L a t e s t  n e w s ..... Kelly Sage comes out of retirement to win British Indoor ahead of Alessia Thomas Jackson, Joe Ogden pushes James Foster into second in the men ... Ogden also wins final round of Salomon Xscape Indoor Series, Emily Whitelock wins girls race

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

Hall and Barber reap benefits of others misfortune

The Suffolk Vikings Club National saw a relatively small field take part but the undulating slope provided some great racing. Despite winning the first run comfortably and choosing to sit out the second run, Marc Telling made a uncharacteristic "error" approaching the finish that cost him victory and allowed Benn Hall to snatch the win.  The anticipated challenge from Wales in the form of David Hatcher failed to materialise as the flying Welshman failed to register a time on either of the first two runs. The hot weather and the lack of a sprinkling system mean that it was not only the racing that was hot! 

The Suffolk races have become famous in the past for the "Cake Stall" and this year it proved as popular as ever.  Despite Marc Telling and Benn Hall providing the excitement in the men's race, there were strong performances from Gerard Flahive who took a deserved third place with the second quickest time of the day on the third run to edge out Stuart Riches and an out of sorts Paul Telling. Some of the more established "stars" of summer racing may not have been there but the argument over points came to a head with many racers scoring much better seed points - those that raced were the beneficiaries of both David Ryding not being there and Marc Telling's totally uncharacteristic "error"!

In the women's race, Alessia Thomas Jackson was expected to dominate after her recent results yet her decision to start getting used to new skis and boots (the buckles on her old boots had worn out and broken in the Hemel GP) meant that she was still getting used to her new equipment set up. Her lacklustre performance allowed Kathryn Barber in for victory ahead of Emily Goddard and Georgia Hood took third.  Stacey Luck gave the strong Bromley contingent a cause to celebrate as she took fourth ahead of the despondent Thomas Jackson who had slipped from third after the first two runs down to fifth.

In the age groups the racing was just as exciting as in the main race overall: In the girls race, Barber won the Junior 2 age group, Goddard the Seniors, Hood the Junior 1 age group and Thomas Jackson saved some face with the Children 2 age group.  Nia Jenkins took the Children 1 age group finishing just ahead of Bev Anderson in the Overall standings as Anderson won the Masters race.  In the Men's race, Hall, Telling and Flahive won the Junior 2, Senior and Junior 1 age groups respectively while Max Wheatman and Shaun Blyth took the two Children's age groups. Proving that he is not off the scene just yet, John Williams made a rare venture away from Norwich to win the Masters 3 age group with Andy Pirie winning the "younger" Masters age group!

In the Mini's race, the small girls entry was won by Megan Jenkins ahead of Natasha Wright while Jordan Fellows did not have to extend himself too much to win the boys race ahead Frazer Southall and Nathan Breese.

With the number of Grand Prix length slopes diminishing each year, news that Suffolk have applied for the slope to be homologated for Grand Prix racing is welcomed. The slope with its undulations and varying width should prove to be popular with the racers. The Suffolk Club National has been well supported by both the parents and the commercial world and should be a success once it is passed.

ONES TO WATCH:

After their performances in the Club National in Suffolk, Georgia Hood and Shaun Blyth are two racers that keen aficionados of racing in the summer should watch out for.  Hood, trained by her father at Norfolk has scored impressive results in the past, notably at the Club National for the Norfolk Grand Prix in 2006 where she finished third. Hood has also been out demonstrating her skills at the Police Championships in Saalbach Hinterglemm where she foreran the races (comfortably beating her coaches times it has to be said!). It would be great to see how she would fare at some of the other races around the country if both time and money permitted!

Shaun Blyth has taken the Children 1 age group by storm this year.  Another to come out of the Norfolk race Club, Blyth has forced some of the other racers to lift their game as he has set some impressive results down. The Children One age group is one of the fiercest groups and not an inch is spared amongst the racers. In one of the few age groups where school exams are not affecting the attendance, Blyth has stood up and been counted. With just two races left on the Grand Prix season, Blyth must be looking to the Winter and spending some time at the Alpine Coaching Race Academy courtesy of the bursery this year!

Full results (click here)

To view the pictures from this race please click here and ask (please mention the athletes name)