CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 - 12 WINTERBERG

The 2011 - 2012 British Bobsleigh Championships were held at the challenging 1.325 km long Winterberg track, which is in the Hochsauerland region of central Germany, to the West of Dortmund. The Women's and 2-Man races were held on 28th October and the 4-Man race was held on 29th October 2011. The event was however overshadowed by an accident during training, which saw driver Fiona Harrison severely concussed and brakewoman, Serita Shone suffer a spinal injury. From her hospital bed, Serita thanked her fellow competitors for the card and union flag that they had signed for her and stated that the hospital food was 'pretty miserable', but wished the Great Britain Bobsleigh Team every success for the season ahead.

WOMEN'S BOBSLEIGH

The Women's Race was won by RAF 'veterans' Michelle Coy / Caroline Gray who finished 1.5 seconds clear of the second placed overall Dutch youth pairing of Marije Van Huigenbosch / Sanne Dekker.

Kimberley Bos / Mandy Groot also claimed third place overall for the Dutch Youth Team, but it was the fourth placed overall RAF pairing of Lou Webster / Charlotte Williams who took the runner up spot in the Women's British Bobsleigh Championships with Lou also winning the Best Novice Driver Award. The British Youth Team pairing of Kirsten Emery / Frances Slater were third in the Women's British Bobsleigh Championships and Frances Slater also won the Best Push Start Award after posting a 6.09 second start on the second run.

1st Michelle Coy / Caroline Gray 2:06.26
- Marije Van Huigenbosch / Sanne Dekker 2:07.76
- Kimberley Bos / Mandy Groot 2:08.20
2nd Lou Webster / Charlotte Williams 2:08.71
3rd Kirsten Emery / Frances Slater 2:09.12
4th Mica McNeill / Emily Edwards 2:12.10

2-MAN BOBSLEIGH

The 2-Man Race saw John Jackson / Bruce Tasker leading after the first run and looking favourites to win until Bruce Tasker failed to get in the bobsleigh on the second run. The Best Push Start Award was small consolation for a disappointed Bruce Tasker, who set start times of 5.18 and 5.16 seconds in the first and second laufs respectively. Driver John Jackson successfully stopped the bobsleigh after realising that he was alone in the bobsleigh!

Lamin Deen / David Smith then looked set to be British Champions, but after matching their 5.36 second start time in the first run, they crashed and failed to cross the finish line. Thus it was the consistent Will Golder / Antoe Walters who won the 2-Man British Bobsleigh Championships, with the experienced Dutch duo of Ivo De Bruin / Tim Balvers finishing second overall. However, second in the British Championships went to RAF Team of Ross Brown / Jonny Snelling, with driver Ross Brown also picking up the Novice Driver Award for the highest finishing driver in his first British Championships. Third in the British Championships was the second RAF Team of Mark Silva / Steve Preston.

1st Will Golder / Antoe Walters 2:00.44
- Ivo De Bruin / Tim Balvers 2:00.78
2nd Ross Brown / Jonny Snelling 2:03.67
3rd Mark Silva / Steve Preston 2:04.81
4th Olly Biddulph / Sam Thornburn 2:05.26
- Philippe Massar / Sven Mallepart 2:10.26
- John Jackson / Bruce Tasker DSQ
- Lamin Deen / David Smith DNF

4-MAN BOBSLEIGH

Lee Johnston retained his 4-Man British title, but incredibly, now shares it with John Jackson after the two posted identical times in both the first and second runs. On both runs, the team of John Jackson / Stuart Benson / Bruce Tasker / Joel Fearon were 0.13 seconds quicker than Lee Johnston / John Baines / Karl Johnston / Allyn Condon, but each time this difference in start time was made up on the track. An enthusiastic Edwin Van Calker finished third with his all Dutch crew of Piek Jerroen / Igor Brink / Dempsey Tamara heading Romanian Andreas Neagu.

1st Lee Johnston / John Baines / Karl Johnston / Allyn Condon 1:54.00
1st John Jackson / Stuart Benson / Bruce Tasker / Joel Fearon 1:54.00
3rd Edwin Van Calker / Piek Jerroen / Igor Brink / Dempsey Tamara 1:54.64
4th Andreas Neagu / - / - / - 1:56.28

Mark Carter - Race Organiser