BDST Season 20010/11

2011 IPCAS Paralympic Winter World Cup - Sollefteas, Sweden (16 - 21 Feb 2011)

A near clean sweep for the Brits in two slalom races held on Friday...

Today's slaom races saw GB net a total of six (yes 6) medals. This Swedish invitation has been a key training competition for a large number of Russian athletes as progress towards Sochi 2014 begins to take shape. GB has also gained valuable experience and all the athletes have come away with a medal or two. Given the limited starters in some of the categories no race points have been awarded but this all helps the athletes with much needed experience for their later programmes.

Medal in slalom included:

Jade Etherington and Guide Fiona Gingell achieve double silvers in Giant Slalom...

Whilst members of both the Euro and World Cup squads have been out Stateside flying the flag very successfully for Britain, closer to home the hard work being put in by our development squad athletes has already started to bear fruit with VI athlete Jade Etherington and her guide Fiona Gingell bringing home their first silver medal in the first day of the PWWC races in Sweden followed by a a further silver in the second day of GS competition. This is great news and follows in the footsteps of Kelly Gallagher whose succesfull rise to fame was highlighted recently by achieving GB & NI's first ever world championship medals in Italy earlier this year.

This pair are another example of the tremendous support being provided by one of our principal sponsors Get Kids Going! who have already done a great deal to help the team, most recently at the World Championships, in Sestriere.

Martin Hewitt rewarded with Bronze in second GS race...

In other categories, Martin Hewitt achieved 5th in the men's standing (GS1) and Bronze in GS2 , whilst Ian Bishop came over the line in 6th in both the men's GS sit competition. Peter Dunning unfortunately had a DSQ at Gate 12 on his first run so was unable to complete a score. Slalom on Friday and Saturday. Further results to be posted shortly.

2011 IPC Alpine Skiing NorAm - Kimberley, BC, Canada (10 - 13 Feb 2011)

Three Golds and Two Silvers for the Brits in Canada...

The Telus Coupe Noram Cup invitation saw the GB athletes scoring a hattrick of Gold medals and two Silvers in this selection of speed events in Kimberley.

It was Britain's No 1 and consistent performer Sean Rose in both the Downhill and Super G who powered away with a first place in each of these events in the men's sit category.

Jane Sowerby who had suffered a big crash in the Downhill was left to channel her expertise towards the Women's sit category of the Super G and produced the goods, matching Rose with a well deserved Gold. Team mate Anna Turney, also without success in the Downhill turned it around in the second of the Super G competitions to bring home silver.

Other members of the team also put up good performances with Talan Skeels-Piggins adding two top eights (5th and 7th) to his record in the Super G and Ben Hooper also managing 15th and 12th respectively in the same races and a 14th in the second men's Downhill.

2011 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships - Sestriere, Italy (13 -23 Jan 2011)

Taking place in Sestriere, Italy from 15-23 January 2011, over 130 athletes from 27 countries are expected to compete at the venue which was used during the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games. The World Championships will be the biggest gathering of Paralympic Winter Sport since the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

The 2011 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Sestriere, Italy will include Downhill, Giant Slalom, Slalom, Super-G, Super Combined and Team events. Full detailed results avaialbale vie the IPC Alpine Skiing website (CLICK HERE)

The GB squad has been gratefully supported by Get Kids Going! a national charity which gives disabled children and young people - up to the age of 25 yrs - the wonderful opportunity of particpating in sport.

For more details, please visit www.GetKidsGoing.com and watch out for their logo on the team new season kit as a principal sponsor of the team.

Final Results - Congratulations for a fantastic British performance.

Second World Championship Medal for GB - Bronze for Gallagher and Evans

The pairing of Gallagher and Evans produced further success for the British team in Sestriere for Saturday's Giant Slalom race. Taking forward the confidence gained in the slalom race on Thursday VI Gallagher and guide Evans were determined to see their medal haul increase and provide TeamGB with a strong memento of their most successful ever World Championship competition. Seeing the UK flag being raised for the second time at these world championships was a magnificent moment for the return of British Disabled Alpine.

It was a day for the British women athletes with Anna Turney in the sit category producing two solid runs to finish her World Championship on a high with a 4th place.

