. Indeed as the second run start list edged towards its conclusion the UK ’s dendix heavyweights slugged it out and provided spectators, officials, sponsors and the other racers with a vintage festival of dry slope ski racing. One by one they each chipped a couple of tenths off the previous leading time and simultaneously nudged the pressure level up another notch for those still to race. Morgan’s run in particular looked capable of taking the title before Telling expeditious run left the Pendle racer to settle for the runners up spot in front of 3rd placed Oliver Robinson and the evergreen Peter Walters.
In the categories the 5th placed overall Andy Roose claimed 2nd place in Jun 2 in front of Tom Hales whilst Gerard Flahive continued his recent hot streak with 1st place in Jun 1 category and 9th overall. Ashley Hill and Andrew Davies completed the podium whilst Shaun Blythe, impressively dominated the field in Chi 2 category ahead of Kaigan Witts and Timothy Dannatt. In Chi 1 Ashley Breese eased to a deserved victory in front of Robert and Daniel Poth who collected 2nd & 3rd spots respectively.
Never ones to be outdone however the ladies race also made highly compulsive viewing and, as with Telling, Charlotte Davies proved not only a fierce competitor but also a worthy Champion. On numerous occasions this summer Davies has shown her opponents a clean pair of heels in compiling a number of notable successes but this, of course, was the day that truly mattered. Would she? Could she? Might she? Well yes, yes and yes came the emphatic response as the Gloucester racer completely dominated her event, posting fastest runs on both courses en-route to a well deserved victory and the title that all of her piers craved.
In runners up spot Alice Hales superbly tore up the form book and seeding list storming to the second fastest run on both courses, proving the only serious challenger to Davies and deservedly demolish her seed point ranking. In third place overall Emily Evans continued her excellent development producing a fine 2nd run that nudged elder sister Charlotte off the podium and into 4th place.
In the categories Rachel Adcock’s 5th place overall proved good enough to win the senior category ahead of Arrows team mate Alice Thelwell and Lesley Mearns. Kirsty Hatcher followed Charlotte(s) Davies and Evans onto the Jun 2 podium whilst Emily Whitelock’s 6th place overall was enough to secure runners up spot in Jun 1 category in front of Alessia Thomas Jackson in 3rd. In Chi 2 behind Emily Evans finished Nia Jenkins whose 2nd run proved too good for 3rd placed Sarah Lambden. Polly Shailes claimed the chi 1 title, just in front of Hannah Bozier in the runners up spot and Katie Eden in 3rd.
In the Minis race Megan Jenkins and Matthew Davis ensured that their summer of event domination continued as both claimed 1st place in the youngster’s event. Runner-up spots were claimed by Yasmin Cooper and Nathan Breese with Freya Eaton and Declan Huppach also celebrating podium positions in a race that offered real promise for the future of British skiing.
The day however belonged to Marc Telling. Behind that cheeky grin and happy go lucky exterior lies a highly skilled racer with the heart of a lion and the intelligence to match. Amid an intoxicating battle for the 2008 Ingham's All England Championship Telling applied those skills to again rise above his piers and re-claim the title that clearly means much to this superb athlete. Time may well judge our 2008 champion extremely well.
Monday, 28 July 2008
If You Can't Take The Heat….
Well you were in the wrong place at Rossendale on Saturday. Pure blue skies, blistering temperatures, and two ripping courses set along 200 metres of rumbling dendix were all that separated the nation’s best young skiers from realising their hopes, dreams and aspirations in the 5th and concluding Inghams sponsored Grand Prix of Summer 2008.
Indeed, with course setters Craig Ruddick and Lee Bennett setting 18 & 20 gate headaches respectively, it was fairly obvious that any exposed skin wasn’t just in danger from the sun gods. Get your inspection wrong, under-estimate the difficulty and technicality or simply fail to respect the challenge set and a trip to the matting loomed large. Like a walk through the lions den, one loss of concentration was sure to end in a bite on the backside.
Not that these were bad courses, quite the opposite in fact. Inspect properly, prepare thoroughly and apply all those little things that your coach keeps saying to you and there was a route home. Add a bit of nous and experience into the equation and the racers who could find the right blend and were able to balance the equation were going to be fast and clean.
In the female race, previous winners Rachel Adcock and Emily Evans slugged out two runs of genuine heavyweight proportions for the victory spoils. Marginally behind Adcock after run 1 Evans produced a sublime 2nd run of courage and skill, three times looking in real danger of being spat out the young racer utilised every ounce of her flexibility and balance to attack and increase speed where others may have looked to defend and scrub pace. A tactic the proved decisive as Evans overturned a 0.12s deficit to storm to victory and leave Adcock with the runners up spot.
In third place finished Alessia Thomas-Jackson who, with the whole series in her hands, produced one of the gutsiest runs of 2008, risking everything in search of the few tenths of a second she needed to turn the screw on Evans & Adcock. Completing the top five overall positions finished Charlotte Davies and Georgia Luck with 4th and 5th respectively.
