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So the last Club National of the summer season has been and gone. For those looking to make the cut for the National Championships, especially the ever popular All England, there is now just one set of races available to make the cut – a week before at the Scottish Dry Slope Championships. Southampton, set in amongst the trees down on the south coast, is an unusual slope yet the atmosphere was vibrant and the racers were given plenty to think about by course setter Nigel Greenfield.  Both race winners, Hannah Bozier and David Hatcher, attacked the course and were rewarded with the race win. The rest were left to curse small mistakes…

In the girls race Hannah Bozier was a class above the rest of the field as she posted times almost half a second faster than the rest on each of the runs. Bozier is a good racer and has produced some strong results this summer and this result will give her a boost as the season goes into the summer holiday period. It was a shame that the race did not attract some of the faster racers as in previous years.

Midland Ski Club’s victory in the Club National Club of the Year competition that has been running through the summer meant that many of the racers that may have given her a run for her money, decided to have a break this week. Jenny Davies raised her game to take second on two of the three runs to grab second ahead of Emma Stafford. Isabella Hathway put in a great third run but was not able to edge in front of Stafford after bettering the combined time of Annie Usher. Usher would finish fifth.

In the men’s race, late entry David Hatcher was first down and showed how fast his unique technique and style can be on the right course.  Hatcher spent a long time looking at the course right up until the forerunners for the men’s race were about to go. Going number one due to his late entry, Hatcher tore the coaching manual up and gave younger racers a lesson in determination.  Hatcher’s first run time was the fastest of the day and put the pressure on the rest of the field from the off.

Although Ross Hammond got faster with each run, he was not able to overhaul the combined time of Hatcher and was just three hundredths off at the end. James Sieber in turn put pressure on Hammond for the top spot but he was a further five hundredths back. The top three were separated by a mere eight hundredths – a great advert for the excitement that can be generated at the dry ski slope races! Jonny Powell proved his own pre race forecast correct in coming fourth ahead of Adam Lee.

Many times this summer course setters have been far too conservative in not using the full extent of a slope. It was fascinating watching the racers, young and old, trying to work out what they thought would be the best line down the course.  In warm up many of the racers were trying to envisage how the course would go from memory of previous years.  By cutting off the usual big left turn and taking the racers across rarely used matting, this encouraged the racers to attack the slope more. Big applause to Nigel Greenfield for having the courage to do this and also to the jury for not wimpering away from accepting this!

The age group wins went as such: Lauren Vale (Mini’s); Caitlin Lewington (Children 1); Isabella Hathway (Children 2); Hannah Bozier (Junior 1) and Emma Stafford (Junior 2). There were no Senior’s or Master’s racers in the female race. In the male race: Oliver Weeks (Mini’s); Brandon Matthews (Children 1); Frazer Southall (Children 2); James Sieber (Junior 1); Adam Lee (Junior 2); David Hatcher (Senior) and Graham Nayler (Master’s).

Congratulations to all, a great day!

Full results click here

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