In the men's sit category the Brtish squad could not mirror the pace of the leading racers from Japan who took first and second - Taiki Morii taking the gold and team mate Takeshi Suzuki the Silver. Swiss athelete Chris Kunz taking the bronze. Sean Rose was the best placed Brit in 18th 11.18 seconds off the leader with fellow team mates Mick Brennan and Pete Dunning in 23rd and 27th respectively. Martin Hewitt in the standing category also finished 23rd.

Sunday provides the opportunity for a combined team event where athletes in each of the categories (VI,Sit and stand) combine their scores in a GS competition to go towards a country placing. Unfortunately, minor injury has meant GB has withdrawn from the event.

World Championship Silver for Kelly Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans in Slalom

In a first for the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team VI athlete Kelly Gallagher and her guide Charlotte Evans pushed the BDST competition envelope that little bit higher with the countries first World Championship medal in Paralympic Alpine. A solid performance over both runs meant the pairs combined score kept them on for a podium to finish in silver position. An emotional time at the medal ceremony and a very proud support team.

Slovakia's Henrieta Farkasova took the gold and Alexandra Frantseva the Bronze.

Sean Rose competeing in the men's sit category also produced a great performance. Sitting in 10th after his first run he pulled out the stops for an excellently judged final run to pull himself up the ranking finishing in 6th place. Newcomers Mick Brennan and Pete Dunning can be proud of their achievement in both completeing the race to finish 19th and 20th respectively. In the men's standing and also a new experience Martin Hewitt also completed both runs of the demanding course in the stand up category to finish 22nd.

Unfortunately in the women's sit category Anna Turney did not make it through her first run and recorded a DNF.

A briliant day for British disabled alpine.

Rose adds further top 10 in the Super Combined

In Wednesday Super Combined competition which included a Super G (speed) event in the morning and a seperate Slalom (technical) event in the afternoon Rose powered to a further Top 10 position in these World Championships finishing 9th overall in the sit category.

Following a smooth and impressive performance in the Super G, Rose had positioned himself well sitting in 6th place. He was unable to capitalise on this in the strong slalom field with a performance, whilst good, not quite at the level he would have wished and is capable of, finishing that discipline in 10th. Once results were combined he was awarded overall 9th in a time of 2:15.05 and only 5 seconds off a podium place.

Cyril More and Yohan Taberlet brought home to FRance the silver and bronze medals respectively in the Men's sitting event. Japan's Takeshi Suzuki taking the gold with a combined time of 2:07.79.

Limited success for GB in the Super G

Both Rose and Skeels-Piggins competed in Tuesday's Super G but a fall from Rose and with Skeels-Piggins off the pace in 20th

medals were not on the cards. However, each race provides something to build upon for next time.

Talan commented after the race:

"I'm quite happy with how it went. I know that I can build on it and it's given me good confidence for the next races. For me it was all about confidence-building, getting a run under my belt and then I can move onto the next races" This comes after he crashed out in a Downhill trainig run earlier in the week.

American Christopher Devlin-Young took first with a time of 1:17.67. Japan`s Taiki Morii and France`s Cyril More claimed silver and bronze, both less than two seconds behind Devlin-Young. Competition will continue on Wednesday with the Super Combined which includes the speed of Super - G and the technical of Slalom and will see Rose entered for GB.

Rose claims 6th in the World Championship Downhill

In nice sunny conditions, Rose was unable to replicate his Gold medal winning form of last years Wolrd Cup competition and finished in 6th place in Sunday's Downhill competition. It was a one and two for Japans ever strengthening team in paralympic alpine, with Akira Kano coming over the line first to take gold in a time of 1:20.94 and fellow team mate Taiki Morii in silver in a time of 1:21.39. Bronze was taken by dutch athlete Kees-Jan van der Klooster.

Disappointing for Rose in that again his initial split time was the best of the day almost a second ahead of closest rival but with a slower speed on the lower part of the course he was unable to maintain momentum to achieve the required quick finish. Not to be detered, he will be gunning for a medal in the Super-G and Super Combined races which follow later in the week and this top 8 position for GB can be seen as a continued positive performance in an increasingly competitive international field.

