The British Land National Ski Championships,
Meribel, France
While it was Chemmy Alcott and Noel Baxter who won today's
final event of this year's British Land National Championships
Slalom and both could do no more in their quest for the overall
British Championship title, they could not catch Katrina Head
who won the Women's combined title for the first time and
in so doing lifted the Sir John Ritblat Trophy for the Victrix
Ludorum.
Baxter and Alcott showed the same superiority in Slalom as
they did in Thursday's Giant Slalom. Once again several of
the other top seeds fell from contention. Alain Baxter skidded
out on the flat before the final steep. Jan Michael Kochalski
lost control on the last few gates and did not finish, and
Andy Noble also did not manage to complete the first run.
Building a margin of 2.35 seconds over the two runs Noel's
nearest rival was the British Development Squad's David Ryding
(19, Preston) who scored his career best slalom result. Skiing
the second quickest second run he narrowly overhauled Douglas
Crawford (18, Bearsden/The British Land Alpine Team) who lay
second after the first run.
"I skied two good runs, especially the second one, but
I really felt relaxed and did not want to have to push too
hard. It is a matter of the risks you have to take and felt
that I could ski within my limits and win. I do feel that
the pressure is on the other guys here. Maybe now I've reached
the stage where, here, it's the old head on the young shoulders.
I've had my fair share of disasters but certainly here I feel
like the pressure is off." Said Noel, who also won the
British Men's Combined title
which he last won two years ago. "I am the one who pushes
myself hardest and I do come here to win. I just try to win
each race as it comes and don't think about the overall. But,
now it's good to have won it again."
" I am pretty pleased with that result." Said David
Ryding who finished runner up, somewhat better than last year
on the same slope in the same race when his ski popped off
at the third gate, dashing his slalom hopes. "It is really
good for me. I did not expect to do so well but when Alain
came out I knew there might be a chance.
Ryding, who is on his first year with the British Development
Team has already scored two top 10 results at FIS races this
season.
Taking second place behind Chemmy today in Slalom Katrina
Head gave herself enough of a margin from the three events
she skied - taking second in the downhill and third in the
giant slalom - to win the event's top award.
"To be honest it's a bit of a surprise to me because
I have had an up and down season. I am happy. I did not really
give winning here much of a thought because I have not really
been skiing that well. I skied best today which is ironic
because it is my worst discipline." Admitted Head who
has missed alternate years through injury since she was 15
and including three
knee injuries and a back injury. "I kind of feel like
this might be a bit of a reward for coming back all the time."
British Land National Ski Championships, Meribel.
Results, Slalom,
Men:
1 N Baxter (Aviemore/The British Land Alpine Ski Team) 38.91,
36.73 1:15.64,
2 D Ryding (Preston/The British Development Team) 40.43, 37.64
1:18.04,
3 D Crawford (Glasgow/The British Land Alpine Ski Team) 40.40,
37.64 1:18.04,
4 J Bennett (Bexley/The British Development Team) 41.88, 37.39
1:19.27,
5 K Morton (Perthshire/The British Development Team) 42.45,
38.52 1:20.97.
Women:
1 C Alcott (Hove/The British Land Alpine Ski Team) 41.81,
38.49 1:20.30,
2 K Head (Oxford/The British Development Team) 44.30, 41.48
1:25.78,
3 J Mashiter (Kendal/The English Alpine Team) 46.11, 42.21
1:28.32,
5 C Findlay (Camberley/The English Alpine Team) 46.13, 42.83
1:28.96.
Combined Prizes: Victrix Ludorum for the
overall championship: Katrina Head.
British Non-Team Champion, British Under 18 Champion: E Norton
(Carrbridge/The Scottish Alpine Ski Team).
Men: British Men's Combined Champion: N Baxter.
British Non Team: D Berry (London/The British
Development Team),
British Under 18 Champion: C Campbell (Italy).
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