Our Secretary, Peter Thorn as been beavering away during his last stint offshore. He’s produced the latest newsletter (available March Newsletter (PDF)) and also produced the 2009 GB Rollerski Series Calendar. So keep the weekends of 30/31 May and 12th September free to race at Huntly.
If you want more activity over the summer why not enter Ming’s Challenge Ming Event Details Saturday June 6th 2009.
The races started with time trial sprints over a “flat” 655m & 1135m “Hill” courses. These time were added together to decide the GB Series race.
2 Racers speed by
Remarkably, the first three places were taken by under 18 skiers (Andrew Young (HNSC), Andrew Musgrave (HNSC) and Alistair Duncan (CBNSC)) who just beat former Olympian Mike Dixon (CBNSC) into fourth place. Although a veteran, retired from competitive skiing and not in full training, it was a tremendous achievement for these young skiers to beat Mike and a healthy sign that we have some talented juniors coming up through the ranks. Skiers like Mike are always a target for these young skiers. The first lady home Sarah Young (HNSC) is also under 18. In second place was another Huntly skier Posy Musgrave, who has just moved up into the senior ranks. Fiona Crossley travelled up from Yorkshire to take third place and first female veteran despite a nasty tumble on the hill. Cairngorm brought a large contingent of young skiers who have greatly improved since their last visit to the Huntly races.
After the time trial races there were open knock-out races over the same sprint courses. With three skiers competing head to head some of the reaces were extremely competitive.
The semi-final with Alistair Duncan just holding off the last gasp challenge from Andrew Musgrave got the spectators excited for the final. In the final Mike Dixon took and held a lead of 5m from Andrew Young with Alistair Duncan struggling to keep with the early pace. However, on the final uphill with 250m to go, Duncan in a fantastic overtaking manoeuvre burst through a small gap while Dixon and Young tangled with each other. Duncan built a few metres lead which he held to win a hugely exciting final from the two pre-race favourites. The Novice knock-out final was won by Stuart Hamna (RAF) who has only been rollerskiing for a few weeks from Huntly new comer Megan Heathershaw. The day finished with a series of age group finals.
Thanks to the Huntly Nordic And Outdoor Centre (Aberdeenshire Council) for using their facility for the races.
Al Dargie’s video of 2006 sprints
HNSC Sprints Results 3rd June 2006
HNSC Rollerski Sprint Knock Out Races 3rd June 2006
Andrew Young
Our Short Course Rollerski races were the inaugural event on the new Ski Centre track. We were joined by members of the GB Biathlon Development Squad.
Time trials were run over 601m & 409m courses along with head-to-head races over the 601m course. The races were very competitive & our juniors made the GB biathletes work very hard for their medals.
The day was rounded off with what is now becoming a traditional part of our events – the barbecue. Even if you didn’t take part in the races fun was be had helping out, spectating & generally socialising.