This week was the Huntly Nordic Ski Club Open Championships and finally the weather gods were smiling on us. There was sun, there was snow (not too much), somebody had cleared the car park and Rick and Pete had done the pisteing . I hitched a lift with Ian Cooper and his son James up to the Clash from the Centre – Thanks Ian.

This week I was detailed to the begginers’ group  which gave me the chance to learn some new faces.  There was quite a wide range of ability in the group which must make teaching tricky. Even the three children in this group got entered in the Open Championships with a race up Range Way, down Classic Start and back to the hut. That’s quite a tough route for a small child but they all made it without any mishaps. I was the back marker and spent  my time encouraging the children and keeping one eye over my shoulder to make sure none of the faster racers crashed into our charges. Before the race started we had a bit of time to fill in the biathlon range area and I was impressed to see even the smallest children in the JDS keen to ski down the two ramps put in by Forest Enterprise a few years ago.

After a lunch break Ian Cooper (this week’s instructor) decided to take full advantage of the conditions and go for a short tour. We were accompanied by a brave dad eager to see how his daugher was getting on. On such a perfect day it was a real pleasure just to be out in the forest.

Over in the races Katy Homyer from Higland Nordic picked up the Women’s title and William Newman increased his medal haul as the fastest man. Ann Smith from Mar Orienteering Club picked up 1st Senior Woman and Claudia Zeiske was the fastest (and only) Veteran Woman following her ski marathon in Austria last week.  Steve Perry from the RAF picked up 1st Veteran man.

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