In the categories, overall 6th placed Stacey Luck claimed the Jun 2 runners up spot behind Davies with Melanie Wilcockson placed in 3rd. In junior 1 Frances Bryon placed 3rd behind Thomas-Jackson & and Georgia Luck respectively. Charlotte Shrimpton posted her best career result taking 7th overall and 2nd in chi 1 followed home by Caroline Powell in 3rd. Shrimpton’s Telford team mate Kelly Greenbank claimed top spot in chi 1 ahead of 2nd placed Klara Hommel and Georgia Hallet in 3rd.
In the males race blown wide apart by the failure of a number of the pre-race favourites to negotiate both courses Andrew Crawford again proved master of testing conditions placing himself in a position to strike with a faultless 1st run and then producing arguably the best single run of the season on run 2, magnificently slicing his way through Bennett’s minefield with sniper like precision and leave the rocket launchers and mortar bombers behind him to fight for the minor placings.
In runners up spot Gerard Flahive ensured that his recent excellent form continued, again producing a wonderfully clean 2nd run to finish 0.30s behind Crawford with clear daylight between himself and 3rd placed Bromley racer Benjamin Clark. In 4th place overall (& 3rd placed senior racer) Colin Armstrong proved the old adage of there being no substitute for experience whilst chi 1 racer James Grant simultaneously proved a young man can bring also an experienced head to the battle with a super 5th place overall.
In the categories Sam Goodlass’s 6th place overall was good enough to claim top spot in Jun 2 in front of Tom Hales in 2nd and home slope racer Niall Misell in 3rd. In Jun 1 8th & 11th overall finishes were enough for Andrew Davies and James Milstead to claim 2nd and 3rd respectively behind Flahive whilst in chi 2 9th & 10th overall were good enough for Samual Fairbarn and Richard Leeson to claim category 2nd & 3rd places. In Chi 1 Ashley Breese produced a superb 7th place overall to claim top spot with team mate Jordan Fellows claiming 2nd and Nicholas Phelps in 3rd.
And so the final Grand Prix of the season had produced yet another stunning race for 2008. Amid the heat haze of a wonderfully sunny Lancashire hillside spectators and racers alike drew breath, wiped perspiration from their brows, quenched their thirst and reached for the calculators.
Have they done enough? Did they achieve their aspirations and ambitions for 2008? Personally I hope that each and every one of them did. Amid the blood, sweat and cheers of Norfolk, Pendle, Sunderland, Suffolk and Rossendale we have all been privileged to witness the youth (and occasionally not so youth) of today doing what they do best. Making the very most of their talents.
If you can stand the heat…………..then you’re almost certainly a ski racer.
Indeed, with course setters Craig Ruddick and Lee Bennett setting 18 & 20 gate headaches respectively, it was fairly obvious that any exposed skin wasn’t just in danger from the sun gods. Get your inspection wrong, under-estimate the difficulty and technicality or simply fail to respect the challenge set and a trip to the matting loomed large. Like a walk through the lions den, one loss of concentration was sure to end in a bite on the backside.
Not that these were bad courses, quite the opposite in fact. Inspect properly, prepare thoroughly and apply all those little things that your coach keeps saying to you and there was a route home. Add a bit of nous and experience into the equation and the racers who could find the right blend and were able to balance the equation were going to be fast and clean.
In the female race, previous winners Rachel Adcock and Emily Evans slugged out two runs of genuine heavyweight proportions for the victory spoils. Marginally behind Adcock after run 1 Evans produced a sublime 2nd run of courage and skill, three times looking in real danger of being spat out the young racer utilised every ounce of her flexibility and balance to attack and increase speed where others may have looked to defend and scrub pace. A tactic the proved decisive as Evans overturned a 0.12s deficit to storm to victory and leave Adcock with the runners up spot.
In third place finished Alessia Thomas-Jackson who, with the whole series in her hands, produced one of the gutsiest runs of 2008, risking everything in search of the few tenths of a second she needed to turn the screw on Evans & Adcock. Completing the top five overall positions finished Charlotte Davies and Georgia Luck with 4th and 5th respectively.
In the categories, overall 6th placed Stacey Luck claimed the Jun 2 runners up spot behind Davies with Melanie Wilcockson placed in 3rd. In junior 1 Frances Bryon placed 3rd behind Thomas-Jackson & and Georgia Luck respectively. Charlotte Shrimpton posted her best career result taking 7th overall and 2nd in chi 1 followed home by Caroline Powell in 3rd. Shrimpton’s Telford team mate Kelly Greenbank claimed top spot in chi 1 ahead of 2nd placed Klara Hommel and Georgia Hallet in 3rd.
In the males race blown wide apart by the failure of a number of the pre-race favourites to negotiate both courses Andrew Crawford again proved master of testing conditions placing himself in a position to strike with a faultless 1st run and then producing arguably the best single run of the season on run 2, magnificently slicing his way through Bennett’s minefield with sniper like precision and leave the rocket launchers and mortar bombers behind him to fight for the minor placings.
