Landgraaf, Holland 2011

Hemel return victorious: SnowWorld, Landgraaf 2011

SSE took a leap into the unknown with the first BASS race outside of the Alps. Dermot Flahive organized the event which could be described as a high risk strategy but IT worked!! With over 80 racers making the trip to Holland and staying in and around SnowWorld. Many Hemel racers elected to reside in a local camp site, YES a camp site!! This was clearly an environment some were more comfortable than others (me!). In retrospect, this was the best thing do. The campsite provided recreational facilities for the kids and refreshments for the grown-ups and some did get very refreshed.

On the Saturday Jon Reidy provided two coaching sessions through gates. Landgraaf to skiers who have not raced in the Alps must have been an awe inspiring place. At about four times the length of Hemel with slopes of differing states of snow from soft snow to hard ice. The incline was close to that of a blue run in the French Alps.

The races started on the Sunday with a special slalom. Hemel’s racers were out in force with over 20 racers making the journey. In the CH1 female category Annecy Stevens and Shana Danenbergsons were 6th and 7th respectively both showing maturity in their racing, this boding well for the future. In CH2 female category Anna Henderson showed great tenacity being always on the heals of Megan Jenkins from Norfolk and posting a very respectable 2nd place leaving clear air between her and the third and fourth racers. Bethany Ellis posted a respectable 8th place in a tough field. The CH1 boy’s category was always going to be entertaining with racers that all can win on the day. The Hemel boys showed how it’s done with Dominic Daley taking 2nd place after being 4th after the first run, Toby Deighton producing a solid two runs getting him a 4th place and only a 10th of a second off a medal. Toby’s young brother Harry, posted a respectable 6th place and clearly will be a force to reckoned with in the future. CH2 was amazing with Robert Poth posting 1st place with seconds between him and the rest of the field. Josh Penning-Lambert posted a respectable 5th place while struggling with new boots. Oliver Deighton and Joseph Gibbins posted 9th and 10th respectively. On to the Juniors racers who were racing on the iciest side of the slope. On day one of the Juniors everything was to play for with the some of the lowest seeded racers competing. Gerard Flahive proved once again that when he can get a run in, its counts and he posted 2nd place with James Grant 6th, Daniel Poth 9th , Tom Henderson 10th and Thomas Grant an unexpected 24th (after leaving a ski in the start gate on run1 and having to climb back up) . Niall Flahive did not finish run 1. In the JN2 girls Caroline Powell, the only Hemel racer took 1st position in a close fought match with Alice MaCaulay(JN1). Unfortunately Avelline Deighton was disqualified in run 2 of the MA2 class but did post a good first run time.

Day two and everything to play for in the club championship with Telford on the heals of Hemel. The CH1 girls put in a valiant performance with Shana Danenbergsons 7th place and Annecy Stevens getting 8th. In CH2 girls Hemel racers were on form again with Anna Henderson posting a 4th place overall and Bethany Ellis unfortunately being disqualified. In the CH1 boys Dominic Daley put down a first run time that put him in the lead by only 3 tenths of a second from team mate Toby Deighton. With everything to play for in run 2, Dominic put a second between him and Toby. The final result was Dominic Daley 1st, Toby Deighton 3rd with Harry Deighton a very respectable 5th. In CH2 Boys, well what can I say, Robert Poth put another stellar performance in giving everyone a lesson in slalom skiing at its best. Over 4 seconds separated Robert from the 2nd placed racer in the combined time. Josh Penning Lambert showed that a change of boots can make a big difference with a great performance to take 3rd place. Joseph Gibbins posted at 9th place. In JN2 once again Caroline Powell took 1st place and Avelline Deighton took 1st place in MA2. In the Junior Boys Gerard Flahive took 2nd place and James Grant 4th in the JN2 category with Daniel Poth taking 3rd in JN1 and Thomas Grant and Tom Henderson 6th and 7th respectively. Elliot Simpson raced in Monday’s race posting a respectable 1st in the SEN category.

The overall club results were calculated and Hemel won with quite a lead. Well done to Hemel!

To add some fun to the competition a pro slalom event was organized with 30 teams of three, even some of the coaches joined in! but it was the Hemel duo of Daniel and Robert Poth racing with Ashley Breeze from Telford that took the winning podium. This team was clearly the best and won but the young BSA team gave them all a run for there money.

So in summary, a great event for Hemel and its racers with some outcomes expected and some surprises.

Summary Results:

Day 1

CH1 Girls: STEVENS, Annecy 6, DANENBERGSONS Shana 7.
CH1 Boys: DALEY Dominic 2, DEIGHTON Toby 4, DEIGHTON Harry 6.
CH2 Girls: HENDERSON Anna 2, ELLIS Bethany 7.
CH2 Boys: POTH Robert 1, PENNING-LAMBERT Joshua 5, DEIGHTON Oliver 9, GIBBINS Joseph 10.
JN1 Boys: POTH Daniel 4, HENDERSON Tom 6, GRANT Thomas 11
JN2 Girls: POWELL Caroline 1.
JN2 Boys: FLAHIVE Gerard 2, GRANT James 5

Day 2

CH1 Girls: DANENBERGSONS Shana 6, STEVENS, Annecy 7.
CH1 Boys: DALEY Dominic 1, DEIGHTON Toby 3, DEIGHTON Harry 5.
CH2 Girls: HENDERSON Anna 4,
CH2 Boys: POTH Robert 1, PENNING-LAMBERT Joshua 3, GIBBINS Joseph 9.
JN1 Boys: POTH Daniel 3, GRANT Thomas 6, HENDERSON Tom 7.
JN2 Girls: POWELL Caroline 1.
JN2 Boys: FLAHIVE Gerard 2, GRANT James 4.
SEN: SIMPSON Elliot 1.
MA2: DEIGHTON, Avelline 1.

Don Daley
Hemel Ski Club
June 2011