Team prepares for the seasons most important races in Sestriere

Following a short Christmas and New Years break, the team are already ensconced in the 2006 Paralympic venue of Sestriere where a full programme of both speed and technical events will be taking place between 16th and 22nd January, preceded by speed training on the Downhill course on Friday 14th. Over 130 athletes from 27 countries are expected to compete at the venue with the World Championships being the biggest gathering of Paralympic Winter Sport since the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Rose, given his high current world ranking in the Downhill category received a good start position for the first training run and did not disappoint coming over the finish line in 6th place - his inititial first split time being the fastest of the day - He finished in a time of 1:26.68 just 2 seconds off the pace of leader Taiki Morii.

Second training run on Saturday was not so fortuitous for Rose who received a DSQ after gate 7 but remains in high spirit for the actual event on Sunday. The course complexities were also noted by German skier Thomas Nolte, one of the many skiers who went down the steep slope, aiming at perfecting his movements before the race begins.

"The course was really good to practice on today. There are corners like between gates seven and eight where you really have to work hard at the turns, which will be great for racing," Nolte said.

Britain's other male sit skier in these speed events is Talan Skeels-Piggins who unfortunately was unable to finish the course in this first run of training and will not take further part in practice or this particular race. None of the BDST women athjletes are currently qualified for this speed event.

IPCAS European Cup - Kuethai, Austria (16 - 19 Dec 2010) 

Great Results from the GB sqaud in Kuethai with 4 podiums

Day3&4 - Gallagher on a role with her third medal and second silver of the competition

Kelly Gallagher continued her successful run of competition in the second of the Giant Slalom VI races on Saturday pulling off a duplicate performance to the previous day coming over the finish with her guide Charlotte Evans just behind the winner Hnerieta Farkosva and her guide Natalia Subrtova from Slovakia who she had pushed into bronze position the days before. Third place had gone to the Russian Alexandra Frantseva. This was Gallagher and Evans third medal of the Kuethai competitons and a magnificent achievement.

Elsewhere in the ladies sit category Both TUrney and Sowerby did well coming in 4th and 5th respectively the race being won by Austria's Claudia Loesch and followed in 2nd and third by the two German girls Anna Schaffelhuber and Anna-Lena Forster.

For the men it was not such a successful day with only Mick Brennan completing the two runs of the men's GS sit category to finish 23rd. Rose failed to finish his first run and Skeels-Piggins DNF in his second. This left only Skeels-Piggins attempting the final days Super Combined competition of both a SG and SL race. A good run in the SG left Talan in 10th place going into the SL but not feeling 100% he decided to withdraw and did not start.

Day2 - Gallagher and Turney both deliver the medals in the Giant Slalom

Anna Turney whose mistake yesterday had probably cost her a top position was rewarded with a confident two runs in the womens sit category to bring herself home in bronze medal position. Gold went to Anna Schaffelhuber from Germany and silver was picked up by Claudia Loesch of Austria. Jane Sowerby recovering from her previous days problems achieved two successfull runs to finish in 6th place in the same category.

For the boys, it was not quite the same success but still promising performances from Rose who still managed a top ten finishing in 7th in the men's sit caegory. The race was won by Switzerland's Christoph Kunz followed closely by two Japanese racers Takeshi Suzuki in second and the second bronze of the races for Taiki Morii. Mick Brennan proved he could get down the difficult course finishing in 18th place. Unfortunately, for Skeel-Piggins problems on his second run ment he was out of contetion and recorded a DNF.

Weather was somewhat cloudy and the temperature had warmed slightly to a barmy -10⁰C on this course with a start altitude of some 2200M.

Day1 - Rose just misses out on medal in the slalom in Kuhtai but VI Kelly Gallagher secures Bronze

 In the first technical race of the second European Cup in Kuhtai, Rose showed his early season form just missing the medals with a

 4th place in the slalom. Only 300th of a second off Bronze he was pushed out of medal contention by Japan's Taiki Morii who came third. The men's sit category was won by Philipp Bonadimann from the home country of Austria with silver medal going to Yohann Taberlet of France.

