Chemmy Alcott came to Meribel with the end of her illustrious ski caring career approaching and wanting to bow out on a high. ... With her second title of the week, Alcott has completed her mission and shown the next generation of British female racers just have far they have to go to reach the same standards that she has set. Alcott has won 30 National Championship races in her career and while she finished in fifth place overall in this race, the third last speed race of her career, you could see what it meant to her. Cara Brown took second place and Darcie Mead placed third in the race for the British places. The International race was won by Margot Bailet with Jennifer Piot in second and Romane Miradoli in third.
Chemmy Alcott said: “After winning my last ever Super G on Sunday I put a lot of pressure on myself to win my last Senior Downhill on such a challenging hill; the Super G was so much fun, I wanted to win again. It was a great course, we had great conditions and everyone skied really well. There are a few promising girls coming up so I think it's really important to nurture those talents to go the whole way, it's great to be here to offer advice and technical help to my peers.”
After putting the pressure on herself to win, the National Junior Title race will be a race that she will "have fun and ski," explained Alcott. Commenting on the state of the Meribel Stade and the course as a whole, Alcott was full of praise for the course crew. After inspecting yesterday, Alcott did not feel that they would be able to have the course in such good condition. All the athletes commented on the impressive state of the course and Alcott felt (with a glint in her eye!) that maybe the French had worked just that little bit harder for the British than the French.
Cara Brown added another podium to her week with second in the Senior Downhill and had a glowing comment from Alcott whop felt that maybe the Junior Downhill will be her day. Brown, who crashed in the finish, started last of all the runners yet pushed her way up to 18th overall. The honour of starting last meant that she had to wait for two racers to have their reruns (due to other racers crashing) and Brown admitted that while this did not worry her she was concerned about the snow getting warmer and thus slower. In the end, Brown, who has been training in Meribel this season put in a run she can be proud of.
Darcie Mead took third in the British race and was not overally concerned about not retaining the Downhill Title that she won last year. "I have been trying to ski smarter this year," she explained after the race. Honor Clissold, another of the rising talents emerging from the Junior ranks took fourth amongst the British racers
Picture: The Ladies Podium from the Delancey British Alpine Downhill: Chemmy Alcott (middle - Champion); Cara Brown (right - second) and Darcie Mead (left - third). Credit RACER READY
Action Shots available on www.racer-ready.ifp3.com
Full results:Â NC DH Ladies results
you have read the report now watch the video
Day three at the Delancey British Alpine Ski Championships from Racer Ready Ski-Magazine on Vimeo.
Crawford and Alcott make it two from two at the Delancey British Alpine Ski Championships.