British Bobsleigh Association
World Cup Round 04
20 December 2009
Winterberg Race Reports
The fourth round of the Bobsleigh World Cup was held at the 1.325 km long Winterberg track, which is in the Hochsauerland region of central Germany, to the West of Dortmund. The USA driver Todd Hays crashed in 4-Man training on the Wednesday and has since had to retire from bobsleigh due to his medical injuries and the risk of further injury. Todd Hays competed in three Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal at Salt Lake in 2002, and was in good form this season, having finished 2nd in the 2-Man race at Park City. British Bobsleigh wishes Todd all the best for the future.
2-Man Bobsleigh Race 04
The 2-Man bobsleigh race was held on 12th December and saw the top five in the first heat all within 0.02 of a second of each other. Switzerland's Beat Hefti, who won on his debut as a World Cup driver at Winterberg last season, triumphed once again after an exciting second heat. Beat Hefti / Thomas Lamparter came from behind to finish 0.07 seconds ahead of Germany's Karl Angerer / Gregor Bermbach, with Ivo Rueegg / Roman Handschin of Switzerland finishing in 3rd place.
The GB1 bobsleigh of Lee Johnston / Dan Money finished in a creditable 15th place, just 0.06 seconds ahead of the GB2 bobsleigh of John Jackson / Steve Smith.
The fastest start time of 5.10 seconds was set by the Swiss pairing of Beat Hefti / Thomas Lamparter. Lee Johnston / Dan Money managed a best start time of 5.36 seconds, with John Jackson / Steve Smith setting a best start time of 5.38 seconds.
4-Man Bobsleigh Race 04
The 4-Man bobsleigh race was held on 13th December and gave Steven Holcomb his third straight win, heading a trio of German bobsleighs. Steven Holcomb / Justin Olsen / Steve Mesler / Curtis Tomasevicz of the USA finished 1st with Andre Lange / Rene Hoppe / Kevin Kuske / Martin Putze and Karl Angerer / Andreas Udvari / Alex Mann / Gregor Bermbach of Germany 2nd and 3rd respectively. The No 2 Czech Republic bobsleigh was disqualified after two of the crew failed to get in the bobsleigh at the start.
The GB1 bobsleigh of Lee Johnston / Karl Johnston / Allyn Condon / Dan Money finished the first heat in 21st place after recording a start time of 5.40 seconds and consequently didn't get a second run. The faster starting GB2 bobsleigh of John Jackson / Henry Nwume / Steve Smith / Ryan Freckleton finished in 18th place after recording start times of 5.24 and 5.28 seconds. The fastest start time of 5.06 seconds was recorded by the Swiss team of Beat Hefti / Juerg Egger / Thomas Lamparter / Christian Aebli.
Women's Bobsleigh Race 04
The Women's bobsleigh race was held on 12th December and provided a German one - two. Cathleen Martini / Romy Logsch finished 1st with Sandra Kiriasis / Janine Tischer a massive 0.61 seconds behind in 2nd place and Erin Pac / Elana Meyers of the USA finishing in 3rd place.
With Nicola Minichiello unable to take part due to an eye injury, it was left to Paula Walker / Kelly Thomas to represent GB and they dutifully finished in 15th place, crucially ahead of the Russian pairing of Anastasia Skulkina / Yulia Timofeeva, thereby improving their chances of Olympic qualification.
The fastest start time was 5.54 seconds, set by Canada's Kaillie Humphries / Heather Moyse, with Paula Walker / Kelly Thomas setting a best start time of 5.83 seconds.
Race Reports written by Mark Carter - Performance Coordinator
2-Man Bobsleigh Race 04
The 2-Man bobsleigh race was held on 12th December and saw the top five in the first heat all within 0.02 of a second of each other. Switzerland's Beat Hefti, who won on his debut as a World Cup driver at Winterberg last season, triumphed once again after an exciting second heat. Beat Hefti / Thomas Lamparter came from behind to finish 0.07 seconds ahead of Germany's Karl Angerer / Gregor Bermbach, with Ivo Rueegg / Roman Handschin of Switzerland finishing in 3rd place.
The GB1 bobsleigh of Lee Johnston / Dan Money finished in a creditable 15th place, just 0.06 seconds ahead of the GB2 bobsleigh of John Jackson / Steve Smith.
The fastest start time of 5.10 seconds was set by the Swiss pairing of Beat Hefti / Thomas Lamparter. Lee Johnston / Dan Money managed a best start time of 5.36 seconds, with John Jackson / Steve Smith setting a best start time of 5.38 seconds.
4-Man Bobsleigh Race 04
The 4-Man bobsleigh race was held on 13th December and gave Steven Holcomb his third straight win, heading a trio of German bobsleighs. Steven Holcomb / Justin Olsen / Steve Mesler / Curtis Tomasevicz of the USA finished 1st with Andre Lange / Rene Hoppe / Kevin Kuske / Martin Putze and Karl Angerer / Andreas Udvari / Alex Mann / Gregor Bermbach of Germany 2nd and 3rd respectively. The No 2 Czech Republic bobsleigh was disqualified after two of the crew failed to get in the bobsleigh at the start.
The GB1 bobsleigh of Lee Johnston / Karl Johnston / Allyn Condon / Dan Money finished the first heat in 21st place after recording a start time of 5.40 seconds and consequently didn't get a second run. The faster starting GB2 bobsleigh of John Jackson / Henry Nwume / Steve Smith / Ryan Freckleton finished in 18th place after recording start times of 5.24 and 5.28 seconds. The fastest start time of 5.06 seconds was recorded by the Swiss team of Beat Hefti / Juerg Egger / Thomas Lamparter / Christian Aebli.
Women's Bobsleigh Race 04
The Women's bobsleigh race was held on 12th December and provided a German one - two. Cathleen Martini / Romy Logsch finished 1st with Sandra Kiriasis / Janine Tischer a massive 0.61 seconds behind in 2nd place and Erin Pac / Elana Meyers of the USA finishing in 3rd place.
With Nicola Minichiello unable to take part due to an eye injury, it was left to Paula Walker / Kelly Thomas to represent GB and they dutifully finished in 15th place, crucially ahead of the Russian pairing of Anastasia Skulkina / Yulia Timofeeva, thereby improving their chances of Olympic qualification.
The fastest start time was 5.54 seconds, set by Canada's Kaillie Humphries / Heather Moyse, with Paula Walker / Kelly Thomas setting a best start time of 5.83 seconds.
Race Reports written by Mark Carter - Performance Coordinator