Kelly Gallagher, from Northern Ireland, in the women's visually impaired section and her new guide Charlotte Evans pushed ahead in her section to add a bronze to her impressive short career to date. The race was won by Henrieta Farkosva from Slovakia with second going to Alexandra Frantseva from Russia. Like Rose, Gallagher was only 300th of second off the person ahead of her after the two runs.

Unfortunately, Skeels-Piggins was unable to repeat the success of his result in Pitztal. Jane Sowerby in the ladies competition was unwell and did not start. Anna Turney suceeded to get down with a strong medal contenting first run but recorded a DNF on the second having fallen caught a rigger near the begiining of the course causing her to fall.

Mick Brennan another member of the BDST who has come through the ranks of the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team, was also in the top 10 after the first run was unfortunately disqualified at Gate 3.

Weather forcast has remained good with clear sky but cold temperatures on the mounation at -16^oC and compact snow.

With a series of GS and Super Combined races still to come prospects for GB look promising.

 IPCAS European Cup - Pitztal, Austria (10 - 12 Dec 2010)

Skeels-Piggins delivers first gold for GB in the European Cup Super G race in Pitztal

Following cancellations in both the GS and SL due to snow conditions (too much) suprise winner of the only held race of these competitions fell to Brit, Talan Skeels-Piggins. In soft conditions and temperatures down at -19^oC across the course the blistering pace of Skeel-Piggins fought off the competition of second place Frederic Francois (FRA) and Oldrich Jelinek (CZE) in third. GB's most successful adaptive skier Sean Rose was very close behind coming over the line in 4th. For detailed results CLICK HERE

In the ladies event, Jane Sowerby was unable to finish and recorded a DNF, whilst independent GB racer Russell Docker finished the course in 18th.

An excellent start to the European Cup races following on from fine performances by Messrs Dunning and Hewitt in the IPCAS Level races earlier this month.

IPCAS Level Race -  Sestriere, Italy (9 - 10 Dec 2010)

Dunning and Hewitt showing great form in the early IPCAS Level Races

Peter Dunning achieved a convincing 1st in the Men's Giant Slalom (Sitting) and Martin Hewitt a close 2nd to Italy's Livioi Besano in the Men's GS (Standing) on the first day of races in the Paralympic ski resort of Sestriere.

Dunning was more than 23 seconds ahead of his closest rival after the two runs to give GB their first gold of the season. Likewise Hewitt had a closer race and was only 1.7 seconds behind the winner in his category to bring back a silver.

The second day of technical Slalom races saw these two athletes (who also compete as part of the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team) duplicate their first days efforts. Dunning succeeded in delivering his second gold in the mens slalom whilst Hewitt had a copycat performance of the previous day with Silver in the mens slalom standing.

Congratulations to both for  these excellent results at the start of their European Cup Team career with the BDST.

Full results avaialable via the IPCAS website (CLICK HERE)

IPCAS Level Race - Landgraaf, Holland (25 - 26 Nov 2010)

Good showing from the new team members at the opening Dutch event

The season is truly underway with the opportunity of the newcomers to the BDST squads to cut their teeth on a selection of IPCAS Level Races. This allows those athletes early in their careers to compete in an IPCAS sanctioned race with associated competition points going towards their European Cup race qualifications. Chnages in qualification rules this year mean European Cup races have a maximum field size of 140 athletes across both men and women and a more challenging IPCAS points threshold cut-off of below 200 IPCAS points across the race disciplines. Once achieved athletes will then strive to attain qualification for the sports ultimate World Cup competitions and associated World Championship and Paralympic races.

Keen advocates of this introduction to the alpine ladder, the opening European invitation saw new BDST European Cup Team and Adult Developmet members (Martin Hewitt, Pete Dunning and Ian Bishop) converge on Landgraaf for two Slalom competitions and all achieve good finishes and associated points in these races. Full results are available via the IPCAS website (CLICK HERE)

As events hot up before the Christmas festivities, we can look forward to a further IPCAS level race which takes place in the 2006 Paralympic venue of Sestriere, Italy from 9th - 10th December and will be supported again by racers Hewitt, Dunning and Bishop.

