Sunderland GP: Hatcher defies physics to win as Bullock takes her first GP win in the girl’s race
David Hatcher used his unique technique to power his way to his first win for a year with victory in the Sunderland / North East Ski Association Grand Prix at the weekend. Fastest in the straight first run, Hatcher held on for the win after many of the racers crashed out on the first run. The old adage that “To come first, first you have to get down” was very true. In the girl’s race, Alex Bullock held on the second charge of Charlotte Gould to win her first Grand Prix.
The stay aways from the second Grand Prix of the season missed out on two challenging courses set by the local stars of yesteryear, Ravens coaches Craig Ruddock and Lee Bennett. While they may not have been to all the racers taste, a number of racers were vocal in their disapproval of the courses, the courses did provide a lesson in using inspection for that and not a social gathering on the course. Those racers that looked for the line over the ridges and did not just go gung ho and head long into the tight hairpin on the ridge, were rewarded with a decent time. The expected tussle between Andy Watson, Gerard Flahive, Andy Davies, Michael Molly, Harry Hornsby and David Hatcher fizzled out albeit with a number of spectacular crashes, most notably Molloy’s. Hatcher held the lead after the first run and held on to claim the win after the second run with Dan Curtis grabbing second and Andy Davies third. The top five stayed in the same order after the first run with Andrew du Plessis making his seasonal debut having just returned from Australia and Chris Yates, the youngest by over ten years in the top five, taking fifth. The unique style of David Hatcher gave the older racers much to reminisce over yet younger racers, and especially those aspiring to race on snow, plenty to forget!
In the girl’s race, Alex Bullock held the lead after the first run with Alice Hales second and Emily Goddard in third. The half second lead of Bullock and Hales over the rest of the field and the demise of Sarah Lamden in the first run plus a lacklustre performance by Charlotte Gould, down in 8th place, just behind Ellen Hathway, meant that the result was expected to be fought out between the top two. Charlotte Gould woke up, just as she had in the Club National, and produced a blistering performance in the third run to challenge the rest of the field. Racer after racer failed to better her combined time and she still lead when Goddard came through the finish. Could she pull off a remarkable comeback? Hales made a minute mistake lower down to lose valuable time and this was enough to drop her down the results. Grey sky it may have been but this was as good an advert for dry slope skiing as you will see all summer. Bullock had an advantage of almost a second on her club mate yet Gould had produced a special run and was determined. Bullock put her all in to it and although she was slower than Gould, she had enough in reserve to hold on for her first and deserved win in a Grand Prix. Bullock won followed by Gould with Hales dropping to third and Emma Peters holding on to fourth. Emily Goddard took fifth.
In the age group races, there were wins for Millie Jackson (Ch1), Emma Peters (Ch2), Bullock (Jn1), Gould (Jn2), Goddard (Sen)and Vivien Hanson in the Masters in the girls race. In the Men’s race, there were wins for Declan Huppach (Ch1); Jordan Fellows (Ch2 – 7th overall), Yates (Jn1), Davies (Jn2), Hatcher (Sen) and Rob Hales in the Masters (a very creditable 8th overall).
The series now goes indoor at Milton Keynes next week.
The pictures from the race are available from Racer Ready click here