In runners up spot Gerard Flahive ensured that his recent excellent form continued, again producing a wonderfully clean 2nd run to finish 0.30s behind Crawford with clear daylight between himself and 3rd placed Bromley racer Benjamin Clark. In 4th place overall (& 3rd placed senior racer) Colin Armstrong proved the old adage of there being no substitute for experience whilst chi 1 racer James Grant simultaneously proved a young man can bring also an experienced head to the battle with a super 5th place overall.
In the categories Sam Goodlass’s 6th place overall was good enough to claim top spot in Jun 2 in front of Tom Hales in 2nd and home slope racer Niall Misell in 3rd. In Jun 1 8th & 11th overall finishes were enough for Andrew Davies and James Milstead to claim 2nd and 3rd respectively behind Flahive whilst in chi 2 9th & 10th overall were good enough for Samual Fairbarn and Richard Leeson to claim category 2nd & 3rd places. In Chi 1 Ashley Breese produced a superb 7th place overall to claim top spot with team mate Jordan Fellows claiming 2nd and Nicholas Phelps in 3rd.
And so the final Grand Prix of the season had produced yet another stunning race for 2008. Amid the heat haze of a wonderfully sunny Lancashire hillside spectators and racers alike drew breath, wiped perspiration from their brows, quenched their thirst and reached for the calculators.
Have they done enough? Did they achieve their aspirations and ambitions for 2008? Personally I hope that each and every one of them did. Amid the blood, sweat and cheers of Norfolk, Pendle, Sunderland, Suffolk and Rossendale we have all been privileged to witness the youth (and occasionally not so youth) of today doing what they do best. Making the very most of their talents.
If you can stand the heat…………..then you’re almost certainly a ski racer.
Monday, 14 July 2008
Lil Nath and the Norfolk Express
Saturday 14th July
Celtic Cup Round 5
Gloucester
I never came here before the landslide wiped out the top 100 metres or so but, by ‘eck, what a slope it must have been in those days. The now first 15 metres of flat nothingness would have been an entirely different kettle of fish as you thundered over the ridge at full throttle. What would have certainly been a leap of Dendix based faith is now little more than a signal that the early pushes are over and it’s time to settle into some kind of rhythm.
Not that Gloucester now isn’t a fine facility - because it most certainly is, I just wish I’d been able to witness what must have been an awesome challenge from the very top.
However, whilst bemoaning the reduction in length it is worth noting the quality of what is left. This is a slope that clearly looks after its surface, no worn patches to demolish you brand new pair of Fischers or Volkls, a lift system better than almost everywhere and the menace of tubing parties and snowboarding cast onto the snowflex slope that runs alongside without ever interfering.
As always, with Gloucester being relatively local, Team Telford were again out in fairly substantial numbers. In the minis Nathan Breese led the charge recovering from a first run dropped pole with a stunning second run that placed the pocket rocket overall 2nd position. William Lucas and Joshua Ainsworth also both produced improved second run times to place 8th & 10th respectively.
In the girls race Claire Brown stole the Telford honours, claiming 5th in Jun 1 category with an excellent time of 12.89 in her second run, a time the assisted her to leapfrog 6th placed (in category) Charlotte Gould. Alex Bullock produced an excellent 2nd run of 13.30 to place 4th in category and qualify her for the afternoon dual slalom, whilst Charlotte Shrimpton & George Gould posted 5th & 6th in the same category respectively. In Children 1 Kelly Greenbank again found herself on the podium, this time in runners up spot, Claire Ainsworth finished in 6th place in the same category and the ever smiling and always cheerful Kirsty Thomas delighted everyone by shattering her seed point ranking (134 + penalty) with an excellent 5th in Jun 2 category.
In the boys, with Ashley still on the injury roster, Jordan Fellows claimed Telford honours with a brace of solid runs that claimed 1st place in chi 1. Chris Yates produced 2 equally solid runs to complete a Telford 1-2 in chi 1 with Joe Humfress being the meat in a chi1 sandwich consolidating an excellent 1st run with a solid 2nd to score sub 120 points. Marco Furio’s brace of clean runs was enough to see him finish 8th in chi 2 with Josh Mills just behind in 14th.
As usual the afternoon dual slaloms produced the expected thrills and spills and not for the first time the minis proved that they have the hearts of lions (and lionesses) in this most exacting of environments. At the semi final stage Nathan Breese and home slope heavyweight Matthew Davis slugged out two fantastic head to heads. With Matthew taking the first Nathan reacted brilliantly to burst out of the start and produce a victory margin large enough to claim a place in the final.
A final that was real David and Goliath stuff as ‘lil Nath (all three stone nothing of him) faced up to the powerful and ever impressive Megan Jenkins, Queen of the minis. Again the first run was a real slugfest as Megan reacted to an absolutely blistering start from the boy Breese to claw back almost all of the half gate deficit she’d conceded and they crossed a line with no more than a cigarette paper between them.
With a 0.028 second lead you could hardly claim it was advantage Nathan but the Norfolk Express knew she couldn’t afford the Telford racer another start like the first one. Sure enough, Jenkins bulleted out of the start gate on run two, gained a lead that Nathan never really looked like closing and in skiing a clean run crossed the line as victor.
