British Bobsleigh dominates Push Start Championships in Jersey
British Bobsleigh athletes dominated the 1st
Jersey Radisson Blu International Push Start Championships 2011 at
the weekend where Chairman, Sir Andrew Ridgway also performed his
last official act as Lieutenant Governor of Jersey by presenting
trophies to the winners.
World Junior Bobsleigh Champion, Paula Walker teamed with
former World Champion Gillian Cooke took the title in the women’s
competition while newcomers Victoria Olayoe and Commonwealth
Games gold medallist, Katherine Endacott finished 2nd.
Fiona Harrison and Rebekah Wilson finished in 3rd place
while Nikki McSweeney and Kelly Denyer came 4th.
In the men’s push race, representing Jersey and British Bobsleigh
team members, Will Golder and Kevan Crowell took the title with
Lamin Deen and Antoe Walkers finishing in second while Europa Cup
gold medallist John Jackson finished in 3rd with Bruce
Tasker.
British No.1 Driver John Jackson said on
the Championships. “This was a great opportunity to practice during
the off season and has given us a chance to experiment with
different techniques so that we can ensure that we are constantly
improving our performance to be in the best shape possible for the
new season which I am really excited about. They have also
been a great way of giving others a taste of bobsleigh and hopefully
inspiring future generations to get involved with the sport which is
filled with adrenaline and overwhelming excitement. Bobsleigh is the
best roller coaster of your life and I would highly recommend that
others give it a go as once you have a taste of this high speed
sport, you keep going back for more.”
Sir Andrew who has come to the end of his 5
year term as Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor and was recently knighted
in the Queen’s birthday honours list for his services to the island
says that Jersey has really embraced the sport of bobsleigh.
“ I made a comment when I first came into the role of Lieutenant
Governor that I enjoyed Bobsleigh having been head of Army Bobsleigh
and since then a bobsleigh club has been started and we now have a
men’s team that is representing Great Britain having competing in
the Europa Cup last season. There is tremendous support on the
island for the sport and there are amazing facilities here. ”
The push competition was designed to help international bobsleigh
teams prepare for the upcoming season but amateurs and local
athletes were also encouraged to take part, something that Sir
Andrew is very keen on.
He says: “This competition was not just for elite athletes, it
was designed to encourage all to give bobsleigh a go and show that
anyone can do it. British Bobsleigh has made huge progress in
the last year and we now have a professional performance programme
run by Gary Anderson. We are feeling very optimistic in the run up
to the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia in 2014. We see it as a
stage to build British Bobsleigh on to help inspire future
generations which is also something we hope to achieve with
the 1st ever Youth Winter Olympic Games in 2012.”
Sir Andrew who will continue now in his role as Chairman of British
Bobsleigh, reflecting on the time he has spent in Jersey in the last
5 years says: “I have really enjoyed the engagement with the local
community and have been involved in various youth and charity
projects such as the Battle of Flowers parade. Lady Ridgway and I
have been made incredibly welcome by the people and will leave
behind a huge part of our hearts in Jersey.”
Sir Andrew was made Chairman of British Bobsleigh in 2010 and has
been involved with the sport since the 1970s when his regiment, The
Royal Tank dominated the British Team. In 1998 he was invited
to take over as Chairman of Army Bobsleigh. The sport then merged
with Army Skeleton and Luge. He was also the first director of Army
Ice Sports.
The Jersey Radisson International Push Start Championships 2011 gave
the British performance team the opportunity to experiment with new
crews ahead of the new 2011 – 12 season that begins in November.
