Lightning Strikes Twice
The Mini-onslaught in June had taken everyone by surprise. Several of TSP’s youngest racers had announced their arrival in emphatic terms. Follow that! For the July 5th event, consolidation might reasonably have been the goal. But June’s diminutive heroes had tasted blood, and the ruthlessness with which they set about today’s opponents was X-rated entertainment.
On a gusty day, TSP ‘A’s age profile fell again. James Howells had declared the wedding-crashing-season open, and was giving his wardrobe an outing. No matter, in stepped teen-legend Rich Luxton for his first race of the year. After a year long injury, Max Till was back too, taking on the under 15s. Otherwise, there were Charlie’s New Angels, Bryony Goddard-Jones, Robyn Marment and Olivia Mitchell, the merciless duo, Creagle Marment and Fraser Mitchell, bendy Mike Stephens, and sheet anchors in the form of Dave Brennan and Chantelle.
Tim Andrew’s gammy leg meant that the B’s fielded 9 again. Their attack would be led by under 12 Kieran Tyrrell (still smarting at June’s bad day at the office), fast-improving Luke Henry in the under 15s, Desperate Dan Roberts (determined to show up well in the under 20s), and Jolly Jack Holdsworth, yet another under 9 contender. They were joined by Gabriella Anderson also at under 9, Carmela Roberts, Shannon Tyrrell, Ollie Andrew and Lauren Holdsworth.
The Extras numbers were plundered at the last minute, leaving a Super 6. TSP supplied Oliver and Jay Shaw, as well as Alexandra Jeynes on her debut. The rest came from Avon, George Case, Georgina Cooper and Rebecca Penman
Turny at the top, fast in the middle and with a sting in the tail – that was the morning course. And by lunchtime TSP ‘A’ had surged to a 20 point lead over Gloucester ‘A’.
Yet again, the charge was started by the under 9s. Olivia, Robyn and Bryony took 2nd, 3rd and 4th in age group, a mere 0.26 sec splitting the threesome. They are looking really convincing, egging each other on to greater achievement every race. Erstwhile Angels Steffi, Ellie and Suzi, please greet the new kids on the block.
Creagle and Fraser were next up at under 12. Creagle laid down a zippy 13.22 for 4th in age group, an impressive 29th overall. But Fraser went bananas. Runs of 12.27 and 12.14 were little short of sensational as he took the under 12s crown and 12th fastest overall. There is no more exciting skier in Race League on current form.
Max, Dave and Mike all battled well with 4ths and 7th in their groups, but none could live with Fraser’s pace. After an unusual DNF, Chantelle squeaked past Fraser with 11.99 (just fast enough to avoid a clash in the duals) for 2nd in the under 50s. Ever Joe Cool, Rich Luxton laid down 11.50 despite flying through the finish backwards, but topped that with a scorching second run in conventional style of 11.08 for 1st in Group and 2nd overall.
Yet the ‘B’s were not to be outdone. Dan, Kieron, Luke and Jack are all on the heels of their ‘A’ Team contemporaries and showed why. Dan had the temerity to pip Fraser’s time with 12.07 for 5th in under 20s. Dan is starting to match his strength and aggression with better technique. Kieron bounced back with 13.77 for 7th in group whilst Luke’s 13.41 in under 15s was quick enough for 12th – yet another racer who is improving with every outing. Jack reminded us that he’s not far off the Angels with an excellent 10th.
Gabriella should be pretty pleased with 15th as she picks up more racing experience. Carmela, Shannon, Lauren and Oliver also raced with great heart in very competitive groups.
The Super 6 also punched above their weight. Pride of place to George and Alexandra with 8th and 17th in under 9s group, and Georgina 10th in under 12s. Good skiing girls! Oliver, Jay and Rebecca laid down respectable times, too.
It has to be said that Oliver and Jay race with a disability of their own choosing – blindness. Their hairstyles are kind of Shetland Pony and Old English Sheepdog meets Thing from the Adams Family. When I first watched them, I was convinced that they were racing backwards like Rich.
So, lunchtime in the Mangrove Swamp at the bottom of the slope was taken in good heart. And soon, precocious youth was at it again in the afternoon duals.
Robyn was unbeatable and included the scalp of team-mate Olivia in her 3 wins. Likewise, Max, Rich, Mike and Chantelle were imperious, none of them headed. Fraser’s morning run had pitted him against the 9th 10th and 11th fastest of the days racers. But once again he was in blistering form, yielding by a nat’s whisker only to his fastest opponent. Bryony and Creagle also took 2 scalps, Livy 1. In fact the ‘A’s were so dominant that the duals produced a record breaking 74 points, 11 more than June. The second leg alone brought 9 wins, the only defeat being an all TSP affair, as Mike inched out Dave. Unbelievable stuff!
The ‘B’s scored 54 points from their ‘9-some’ – an excellent return. Oliver, Luke and Carmela took maximums, Kieron and Lauren 2 wins apiece, Gabriella and Jack notched 1 win and Dan a dead heat.
And that wasn’t the end of it. The Super Six gave it a real go, Jay and Rebecca sweeping all aside, Georgina winning twice and George and Alexandra once.
The individual honours list makes remarkable reading. Rich tops it with a maximum 29, Chazzer 28, Robyn and Fraser 27, Max 26, Olivia, Bryony and Creagle 24, and Mike 23 and Dave 20.
In the B’s Kieron led the way with 20, Luke and Dan 18, Jack 16, Gabriella 11 and Carmela 10. Georgina headed Extras with 19, George 18, Jay and Rebecca 10, and Alexandra 9.
