Milton Keynes ERSA 2011

A really impressive turnout of 80 club members battled their way up the M1 through the temporary 50mph speed restrictions (despite being the only cars on the road at 6.30am) to compete in the second indoor Summer League race at Milton Keynes.

The course was set again by Jon Reidy. The forerunner was ex-GB skier Sega Fairweather, who also had the younger racers doing warm-up exercises at the top of the slope before the start, and presented the prizes at the end .

The format of the race was best two runs from three, or best run out of two if the snow could not cope with three runs (which proved to be the case).

Most of the competitors came from Milton Keynes, Hemel and Welwyn – with Welwyn this time sporting new kit (Amanda, we really need some new gear now!).

The SMK race bibs were skintight Lycra (some of us now know what it must feel like to wear a catsuit). At least this did produce some fast times – mainly because the older competitors had to complete the entire course while holding their breath...

As the racing got underway, there were several spectacular falls. Fortunately these were primarily in the bar area, where the flooring appears to be “slip” rather than “non-slip”.

Matt Thompson was overall 1st of the men and Caroline Powell was overall 2nd of the ladies.

Podium places went to a number of Hemel skiers: Cordelia Stevens (1st MIN); Katie Barder (3rd BG1); Thomas Reidy (3rd BG1); Elenor Scranage-Harrison and Megan Davies (2nd and 3rd BG2); Alicja Krahelski (1st CH1); Toby Deighton (3rd CH1); Robert Poth and Richard Warmington (1st and 2nd CH2); Kieran Norris, Oliver Krahelski and Tom Henderson (a clean sweep in JN1); Caroline Powell (1st JN2); Matt Thompson and Robert Trebilcock (1st and 2nd JN2); Kerry Turnock (1st MA1); Marco Bardetti (1st MA1); Holly Stevens 2nd MA2); Tony Sharp (1st MA2); Judy Reid (1st MA3); and John Norris (1st MA3).

Special mention must be made of Ian Curtis, first-time racer (MA3), whose second run was an impressive 7.5 seconds quicker than his first one. (Watch out Matt?!)

A big thank-you is due to lots of the Hemel club committee who worked tirelessly on the snow and behind the scenes to help SMK run the race.