Snowsport
GB 2007-04-10 14:31:00
Perfect
snow and weather conditions conspired to produce a thrilling end to what have
been regularly described as the 'best ever' British Land National Ski
Championships. For the Children's fastest and most demanding speed discipline
for the first time this year it was decided to offer a day of training down the
piste to promote confidence among the contestants, many of whom had never raced
Super G before. An overnight freeze and an early start meant the Du Corbey race
piste was in immaculate slick and hard condition for the field of over 100 boys
and 50 girls.
Stepping
up to take his first major title victory in the Boy's Super G was Ed Stephens
whose attacking, technically strong run gave him a comfortable 0.55 seconds
margin over Swiss based Piers Solomon who stormed down from a start number of
70 to take second. Jack Breton finished third. Added to wins in the Slalom and
Giant Slalom, Meribel trained Breton (14,Chichester) won the overall British
Children's Boys Combined Champion title. For Stephens (14, Bristol) whose first
major races these championships were one year ago on these slopes, winning
today is a pointer to the technical improvements he has made at the British Ski
Academy under head coach Ross Green this winter. "I had not done so well
in the other disciplines but knew I am quick, but it is a bit of a surprise to
win." Said Stephens, "It felt good all the way." "Ed was
technically a solid, fast skier when he came to us so we have really just been
waiting for the day he put it all together and it happened for him. He just did
what we knew he could do." Said Green.
The Girls
Children 2 Super G title went to Christy McKinnon (14, Troon). Also winning the
Girls Slalom outright she earned the overall British Children's Girls Combined
Champion title. Abbie Macey (12, Solihull) is following the path of Bode
Miller. She has spent the winter training with Miller's ski club in Franconia,
New Hampshire and, like Miller, has been home schooled through the winters by
her Mum who is a teacher. Abbie was ranked in the top 3 for her age in the club
and top 5 for the region. Today she won the Children's Super G title and lifted
the overall Children 1 British Girls Combined Champion title.
Nicholas
Moynihan (12, Kent) added the Children 1 Super G title to the Giant Slalom
victory of Wednesday. With second in the Slalom Moynihan was crowned Children 1
British Boys Combined Champion.
"It
is always said at the end of great events like the Olympics that it has been
the 'best ever', but I can recall 29 British Land National Ski Championships
and I am sure that this has been the best yet. The conditions have been great
and the racing all the way through from the Seniors last week to the minis this
week has been fantastic." Commented Sir John Ritblat, President of
Snowsport GB and President of The British Land Company plc at today's
sun-drenched prizegiving.
Results:
British Land Children's National Ski Championships, Meribel, France: Super G:
|
Girls: |
|||
|
1 |
C
McKinnon |
(Troon) |
58.82 |
|
2 |
N Harte |
(Barham,Kent)
|
59.49 |
|
3 |
Alessia
Thomas-Jackson |
(Haverhill,
Suffolk) |
1'00.43 |
|
Boys: |
|||
|
1 |
E
Stephens |
(Bristol)
|
56.96 |
|
2 |
P
Solomon |
(Switzerland)
|
57.51 |
|
3 |
J Breton |
(Chichester)
|
57.54 |
|
Children
1 (Year of Birth 1994 & 1995): |
|||
|
Girls: |
|||
|
1 |
A Macey |
(Solihull)
|
1:03.28 |
|
2 |
A
Baldwin |
(Norfolk)
|
1:03.55 |
|
3 |
S French
|
(Isle of
Wight) |
1:04.39 |
|
Boys: |
|||
|
1 |
N
Moynihan |
(Kent) |
1:01.38 |
|
2 |
Z Jesse |
(Camberley)
|
1:01.70 |
|
3 |
J Gower |
(Dunnington)
|
1:01.92 |