L a t e s t  n e w s ..... Louise Bain and Callum Henderson win both rounds of Twin Peaks races at Fir Park & Hillend ...

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

With the completion of the Schools races, Racer Ready looks at three Schools and how they made their way to the finals.  First up are Rochester Grammer:

The whole journey really started out at Bromley on the 23rd September, at the ESSkiA Regional Qualifying Race. We had some tough competition there in the form of Hayes School and Surbiton High, but in the end, we came first in the Under 19 girls’ category, and first girls team overall. After the qualifier, we were all ready and looking forward to the finals at Stoke.

We took part in both Saturday and Sunday of the race, coming first under 19 in the girls' competition on Saturday and first team overall that day. In the open competition on Sunday, we were racing for a chance to go to the British Championships in Rossendale, so the pressure was really on. It may have got to us slightly on the second run, but we pulled through as a team and went on to win a chance to go to the British finals in November, coming first in the girls’ category.

On the 17^th, we left school just before lunch so that we could arrive at the slope early to fit in some time for practise the evening before the race. The journey to Rossendale wasn't the shortest of trips, but the seven hours car journey was worth it. When we arrived, the majority of us had a few runs on the slope for around an hour or so. Once finished, it was back to the hotel, time to eat, and then to bed. In the morning we all looked pretty tired, and a bit nervous, but still hyped up. After a few runs on the slope some of us were a little unsure of ourselves, especially as the matting was not as great as we would have liked! The fact that it was raining heavily and the cold weather wasn’t something we were used to was not helping our confidence either, so it was quite tense before our runs. The pressure got to us again, but we had really progressed as a team throughout the races, and we went on to win first place and become British Champions.  (Raeesa Qureshi)

From Wales came Cowbridge. Ian Williams takes up the story for them:

JOURNEY TO ROSSENDALE

Cowbridge Comprehensive School was formed when Cowbridge Grammar School for Boys and Cowbridge High School for Girls were merged. The former boy’s school having close historic links with Jesus College, Oxford. Now in the Comprehensive system, Cowbridge strives for academic and sporting success.

The success of the ski teams is largely due to the enthusiastic and dedicated sports department. The support of our parents who fund and ferry us all to races also plays a part!  All members of the ski team are dedicated racers who train regularly at Cardiff and Swansea ski slopes as well as at Pontypool on Saturdays in the CODE Programme.

The Welsh Schools Championships were again held at the LLangranogg Slope, high on the cliffs overlooking the beautiful west coast of Wales.  For the Boys, this year the title would be strongly contested between Cowbridge, Whitchurch (Cardiff) and Ochlfa (Swansea).  Whitchurch being the favourites it meant Cowbridge “A” would be hard pushed to reclaim the title, which they lost to Whitchurch when senior members had progressed to work or Universities. However, due to some great skiing and a bit of “fortune on the day” when Whitchurch’s 3^rd  racer came out of the course leading to their disqualification Cowbridge Boys Team won the Welsh title. Ochlfa were second and Cowbridge “B” achieved third place.

In the Girls race Cowbridge “A” (under the captaincy of Alice Hales) were placed second to St David’s College but with the Girls “B” team achieving fourth, a full minibus would be travelling north to “The British”.

The British Schools Artificial Slope Championships were held at Rossendale slope – North of Manchester. A long journey for Cowbridge teams and their family supporters. The teams had high hopes. Unfortunately, Tom Edwards fell during the training session on the Friday Night breaking his left thumb and tearing the ligaments in his right thumb. His younger brother, Alex, filled his position in the “A” team but this left the “B” team one man short.

After the first run the “A” team were in First Place but by only a very small margin. Captain Tom Hales had been disqualified on gate 15.  Ian Williams  was in 3^rd place overall.

The second run was a nerve racking time for the whole team. After Alex Edwards fell on his run the pressure was on for the rest of the team to stay in the course but still improve on their first run time. Scott Sanger and Ian Williams both came down in quicker times leaving the team Captain, Tom Hales to bring the team home, which he did with maturity and style.  Cowbridge had won. Ian Williams achieving 3^rd overall and 2^nd in his age in the individual categories.

The Girls teams skied well but were disappointed with their end results. Alice Hales (captain) achieved  personal success with a 5^th  overall and 2^nd  in her age category.  

After prize giving we boarded the mini bus for the long journey home knowing the school would be delighted with our trophy.