Billy Major overcame a strong French challenge to win the opening race of the 2017 English Alpine Championships in Bormio with a great second run. Trailing French racer Sacha Lekaene by six hundredths after the first run, Major put clear light between him and the rest of the field to win the race with Robert Poth posting the second fastest time on the second run to hold on to third place overall.Fraser Middleton and Sam Todd Saunders made it four British racers in the top ten finishers with positive sub sixty FIS results.
Speaking after the race, Poth explained that although he was a little disappointed with finishing third as he had come into the race as the second seed, he would take the result. Poth, who narrowly missed out of selection for the World Championships, will push Major and the older racers in the next race for the FIS racers, another Slalom but with the older racers entered as well.
Having just returned from racing in the military races, Duncan Kuwall placed 18, two places in front of Ben Bruno and Kieran Troup, the leading 2000 year of birth.
In the girls race it was Jessica Anderson whop took the top honours amongst the British racers as she finished in fifth place. Dutch racers filled three of the first four places with Boxie Borchart winning the race ahead of Floor van Ameijde. Italy’s Celina Haller placed third after having held the lead after the first run.
It was great to see Darcie Mead back in the thick of the action after having spent too long away from racing due to injury, like wise for Honor Clissold. Both racers will be battling their way back into the top end of races and these races are a stepping stone to making it back to the level they can compete at. Mead was skiing fast before she straddled going through a verticale.
Anderson took the honours amongst the British racers ahead of Yasmin Cooper with Megan Riley the best of the rest.
While the FIS racers were battling it out on the Stelvio slope, up on the Bormio 2000 slopes, the younger racers, the future of British racing, were taking part in a two run, 40 gate Giant Slalom. Erin Ward posted a blistering first run to win the Under 12 girls race that was decided by the fastest of two runs. Honor Bartlett and Maisie Blythtook second and third with Lauren Bloom and Molly Butler in fourth and fifth. Tabitha Milkins was the fastest of the Under 10 girls.
In the boys race it was Kieran Woolley that took top honours ahead of Luca Carrick Smith with Kayne Stanway in third ahead of the fastest Under 10 racer, Zak Carrick Smith and Ruaridh Blyth. With the Under 12 and Under 10 racers normally contesting a three run shorter GS, this was a brave and popular decision. The slope being used was long enough for the racers to tackle the longer slope and the decision to go for this set up was good.
FIS Men NJR Slalom
FIS Women NJR Slalom
Mini's races Result U10U12 GS M / Result U10U12 GS F
Action shots from the races will soon be on www.racerready.zenfolio.com