British Bobsleigh Association
Tom De La Hunty announces the 4-Man team to slide at the Games
07 February 2006
Day 4: Tuesday 7th February
An injury, after effects from cheese fondue, missing licenses for sliding and announcement of the 4-Man team - it's all in a day's work...
(Daily Reports courtesy of The Winter Sports Agency)
A few of the team - Nicola included - woke up with dodgy tummies and "not feeling the best". The athletes put it down to cheese fondue, while the cheese fondue instigator blamed over-tiredness. The early start seemed really early and the track walk particularly difficult. After Nicola's first run that was not so smooth and with Jenny really feeling the bumps, Nicola decided to finish sliding for the day and give it up as a bad job. Instead she had a particularly restful afternoon which involved "some chilled stretching", an excellent massage from Gordon, some reflective time by the side of the lake and the removing of all the stickers from the bobsleigh ready for repainting.
Lee had his first bobsleigh runs of the Holding camp. Martin pushed him for three runs and the morning went without a hitch... well apart from Karl forgetting to take his brother's helmet and spikes from the hotel. Karl rectified the situation in the nick of time while testing his own driving skills in the process.
One other small incident "our beloved leader" Tom also jumped in the van to come back to the hotel, as he had forgotten the bobsleigh licenses for the second day running. He spent quarter of an hour turning his room upside down and could not find them. Panic began to set in - without a license there would be no sliding at the Olympic games... Only a rather desperate call home to Mrs De La Hunty (as he thought he might have left them at the Copthorne Hotel) brought clarity, as he was reminded by his much calmer wife that he had handed the Licenses to Jo Manning for safe keeping SO HE WOULDN"T LOSE THEM! Panic over and on with the day.
But that wasn't the last reverse for Tom; he twisted his ankle today while walking down the track. Luckily he fell away from the track with no major damage. He now sports an impressive limp.
In the afternoon the boys had a session that consisted of a warm up and stretch, Drills and ladder work. As with the girls, the idea of the afternoon training is to get their minds and bodies ready for afternoon and evening sliding at the Games.
Everyone - including Nicola - were back on form by supper and feeling refreshed, and after yesterdays combination pushing Tom tonight announced the 4man team for the Olympics.
The Team is Lee Johnson, Martin Wright, Karl Johnston and Dan Humpries on the back. Marcus will be the reserve for the 2 and 4 man teams.
For Martin and Karl who have made the final cut it seems like they have spent all year working towards the next testing or push off or selection or qualification. Finally they have made the last hurdle and, barring injury will be racing for their country in an Olympic Games. They will go to sleep tonight with a huge smile - and so will the Royal Marines who have three of the four man crew.
One's heart must go out to Marcus.
A few of the team - Nicola included - woke up with dodgy tummies and "not feeling the best". The athletes put it down to cheese fondue, while the cheese fondue instigator blamed over-tiredness. The early start seemed really early and the track walk particularly difficult. After Nicola's first run that was not so smooth and with Jenny really feeling the bumps, Nicola decided to finish sliding for the day and give it up as a bad job. Instead she had a particularly restful afternoon which involved "some chilled stretching", an excellent massage from Gordon, some reflective time by the side of the lake and the removing of all the stickers from the bobsleigh ready for repainting.
Lee had his first bobsleigh runs of the Holding camp. Martin pushed him for three runs and the morning went without a hitch... well apart from Karl forgetting to take his brother's helmet and spikes from the hotel. Karl rectified the situation in the nick of time while testing his own driving skills in the process.
One other small incident "our beloved leader" Tom also jumped in the van to come back to the hotel, as he had forgotten the bobsleigh licenses for the second day running. He spent quarter of an hour turning his room upside down and could not find them. Panic began to set in - without a license there would be no sliding at the Olympic games... Only a rather desperate call home to Mrs De La Hunty (as he thought he might have left them at the Copthorne Hotel) brought clarity, as he was reminded by his much calmer wife that he had handed the Licenses to Jo Manning for safe keeping SO HE WOULDN"T LOSE THEM! Panic over and on with the day.
But that wasn't the last reverse for Tom; he twisted his ankle today while walking down the track. Luckily he fell away from the track with no major damage. He now sports an impressive limp.
In the afternoon the boys had a session that consisted of a warm up and stretch, Drills and ladder work. As with the girls, the idea of the afternoon training is to get their minds and bodies ready for afternoon and evening sliding at the Games.
Everyone - including Nicola - were back on form by supper and feeling refreshed, and after yesterdays combination pushing Tom tonight announced the 4man team for the Olympics.
The Team is Lee Johnson, Martin Wright, Karl Johnston and Dan Humpries on the back. Marcus will be the reserve for the 2 and 4 man teams.
For Martin and Karl who have made the final cut it seems like they have spent all year working towards the next testing or push off or selection or qualification. Finally they have made the last hurdle and, barring injury will be racing for their country in an Olympic Games. They will go to sleep tonight with a huge smile - and so will the Royal Marines who have three of the four man crew.
One's heart must go out to Marcus.