Yet again however the true winner was mini racing. The young lions British ski racing again proved that they have the technique, temperament and desire to race hard and true. Believe me, the more you knock them back the more often they will come back for more. The Celtic Cup offers them the platform to display their full range of talents first hand and credit has to go to the organisers for having the courage and foresight to allow them the opportunity.
Sunday 15th July
Celtic Cup Round 6
And so to the final race of the series. With a number of Telford racers in overall contention the pressure was on to bring you’re a game to the top of the hill. In particular the battle between good friends and, almost certainly, future partners in crime Chris Yates and Jordan Fellows produced a fascinating backdrop to the morning’s proceedings. Awaiting their first runs five yards apart with backs facing one another two dads chuckled in the expectation of guns that looked soon to be drawn in a winner takes all shoot out. With the sun shining brightly and temperature already high all we needed was Clint Eastwood to appear from under the start ramp and the bullets could have flown in from all directions.
In the end Chris claimed the honours, deservedly doing enough on the day, as his excellent 1st run left Jordan’s no show run dead and buried and offered Chris the knowledge that a safe no risk 2nd run strategy was always going to be enough. From a personal point of view the sight of them playing at lunch time amid the pressures of what had and was going to occur told you more about these boys than 13 ½ seconds of plastic racing ever will. Ten out of ten in the sportsmanship stakes to both lads.
Elsewhere William Lucas produced a season best finish of 4th, capitalising on course inspection error from Nathan Breese which left the previous afternoon’s hero in DNF country.
In the ladies, Charlotte Gould (5th, Jun 1) turned the tables on Claire Brown (7th) with the point gleaned from 5th position gave our favourite Brummie 3rd place overall in the series, whilst 4th in Chi 2 was enough also ensure that Alex Bullock claimed an excellent 3rd overall in her category. 5th in category was also enough to ensure a top 15 overall finish for Charlotte Shrimpton whilst George Gould was just squeezed out in 17th (6th overall). In chi 1 Kelly Greenbank’s 2nd in category gave her 2nd overall and Claire Ainsworth’s 5th place ensured and overall series finish of 4th.
In the boys, Marco Furio took Telford honours with 5th in chi 2, Joe Humfress perished on the technical mid section of run 2 whilst Josh Mills climbed off the floor like a pole-axed super middleweight to cross the line and finish 13th in category.
All that was left was to witness an absolutely spectacular and utterly sickening crash from first run leader Andrew Watson. Fortunately, after a minute or so of real concern, he appeared to be OK but at the end of another excellent Celtic Cup series the sight of Watson double flipping himself backwards(ish) down the hill at racing speed highlighted the dangers that these kids face every time they snap their bindings closed. Where ever they finished, they are all winners.
Celtic Cup Round 5
Gloucester
I never came here before the landslide wiped out the top 100 metres or so but, by ‘eck, what a slope it must have been in those days. The now first 15 metres of flat nothingness would have been an entirely different kettle of fish as you thundered over the ridge at full throttle. What would have certainly been a leap of Dendix based faith is now little more than a signal that the early pushes are over and it’s time to settle into some kind of rhythm.
Not that Gloucester now isn’t a fine facility - because it most certainly is, I just wish I’d been able to witness what must have been an awesome challenge from the very top.
However, whilst bemoaning the reduction in length it is worth noting the quality of what is left. This is a slope that clearly looks after its surface, no worn patches to demolish you brand new pair of Fischers or Volkls, a lift system better than almost everywhere and the menace of tubing parties and snowboarding cast onto the snowflex slope that runs alongside without ever interfering.
As always, with Gloucester being relatively local, Team Telford were again out in fairly substantial numbers. In the minis Nathan Breese led the charge recovering from a first run dropped pole with a stunning second run that placed the pocket rocket overall 2nd position. William Lucas and Joshua Ainsworth also both produced improved second run times to place 8th & 10th respectively.
In the girls race Claire Brown stole the Telford honours, claiming 5th in Jun 1 category with an excellent time of 12.89 in her second run, a time the assisted her to leapfrog 6th placed (in category) Charlotte Gould. Alex Bullock produced an excellent 2nd run of 13.30 to place 4th in category and qualify her for the afternoon dual slalom, whilst Charlotte Shrimpton & George Gould posted 5th & 6th in the same category respectively. In Children 1 Kelly Greenbank again found herself on the podium, this time in runners up spot, Claire Ainsworth finished in 6th place in the same category and the ever smiling and always cheerful Kirsty Thomas delighted everyone by shattering her seed point ranking (134 + penalty) with an excellent 5th in Jun 2 category.
In the boys, with Ashley still on the injury roster, Jordan Fellows claimed Telford honours with a brace of solid runs that claimed 1st place in chi 1. Chris Yates produced 2 equally solid runs to complete a Telford 1-2 in chi 1 with Joe Humfress being the meat in a chi1 sandwich consolidating an excellent 1st run with a solid 2nd to score sub 120 points. Marco Furio’s brace of clean runs was enough to see him finish 8th in chi 2 with Josh Mills just behind in 14th.
