Daniel Poth showed that it is not just his younger brother, Robert, that can ski fast in winning round 3 of the British Indoor Grand Prix Series at Castleford Snozone. Poth was the class act of the field and after using the clean track on the first run to open up a decisive gap over the rest of the field, was able to overcome a small mistake half way down to hold on for the win. Robert Trebilcock put a disappointing first run behind him that saw him place sixth to post the fastest second run time and take second place overall. Olly Farr dropped from second after the first run to third overall. ...Â
With many of the top racers away on camps around Europe and as far away as New Zealand, late July and August are generally quiet months on the racing scene. However, not all athletes can afford to head off to glaciers in Europe and down to the southern hemisphere so it was great to see some of the rising talents competing in what is seen as the premier Indoor racing series in the summer as it attracts racers from across the country. The BIGP Series, sponsored by Salomon, C-Tec and Snozone has been won in the past by the likes of top British Slalom racers David Ryding and Jai Geyer.
Josh Keane and Graham Dickson rounded out the top five overall ahead of two rising talents to watch out for: Lloyd Chapman and Finlay Davis. Both racers have been putting in the training, both dryland and on the skis and the results are starting to show. Both are in the Under 16 age group and as they get stronger and more experienced will start to challenge for the overall race wins in the not to distant future.
The men's race had a slight international flavour to it as Stefan Gritsch came over to race from SC Telfs in Austria yet came out at the top of the second run course, coincidently the course had been set by his friend Toby Fischel!
In the men's race there were age group wins for Scott Wylie (U14); Lloyd Chapman (U16); Joshua Genther (U18 - 9th overall); Daniel Poth (U21); Robert Trebilcock (SEN) and Alex Molliex in the Masters.
In the Women's race. Amanda Alldridge posted the fastest women's time on both runs to take the win ahead of Emma Peters with Kirsten Walton taking third place. Alldridge had been battling it out with the fastest boys after the first run and while she was happy to have won the Women's race, she was slightly annoyed with herself for dropping down the results when her time was compared against the boys times! These girls can get competitive!
Millie Jackson and Shannon Potter rounded out the top five. Potter, who is a very accomplished snowboarder as well, overhauled the lead that Charlotte Tapsell held over her after the first run but was aided by a little freestyling halfway down the course by Tapsell. Tapsell will not race in round 4 as she looks to maintain her lead in the Eastern Region series as well. Tapsell did well to use her head and stay in the course and carry enough speed across the flat and down to the finish.
In the Women's race there were age group wins for Shannon Potter (U14); Kirsten Walton (U16); Emma Peters (U18); Keri Anderson (U21); Amanda Alldridge (SEN) and Judy Reid in Masters.
The minis races were won by Matilda O'Brien and Martha Surman with Harry Cosham recovering from crashing out on the first run to win Overall in the boys from Kayne Stanway who took the younger age group as well.
Race3MenResults
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Action pictures are available at www.racer-ready.ifp3.com under the recent events dropdown