From 10th -12th December, the core BDST World Cup and European Cup athletes will be heading off to Austria for the familiar but tough Pitztal invitation with Paralympic athletes Rose, Skeels-Piggins, Sowerby, Turney and Gallagher and new European Cup member Mick Brennan with guest appearance from three time paralympic athlete Russell Docker.

Meteor - Meet and Greet Parking continue their support for the team

Making the hassle of airport arrival and departure a little less stressful for our athletes and support staff,  the BDST are proud to have the continued support of Meteor - Meet and greet parking who have agreed to provide ongoing help the squad this season. Athletes and support staff are urged to make use of this excellent provision. Please contact Anna Turney for specific booking arrangements.

Meteor - Meet and greet parking (click here)

World Championships 2011 - Italy - Get Kids Going! becomes first key sponsor for the team

On the back of a very successful Vancouver games and the excitement of a new 2010/11 season almost upon us, we are once again delighted to confirm the support of Get Kids Going! in pledging much needed financial sponsorship to help ensure the BDST can continue its sporting achievements by preparing a strong team for the World Championships in Sestriere, Italy at the end of January 2011. This substantial boost will enable us to provide the squad with the right environment to ensure athletes are in peek condition to compete against the worlds best in Europe next year.

Chief Executive Officer, Jane Emmerson and her colleagues joined the team in Vancouver to experience the value and real difference their past contributions were making to to the team as we grow from strength to strength. They had the opportunity to speak to athletes faces to face and capture the exhillartion and "No Limits" attitude that participation at this elite sporting level can deliver.

Get Kids Going! is a national charity which gives disabled children and young people - up to the age of 25 yrs - the wonderful opportunity of particpating in sport. They provide purpose built sports wheelchairs to enable participation in marathons, triathlons, tennis, athletics, mountain skiing, rugby, basketball etc. Get Kids Going! also helps and encourages British disabled children to compete by supporting them with their sports, training, physioterapy, travel, design and development of sport wheelchairs. With your help many will become record holders and olympic and paralympic champions.

Proof of the success of this support being seen within the British Disabled Ski Team for which we say a big THANK YOU!

For more details, please visit www.GetKidsGoing.com and watch out for their logo on the team new season kit as a principal sponsor of the team. 

IPC Competition Calendar Published...

The IPC has now published the 2010/2011 Competition calendar. This will be updated with new information from time to time so please check back. Please click here to view.

For the full Vancouver 2010 story visit the Race News 2009/10 pages on the left menu... 

Full supporting detail of the Alpine events are covered within the official Vancouver 2010 paralympic website which can be accessed by clicking here

A brililiant performance for this increasingly successfull alpine squad of Sean Rose, Russell Docker, Talan Skeels-Piggins, Tim Farr, Jane Sowerby, Anna Tunrey and Kelly Gallagher with guide CLaire Robb - all representing Paralympics TeamGB  in a gruelling week of hard racing in all the Alpine disciplines and take place within the Whistler venue of Creekside.

New World Cup and European Cup Squads announced for 2010-2011 Season...

BDST are delighted to announce the membership of the 2010-2011 team sqauds based on having reached the points required in at least one qualifying discipline and in their engagement in the fitness programmes as set out in the team athlete agreement

Congratulations to all concerned on their team selection and to a successful forthcoming season

World Cup Team (alphabetical)
	Timothy Farr
	Kelly Gallagher
	Sean Rose
	Talan Skeel-Piggins
	Jane Sowerby

European Cup Team (alphabetical)
	Mick Brennan
	Pete Dunning
	Martin Hewitt
	Anna Turney

 With regret we see the departure of three time winter sport paralympian Russell Docker from the BDST squad this season. An ambassador and accomplished flag flier for paralympic alpine over many many years, having represented GB at Salt Lake City, Turin and Vancouver winter paralympics, he will be sorely missed by both athletes and staff alike.

We hope Russ manages to stay involved with the wider team programme where he has much to offer. Notwithstanding his decision to step down from the team, should he continue with his alpine ambitons, he will remain a welcome face at race venues and training camps if he now decides to follow the piste of an independent racer.

We wish Russ and Tracey (his supportive partner over many many years) and their two great children Georgia and Sophia together with all the Docker clan that have supported him and the rest of the team through many enjoyable appearance and successes.