As usual the afternoon dual slaloms produced the expected thrills and spills and not for the first time the minis proved that they have the hearts of lions (and lionesses) in this most exacting of environments. At the semi final stage Nathan Breese and home slope heavyweight Matthew Davis slugged out two fantastic head to heads. With Matthew taking the first Nathan reacted brilliantly to burst out of the start and produce a victory margin large enough to claim a place in the final.
A final that was real David and Goliath stuff as ‘lil Nath (all three stone nothing of him) faced up to the powerful and ever impressive Megan Jenkins, Queen of the minis. Again the first run was a real slugfest as Megan reacted to an absolutely blistering start from the boy Breese to claw back almost all of the half gate deficit she’d conceded and they crossed a line with no more than a cigarette paper between them.
With a 0.028 second lead you could hardly claim it was advantage Nathan but the Norfolk Express knew she couldn’t afford the Telford racer another start like the first one. Sure enough, Jenkins bulleted out of the start gate on run two, gained a lead that Nathan never really looked like closing and in skiing a clean run crossed the line as victor.
Yet again however the true winner was mini racing. The young lions British ski racing again proved that they have the technique, temperament and desire to race hard and true. Believe me, the more you knock them back the more often they will come back for more. The Celtic Cup offers them the platform to display their full range of talents first hand and credit has to go to the organisers for having the courage and foresight to allow them the opportunity.
Sunday 15th July
Celtic Cup Round 6
And so to the final race of the series. With a number of Telford racers in overall contention the pressure was on to bring you’re a game to the top of the hill. In particular the battle between good friends and, almost certainly, future partners in crime Chris Yates and Jordan Fellows produced a fascinating backdrop to the morning’s proceedings. Awaiting their first runs five yards apart with backs facing one another two dads chuckled in the expectation of guns that looked soon to be drawn in a winner takes all shoot out. With the sun shining brightly and temperature already high all we needed was Clint Eastwood to appear from under the start ramp and the bullets could have flown in from all directions.
In the end Chris claimed the honours, deservedly doing enough on the day, as his excellent 1st run left Jordan’s no show run dead and buried and offered Chris the knowledge that a safe no risk 2nd run strategy was always going to be enough. From a personal point of view the sight of them playing at lunch time amid the pressures of what had and was going to occur told you more about these boys than 13 ½ seconds of plastic racing ever will. Ten out of ten in the sportsmanship stakes to both lads.
Elsewhere William Lucas produced a season best finish of 4th, capitalising on course inspection error from Nathan Breese which left the previous afternoon’s hero in DNF country.
In the ladies, Charlotte Gould (5th, Jun 1) turned the tables on Claire Brown (7th) with the point gleaned from 5th position gave our favourite Brummie 3rd place overall in the series, whilst 4th in Chi 2 was enough also ensure that Alex Bullock claimed an excellent 3rd overall in her category. 5th in category was also enough to ensure a top 15 overall finish for Charlotte Shrimpton whilst George Gould was just squeezed out in 17th (6th overall). In chi 1 Kelly Greenbank’s 2nd in category gave her 2nd overall and Claire Ainsworth’s 5th place ensured and overall series finish of 4th.
In the boys, Marco Furio took Telford honours with 5th in chi 2, Joe Humfress perished on the technical mid section of run 2 whilst Josh Mills climbed off the floor like a pole-axed super middleweight to cross the line and finish 13th in category.
All that was left was to witness an absolutely spectacular and utterly sickening crash from first run leader Andrew Watson. Fortunately, after a minute or so of real concern, he appeared to be OK but at the end of another excellent Celtic Cup series the sight of Watson double flipping himself backwards(ish) down the hill at racing speed highlighted the dangers that these kids face every time they snap their bindings closed. Where ever they finished, they are all winners.
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Forget SW19 & Silverstone. All eyes point to Suffolk.
So what exactly do the organisers of this race know that those a little further up the British sporting ladder don’t? As Lewis Hamilton sailed to victory at a monsoon swept Silverstone and Federer & Nadal attempted to produce another SW19 classic between the rain showers the 4th race of the Inghams sponsored Snowsport England Grand Prix series to place amid a windswept but sunny and, more importantly, dry Ipswich.
Sat on the edge of the River Orwell, overlooked by the spectacular Orwell Bridge and surrounded by pretty rural setting of Bourne Hill, Suffolk Ski Centre provides a wonderfully picturesque backdrop amid the flurry and bustle as the nation’s very best ski racers locked horns for the penultimate battle of this summer’s series.
With course setting duties shared by Sally Bartlett and Marc Telling the racers were provided with a brace of challenging runs that whilst asking many questions also offered those who learned from their inspection time the opportunity to expose their talents to the full.
In the female race, blown wide open by the first run demise of pre-race series leader Rachel Adcock, Charlotte Evans mirrored her early summer Grand Prix success by producing a solid first run that found her well placed for an afternoon challenge and then demolished the hopes of those around her with a blistering second run that none of her piers could either emulate or improve upon.
