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'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams' (Eleanor Roosevelt).

BRITISH SCHOOLGIRLS’ RACES 2005, FLAINE, FRANCE

By Sarah Robinson 

It seemed only like yesterday that last year’s event was over when we found ourselves back in Flaine for the 2005 races. The previous week had been gloriously sunny but blisteringly cold and there was some concern about the welfare of the girls but the temperatures rose and the sun stayed out so it was a happy bunch of girls, parents and teachers who arrived in Flaine on Saturday 29 January.

The first day was spent training, with thirteen coaches arranged by the organising committee and countless more independently. The stade de slalom had never seen such an array of poles, both slalom and GS, but the girls had a great day in the sun and felt it all worthwhile.

Monday dawned to cloudless blue skies yet again and the giant slalom ran very smoothly, though the officials and gatekeepers in the shade had a lot to do to keep warm. Louise Thomas (Sandown Park) got out of her sick bed to win the race and was followed down by Franki Simonds (LEH) and Abigail McMahon, who is based in France and skied for a BARSC team. The latter two are still in the children category so it was a very good result for both of them. The second junior was Melissa Piper (Strathallan) who actually ground to halt in front of yours truly having hit a gate very hard, but she pulled herself together to get down in sixth position. No mean achievement when she must have lost about seven seconds. She had the fastest time on the second run, over a second and a half ahead of everyone else. Hannah Garwood, based in Bourg St Maurice and skiing in the BARSC team, finished well in eighth position to be the best in the youngest, Children 1, category.

Once the GS was finished, and stomachs replenished, the bottom of the course was reset for the parallel, always the most popular of events.  Sandown Park were unlucky to have a faller in the second round thus enabling the Wycombe Abbey A team to proceed through to the semi-finals, a terrific outcome for them. They were beaten by the eventual winners, the British Ski Academy A team, who faced the French based girls representing BARSC in the final. The local French girls from the College Jacques Brel, all aged 11 and 12, did very well to get to the other semi-final.

For once the weather forecast was right and we awoke on Tuesday morning to find snow falling. A good deal had arrived overnight and there was a lot of slipping required on the slalom piste before the race could start. Sadly it meant lots of ruts, particularly for the later starters, but only six girls failed to negotiate the first run. Melissa Piper showed her class, carrying over a four second lead from the first run, and duly won the race but Louise Thomas had the fastest time on the second run to finish in second place. Her visit to the sick bed had obviously done her no harm! Franki Simonds had another exceptionally good run to finish third and first in the Children 2 category once again. Hannah Garwood came in 14^th (from a start number of 102) to win the Children 1 category.

Sandown Park (Louise was ably supported by Helena Bray and Alex Emerton) won the team event in both the GS and slalom, with LEH the best British school on both occasions. The young girls in the BARSC team (Abigail, Hannah & Louisa Russell-Henry) were second in the GS.

Whilst this is a very competitive race for the serious racers, the non-registered racers who make up about two thirds of the field take it equally seriously. As often happens, the prize for the best British-based team with no registered racers was one of the most competitive with the Wycombe Abbey A team coming in ahead of St Mary’s Calne A and Heathfield A. Their second team also won the B team trophy. A delighted Wycombe Abbey all round! Tamsin Hartley (Bryanston) was the overall winner in the Children category having won the GS and come second in the slalom. The junior winner was Celine Higton (Wycombe Abbey A) first in the slalom and fourth in the GS. The GS winner, Kate Tilney (also Wycombe Abbey A) sadly fell at the last gate of the slalom when going well.

Louise Thomas was the overall winner, leading Sandown Park to the trophy for best team overall, Hannah Garwood was first in the youngest category with her BARSC team second and Franki Simonds was best in Children 2, bringing LEH in as third best team and best British school overall.

After a good couple of days racing, the girls went home exhausted but exhilarated, already looking forward to Flaine 2006. The races were organised by The Ladies’ Ski Club and sponsored by World Challenge Expeditions (who also donated prizes), DHO, Kandahar and Ski Club of Great Britain. Atomic, Fat Face, Salomon and Snow+Rock all generously donated much appreciated prizes.

Pictures Courtesy of Photo Zoom Flaine

Top to bottom: Melissa Piper, Hannah Garwood, Franki Simonds & Louise Thomas