Blizzard conditions hamper Johnston and Humphries

(Daily Reports courtesy of The Winter Sports Agency)

Nicola and Jackie produced the fastest starts in training today but could only manage to finish in 8th place on both runs. Head coach Tom De La Hunty says there are still a few areas to sort out and they will be looking at the videos in detail as usual. They still haven't used the race runners in training so there is a little more to produce for the race.

After a pleasant lunch out of the Village the girls "treated themselves" to another ice bath - though why they put themselves to such trouble completely dumbfounds Tom - he says it's cold enough up at the track if you stand around long enough.

Karl and Shiner spent most of the morning polishing the runners to race standard ready for the 2-Man race at 1730. After the runners were finished they transported them to the track where they aligned the sled to make sure the runners were parallel and running straight. The sled was polished, the bails drilled, sprayed and put back on the sled. Race stickers were applied, covers put on and heaters put into the sled.

The container was then sealed until 1500hrs when the boys moved the sled to the top of the track ready for the race where it was kept in "the warm room" until it was needed.

Lee and Dan were disappointed not to have been able to put in a more consistent set of laufs - particularly having showed what they can do in the fabulous second lauf on Saturday night. With weather conditions worsening during the third lauf held on Sunday, a start way down the draw left GB1 with little prospect of improving their position. 21st in the third and a creditable 13th in the fourth left the duo wondering what might have been.

British Bobsleigh team captain Lee Johnston was focused on the positive last night. "In his first Olympics Dan was a little nervous on the very first lauf and a tiny loss of rhythm lost us a little ground. But he came back and pulled one out of the bag in the second lauf to show what we are capable of. After that we were in the lap of the gods a bit".

In fact that start had been an encouraging 11th fastest, but Johnston's drive was impeccable, with his experience and know-how paying dividends at the bottom of the course.

Perhaps from the cosy arm-chair at home one is unaware of the logistical effort - over four years let alone the last four weeks - that makes it possible to put a GB bobsleigh up there on the world's biggest stage. There are many thankyou's to be said, but right now Lee and Dan would like to thank Karl and Shiner with Tom for their unstinting support over the past few days. Now they all need to focus on their 4-Man event later this week.

In the meantime there is the mouth-watering and nerve-jangling prospect of the Women's 2-Man Bobsleigh that takes place on Monday and Tuesday.