Closest of the chasing pack finished runner up and new series leader Alessia Thomas-Jackson. The junior 1 racer finishing 0.01 seconds in front of third placed Gloucester racer Rowan Vernon.
In the categories 4th placed overall athlete Alice Thelwell claimed 2nd place in the seniors with Emily Goddard following home in 3rd. Katherine Barber place 2nd in Jun 2 (behind Evans) with Danielle Freeze posting 3rd. Behind Thomas-Jackson in the Jun 1 category and in 4th placed overall finished Jeni Thomas with Claire Brown (6th overall) completing the podium positions. In the children’s categories Stephanie Davies took the Chi 2 honours, followed home by Nia Jenkins (2nd) and Sarah Lambden in 3rd whilst in the Children 1 category saw Polly Shailes demolish her seed point ranking to claim victory in front of 2nd placed Georgia Hallett and Jenny Davies in 3rd.
With the male race enhanced by the entry of British Senior team member David Ryding those chasing his tail were in no doubt that if they had any serious pretensions of going home as overall victor they needed not only to bring their ‘A Game’ but be able to execute it from the first gate to very last.
Whenever Ryding snaps his binding in the start gate a notable hush falls around the slope as each and every spectator looks up the hill to witness what might be one of the final times we get to see the ever popular Pendle racer compete on the plastic circuit. Long since his piers and rivals have abandoned dendix Ryding commendably continues to support the surface and series that those who aspire to his achievements depend upon.
The fact that he also continues to put himself through the pressures of potential defeat should not be underestimated. Not that that was ever likely to happen here as Ryding dominated the male race, posting fastest times in both runs whilst making the whole thing look almost breathtakingly easy.
Only overall runner up Andrew Watson looked capable of mounting any sort of credible challenge and even then you got the feeling that, if required, Ryding still had an extra gear or two to go through. Series leader Nicholas Robinson confirmed his place at the top of the standings with a fine 3rd place overall with Craig Ruddick and Alex Jeal claiming 4th & 5th respectively.
In the categories Sunderland victor Andrew Crawford claimed 3rd place behind Ryding and Ruddick whilst Watson, Robinson & Jeal filled the podium in Jun 2 category. In Jun 1 Gerard Flahive produced his best display of 2008 to claim the honours in front of a consistent Michael Molloy and Ian Williams. In the children’s categories Shaun Blyth claimed a deserved 1st place closely followed by James Grant (2nd) and Samual Fairbairn (3rd) whilst Max Moss proved too good for the rest of the field in children 1 category, taking 1st place with James Sieber in 2nd and Daniel Poth 3rd.
The first Grand Prix to be held at this wonderful facility had not disappointed. Location, both geographically and aesthetically, will surely make this a key race in future years and the organisers truly deserve great credit for both ensuring the Grand Prix series benefits from what will hopefully be an annual visit and for providing another very smoothly run race.
The final stage of the series sees us heading back up the M6 to Rossendale in three weeks time. Even at this late stage nothing is settled, titles are still begging to be won. Expect it fast and expect it furious. Just don’t expect the organisers to be quite as good when it comes to sorting out the weather.
Sat on the edge of the River Orwell, overlooked by the spectacular Orwell Bridge and surrounded by pretty rural setting of Bourne Hill, Suffolk Ski Centre provides a wonderfully picturesque backdrop amid the flurry and bustle as the nation’s very best ski racers locked horns for the penultimate battle of this summer’s series.
With course setting duties shared by Sally Bartlett and Marc Telling the racers were provided with a brace of challenging runs that whilst asking many questions also offered those who learned from their inspection time the opportunity to expose their talents to the full.
In the female race, blown wide open by the first run demise of pre-race series leader Rachel Adcock, Charlotte Evans mirrored her early summer Grand Prix success by producing a solid first run that found her well placed for an afternoon challenge and then demolished the hopes of those around her with a blistering second run that none of her piers could either emulate or improve upon.
Closest of the chasing pack finished runner up and new series leader Alessia Thomas-Jackson. The junior 1 racer finishing 0.01 seconds in front of third placed Gloucester racer Rowan Vernon.
In the categories 4th placed overall athlete Alice Thelwell claimed 2nd place in the seniors with Emily Goddard following home in 3rd. Katherine Barber place 2nd in Jun 2 (behind Evans) with Danielle Freeze posting 3rd. Behind Thomas-Jackson in the Jun 1 category and in 4th placed overall finished Jeni Thomas with Claire Brown (6th overall) completing the podium positions. In the children’s categories Stephanie Davies took the Chi 2 honours, followed home by Nia Jenkins (2nd) and Sarah Lambden in 3rd whilst in the Children 1 category saw Polly Shailes demolish her seed point ranking to claim victory in front of 2nd placed Georgia Hallett and Jenny Davies in 3rd.
With the male race enhanced by the entry of British Senior team member David Ryding those chasing his tail were in no doubt that if they had any serious pretensions of going home as overall victor they needed not only to bring their ‘A Game’ but be able to execute it from the first gate to very last.
