Deas takes second in World Cup in Calgary

Wrexham's Laura Deas produced a superb performance at the second World Cup race of the season, as she stormed to a silver medal in Calgary, Canada, last night - her first World Cup medal of all-time. ...

Deas, 25, who had never raced at Calgary before in her career, was in outstanding form as she completed her two runs in an overall time of 1:55.62 (57.91 & 57.71) to finish in second place behind Elisabeth Vathje (Canada) and ahead of Germany's Tina Hermann - all three sliders are competing on the World Cup circuit for the first time this season.

British Skeleton's only Welsh slider, who made her debut at this level in Lake Placid last week, was dubbed “one of the best pushers in the world” by British Skeleton's Performance Adviser, Andi Schmid earlier this season, and she lived up to that billing here with start times of 5.30 & 5.27 - the latter being the fastest in the whole women's field in Calgary.

Her performance yesterday though, showed that there is more to her sliding than just a fast start as she fought off competition from several experienced World Cup sliders to take a fine silver medal.

Following the race, Deas said: “I am absolutely delighted to get my first World Cup medal, particularly on a track which was new to me. Hopefully I can continue to perform this well after the Christmas break”.

Deas was well supported by her team mates Rose McGrandle, Dominic Parsons & Ed Smith. Lizzy Yarnold, Britain's Olympic Champion, was absent after suffering dizziness at the opening World Cup of the season which she won.

Rose McGrandle, 27, was consistent again as she finished in sixth place, in an overall time of 1:55.98. McGrandle qualified for the World Cup with three podium finishes in three races in the Intercontinental Cup (ICC), and has continued her good form at the highest level with consecutive top-10 finishes.

Returning to the track where she won gold & silver in the ICC double-header in 2012, the Milton Keynes slider shaved 0.19 seconds off her heat one start time in an excellent second run, which elevated her to sixth, mirroring the result she had in Lake Placid.

London's Dominic Parsons, who competed at this year's Olympic Winter Games, raced well to finish in seventh place, but was unable to reproduce the form which saw him win a bronze medal, his first at World Cup level, in Calgary last year.

Pushing consistently (4.99 & 4.93), Parsons was strong in his first run of 56.28 which put him in third place. The 27-year old couldn't quite find the speed though to join The Dukurs brothers, of Latvia, on the podium as the pair took gold and silver in the men's event - as was the case in Lake Placid last week.

Ed Smith, of Bristol, was just outside the top-10 in his first heat but was unable to better his time of 56.81 second time round, as he finished in 18th place overall.

World Cup competition will resume on the 9th of January in Altenberg, Germany. There are three World Cups in January.

RESULTS - WORLD CUP 2, CALGARY, CANADA

RACE 2

WOMEN

 

RACE 2

MEN

 

For full results, visit: http://www.fibt.com/

Picture: Laura Deas on the second run. Credit Alain Dupere All Rights reserved