British Bobsleigh Association
World Championship - both GB 4-Man teams look promising
01 February 2007
World Championships: January 22nd – February 4th 2007.
The St. Moritz Bobsleigh Club, the world’s only natural-ice bobsleigh run, hosts this winter’s Bob and Skeleton World Championships - the 35th of it’s kind.
Opened in 1890, the training runs of St Moritz, combined with the highly competitive racing in 2-man and 4-Man bob and skeleton sledges, attract the World’s most elite ice-sliding athletes.
British Bobsleigh’s Performance Director, Richard Simmons gives his account of how the team are doing.
On Friday February 2nd 2007 the racing of the women’s 2-man team began, reaching the halfway point with Nicola’s crew in 17th place.
The women’s training times have been fluctuating daily as the team have been hampered by illness, while also gaining experience daily.
Richard explains:
"It’s a new team and for the vast majority this is their first championship competition. They have been conducting themselves very well and have been learning all the time."
"It’s certainly not an easy competition; the Championships never are."
"The 4-Man training has gone very well, with the team achieving extremely good timings, which hopefully bodes well for the competition."
Team GB1 finished in 9th place in the penultimate practice lauf on Thursday, February 1st, and third in the last lauf, with Team GB2 achieving 12th place.
Richard added: "It is a good boost for the team to be mixing with some highly competitive athletes. As the racing is on their home turf, the Swiss are looking extremely strong. The Germans and Americans are achieving excellent times, with the Russian team coming in very fast in training."
Athletes Tony Nash and Robin Dixon, who won Gold for Great Britain in 1964, are in St.Moritz celebrating 50 years of being together.
They have been spending time with the team giving some extremely valuable tips and advice.
"Tony and Robin have really enhanced the team’s confidence and it is great to know they will be staying for the rest of the competition," says Richard.
"Hopefully we can bounce back from where we are placed today.
I have every confidence we will achieve good results."
Opened in 1890, the training runs of St Moritz, combined with the highly competitive racing in 2-man and 4-Man bob and skeleton sledges, attract the World’s most elite ice-sliding athletes.
British Bobsleigh’s Performance Director, Richard Simmons gives his account of how the team are doing.
On Friday February 2nd 2007 the racing of the women’s 2-man team began, reaching the halfway point with Nicola’s crew in 17th place.
The women’s training times have been fluctuating daily as the team have been hampered by illness, while also gaining experience daily.
Richard explains:
"It’s a new team and for the vast majority this is their first championship competition. They have been conducting themselves very well and have been learning all the time."
"It’s certainly not an easy competition; the Championships never are."
"The 4-Man training has gone very well, with the team achieving extremely good timings, which hopefully bodes well for the competition."
Team GB1 finished in 9th place in the penultimate practice lauf on Thursday, February 1st, and third in the last lauf, with Team GB2 achieving 12th place.
Richard added: "It is a good boost for the team to be mixing with some highly competitive athletes. As the racing is on their home turf, the Swiss are looking extremely strong. The Germans and Americans are achieving excellent times, with the Russian team coming in very fast in training."
Athletes Tony Nash and Robin Dixon, who won Gold for Great Britain in 1964, are in St.Moritz celebrating 50 years of being together.
They have been spending time with the team giving some extremely valuable tips and advice.
"Tony and Robin have really enhanced the team’s confidence and it is great to know they will be staying for the rest of the competition," says Richard.
"Hopefully we can bounce back from where we are placed today.
I have every confidence we will achieve good results."