Whenever Ryding snaps his binding in the start gate a notable hush falls around the slope as each and every spectator looks up the hill to witness what might be one of the final times we get to see the ever popular Pendle racer compete on the plastic circuit. Long since his piers and rivals have abandoned dendix Ryding commendably continues to support the surface and series that those who aspire to his achievements depend upon.
The fact that he also continues to put himself through the pressures of potential defeat should not be underestimated. Not that that was ever likely to happen here as Ryding dominated the male race, posting fastest times in both runs whilst making the whole thing look almost breathtakingly easy.
Only overall runner up Andrew Watson looked capable of mounting any sort of credible challenge and even then you got the feeling that, if required, Ryding still had an extra gear or two to go through. Series leader Nicholas Robinson confirmed his place at the top of the standings with a fine 3rd place overall with Craig Ruddick and Alex Jeal claiming 4th & 5th respectively.
In the categories Sunderland victor Andrew Crawford claimed 3rd place behind Ryding and Ruddick whilst Watson, Robinson & Jeal filled the podium in Jun 2 category. In Jun 1 Gerard Flahive produced his best display of 2008 to claim the honours in front of a consistent Michael Molloy and Ian Williams. In the children’s categories Shaun Blyth claimed a deserved 1st place closely followed by James Grant (2nd) and Samual Fairbairn (3rd) whilst Max Moss proved too good for the rest of the field in children 1 category, taking 1st place with James Sieber in 2nd and Daniel Poth 3rd.
The first Grand Prix to be held at this wonderful facility had not disappointed. Location, both geographically and aesthetically, will surely make this a key race in future years and the organisers truly deserve great credit for both ensuring the Grand Prix series benefits from what will hopefully be an annual visit and for providing another very smoothly run race.
The final stage of the series sees us heading back up the M6 to Rossendale in three weeks time. Even at this late stage nothing is settled, titles are still begging to be won. Expect it fast and expect it furious. Just don’t expect the organisers to be quite as good when it comes to sorting out the weather.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Field blown away by Adcock & Crawford
So, on the longest weekend of the year, the 2008 summer ski circus descended upon a windswept North Eastern Coastline as Sunderland ’s Silksworth complex played host to Round 3 of the Inghams sponsored Snowsport England Grand Prix series.
With course setters Pierre Mahon & Lee Bennett doing an excellent job of providing contrasting courses that tested all aspects of the racers abilities and a wind sharper than the edges on the racers skis it was clear that those who were to eventually prevail would need to utilise both the talent in their legs and the nous in their brains in equal measures. Play it too safe and you’d find yourself marooned down the field, go gung-ho and an early finish or slide along the matting awaited.
Experience was going to be key.And so it proved in both categories as senior stalwarts Rachael Adcock and Andrew Crawford prevailed over their younger competitors whilst simultaneously confirming the old adage that there is still no substitute for experience. Adcock, in particular, impressed with her complete domination of the female race. In posting a first run time that none of her competitors could get anywhere close to she provided herself with the relative comfort of knowing she could afford a mistake on her afternoon run and still hang on to the win. A mistake that never actually arrived as the Arrows racer clinically dissected a brute of a second course with surgeon-like precision to leave the chasing pack scrambling for the remaining podium places.
In second place, and a shade faster than Adcock on run 2, finished Emily Evans. The Chatham racer’s welcome return from injury providing the only genuine competition for the top podium position and at the same time issued a warning to her rivals that not only was she back but, if anything, she’s now even faster. In third place Jeni Thomas prevailed from a second run three way scrap denying Rowan Vernon and Georgia Hood respectively.
In the categories Alice Thelwell completed the senior podium behind Adcock and Vernon , Heidi Parker claimed the honours in Jun 2 with Lauren Elliot and Melanie Wilcockson just behind and Alessia Thomas-Jackson (3rd) joined Thomas and Hood on the Jun 1 podium. In the Children’s categories Nia Jenkins claimed 2nd in chi 2 behind Emily Evans with Louise Bain claiming 3rd whilst Kelly Greenbank produced the two fastest times to claim the honours in chi 1 followed home by Katie Allan in 2nd and Klara Hommel 3rd.
In the male race decimated by dnf & dsq’s Andrew Crawford’s blistering second run proved that there was indeed a racing line amongst slalom poles that often leaned in the wind like isolated trees on a links golf course. With seven racers ahead of him after run 1 Crawford was left to watch as one by one their challenges faded amid a battery of errors on a course that punished the smallest mistake to maximum effect.
In second place 0.07s behind Crawford finished Pendle racer Brad Morgan. Morgan’s 2nd run time eclipsed all but the breath taking Crawford and whilst he will be disappointed to have come out on the wrong side of the photo finish he can be delighted to have leapfrogged co Jun 2 athlete Andrew Watson onto the middle tier of the podium. Watson’s combined time of 26.94 proving 0.06s slower than Morgan and 0.13s outside the efforts of Crawford. Senior category runner up Colin Armstrong placed 4th overall and Michael Molloy continued this seasons excellent form with a well deserved 5th place overall.In the categories Andrew Richardson completed the triumberate of seniors in 3rd place, whilst 6th placed overall racer Marcus Orrell closed out the podium in Jun 2.
Following closely behind Norfolk ’s Molloy in Jun 1 finished Benjamin Potter (2nd) and Dan Evans signalled his return from injury in taking 3rd place. Children 2 saw a Pendle 1-2 with Richard Leeson (1st) and Jake Morgan (2nd) being joined on the podium by Samual Fairbairn (3rd) and in Chi 1 category Chris Yates, an impressive 15th overall claimed victory ahead of Telford’s Jordan Fellows (2nd) with Daniel Poth (3rd).
By the end of the race it was clear that we’d witnessed another superb race in 2008 and the race officials deserve immense credit for somehow keeping control amongst the very worst that Mother Nature could hurl at them.
The penultimate race of the series takes us down to the incredibly picturesque setting of Suffolk Ski Centre in Ipswich . The competition is still wide open and all is still to battle for. As usual, the action on the hill is sure to be red hot but, after 4 hours of trying to avoid being blown off my feet, I’d settle for just being warm.
With course setters Pierre Mahon & Lee Bennett doing an excellent job of providing contrasting courses that tested all aspects of the racers abilities and a wind sharper than the edges on the racers skis it was clear that those who were to eventually prevail would need to utilise both the talent in their legs and the nous in their brains in equal measures. Play it too safe and you’d find yourself marooned down the field, go gung-ho and an early finish or slide along the matting awaited.
Experience was going to be key.And so it proved in both categories as senior stalwarts Rachael Adcock and Andrew Crawford prevailed over their younger competitors whilst simultaneously confirming the old adage that there is still no substitute for experience. Adcock, in particular, impressed with her complete domination of the female race. In posting a first run time that none of her competitors could get anywhere close to she provided herself with the relative comfort of knowing she could afford a mistake on her afternoon run and still hang on to the win. A mistake that never actually arrived as the Arrows racer clinically dissected a brute of a second course with surgeon-like precision to leave the chasing pack scrambling for the remaining podium places.
In second place, and a shade faster than Adcock on run 2, finished Emily Evans. The Chatham racer’s welcome return from injury providing the only genuine competition for the top podium position and at the same time issued a warning to her rivals that not only was she back but, if anything, she’s now even faster. In third place Jeni Thomas prevailed from a second run three way scrap denying Rowan Vernon and Georgia Hood respectively.
In the categories Alice Thelwell completed the senior podium behind Adcock and Vernon , Heidi Parker claimed the honours in Jun 2 with Lauren Elliot and Melanie Wilcockson just behind and Alessia Thomas-Jackson (3rd) joined Thomas and Hood on the Jun 1 podium. In the Children’s categories Nia Jenkins claimed 2nd in chi 2 behind Emily Evans with Louise Bain claiming 3rd whilst Kelly Greenbank produced the two fastest times to claim the honours in chi 1 followed home by Katie Allan in 2nd and Klara Hommel 3rd.
In the male race decimated by dnf & dsq’s Andrew Crawford’s blistering second run proved that there was indeed a racing line amongst slalom poles that often leaned in the wind like isolated trees on a links golf course. With seven racers ahead of him after run 1 Crawford was left to watch as one by one their challenges faded amid a battery of errors on a course that punished the smallest mistake to maximum effect.
In second place 0.07s behind Crawford finished Pendle racer Brad Morgan. Morgan’s 2nd run time eclipsed all but the breath taking Crawford and whilst he will be disappointed to have come out on the wrong side of the photo finish he can be delighted to have leapfrogged co Jun 2 athlete Andrew Watson onto the middle tier of the podium. Watson’s combined time of 26.94 proving 0.06s slower than Morgan and 0.13s outside the efforts of Crawford. Senior category runner up Colin Armstrong placed 4th overall and Michael Molloy continued this seasons excellent form with a well deserved 5th place overall.In the categories Andrew Richardson completed the triumberate of seniors in 3rd place, whilst 6th placed overall racer Marcus Orrell closed out the podium in Jun 2.
Following closely behind Norfolk ’s Molloy in Jun 1 finished Benjamin Potter (2nd) and Dan Evans signalled his return from injury in taking 3rd place. Children 2 saw a Pendle 1-2 with Richard Leeson (1st) and Jake Morgan (2nd) being joined on the podium by Samual Fairbairn (3rd) and in Chi 1 category Chris Yates, an impressive 15th overall claimed victory ahead of Telford’s Jordan Fellows (2nd) with Daniel Poth (3rd).
By the end of the race it was clear that we’d witnessed another superb race in 2008 and the race officials deserve immense credit for somehow keeping control amongst the very worst that Mother Nature could hurl at them.
The penultimate race of the series takes us down to the incredibly picturesque setting of Suffolk Ski Centre in Ipswich . The competition is still wide open and all is still to battle for. As usual, the action on the hill is sure to be red hot but, after 4 hours of trying to avoid being blown off my feet, I’d settle for just being warm.
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