Thus, halfway through the 2008 Race League calendar, TSP ‘A’ produced a decisive result. The day’s total of 252 hasn’t been bettered in my memory, and increased the ‘A’s lead over Midland Bears to 54 points with Western Counties and Gloucester ‘A’ a further 16 and 28 points adrift. But the August holidays always play havoc with availabilities, so we cannot afford to let up.
TSP ‘B’ is looking solid in 9th, and if match day withdrawals can be banished, a 7th place finish is possible. Extras are a creditable 12th out of 14, and one place higher is feasible.
I might be injured, but I’m exhausted after every round, and feel like I’ve skied everyone’s race. Once again, thanks to all the parents and friends who helped out, not least indefatigable Brodie who combined fore-running with getting every racer sprayed up and in the gate. Respect Brodes.
Chris Gardner
On a gusty day, TSP ‘A’s age profile fell again. James Howells had declared the wedding-crashing-season open, and was giving his wardrobe an outing. No matter, in stepped teen-legend Rich Luxton for his first race of the year. After a year long injury, Max Till was back too, taking on the under 15s. Otherwise, there were Charlie’s New Angels, Bryony Goddard-Jones, Robyn Marment and Olivia Mitchell, the merciless duo, Creagle Marment and Fraser Mitchell, bendy Mike Stephens, and sheet anchors in the form of Dave Brennan and Chantelle.
Tim Andrew’s gammy leg meant that the B’s fielded 9 again. Their attack would be led by under 12 Kieran Tyrrell (still smarting at June’s bad day at the office), fast-improving Luke Henry in the under 15s, Desperate Dan Roberts (determined to show up well in the under 20s), and Jolly Jack Holdsworth, yet another under 9 contender. They were joined by Gabriella Anderson also at under 9, Carmela Roberts, Shannon Tyrrell, Ollie Andrew and Lauren Holdsworth.
The Extras numbers were plundered at the last minute, leaving a Super 6. TSP supplied Oliver and Jay Shaw, as well as Alexandra Jeynes on her debut. The rest came from Avon, George Case, Georgina Cooper and Rebecca Penman
Turny at the top, fast in the middle and with a sting in the tail – that was the morning course. And by lunchtime TSP ‘A’ had surged to a 20 point lead over Gloucester ‘A’.
Yet again, the charge was started by the under 9s. Olivia, Robyn and Bryony took 2nd, 3rd and 4th in age group, a mere 0.26 sec splitting the threesome. They are looking really convincing, egging each other on to greater achievement every race. Erstwhile Angels Steffi, Ellie and Suzi, please greet the new kids on the block.
Creagle and Fraser were next up at under 12. Creagle laid down a zippy 13.22 for 4th in age group, an impressive 29th overall. But Fraser went bananas. Runs of 12.27 and 12.14 were little short of sensational as he took the under 12s crown and 12th fastest overall. There is no more exciting skier in Race League on current form.
Max, Dave and Mike all battled well with 4ths and 7th in their groups, but none could live with Fraser’s pace. After an unusual DNF, Chantelle squeaked past Fraser with 11.99 (just fast enough to avoid a clash in the duals) for 2nd in the under 50s. Ever Joe Cool, Rich Luxton laid down 11.50 despite flying through the finish backwards, but topped that with a scorching second run in conventional style of 11.08 for 1st in Group and 2nd overall.
Yet the ‘B’s were not to be outdone. Dan, Kieron, Luke and Jack are all on the heels of their ‘A’ Team contemporaries and showed why. Dan had the temerity to pip Fraser’s time with 12.07 for 5th in under 20s. Dan is starting to match his strength and aggression with better technique. Kieron bounced back with 13.77 for 7th in group whilst Luke’s 13.41 in under 15s was quick enough for 12th – yet another racer who is improving with every outing. Jack reminded us that he’s not far off the Angels with an excellent 10th.
Gabriella should be pretty pleased with 15th as she picks up more racing experience. Carmela, Shannon, Lauren and Oliver also raced with great heart in very competitive groups.
The Super 6 also punched above their weight. Pride of place to George and Alexandra with 8th and 17th in under 9s group, and Georgina 10th in under 12s. Good skiing girls! Oliver, Jay and Rebecca laid down respectable times, too.
It has to be said that Oliver and Jay race with a disability of their own choosing – blindness. Their hairstyles are kind of Shetland Pony and Old English Sheepdog meets Thing from the Adams Family. When I first watched them, I was convinced that they were racing backwards like Rich.
So, lunchtime in the Mangrove Swamp at the bottom of the slope was taken in good heart. And soon, precocious youth was at it again in the afternoon duals.
Robyn was unbeatable and included the scalp of team-mate Olivia in her 3 wins. Likewise, Max, Rich, Mike and Chantelle were imperious, none of them headed. Fraser’s morning run had pitted him against the 9th 10th and 11th fastest of the days racers. But once again he was in blistering form, yielding by a nat’s whisker only to his fastest opponent. Bryony and Creagle also took 2 scalps, Livy 1. In fact the ‘A’s were so dominant that the duals produced a record breaking 74 points, 11 more than June. The second leg alone brought 9 wins, the only defeat being an all TSP affair, as Mike inched out Dave. Unbelievable stuff!
The ‘B’s scored 54 points from their ‘9-some’ – an excellent return. Oliver, Luke and Carmela took maximums, Kieron and Lauren 2 wins apiece, Gabriella and Jack notched 1 win and Dan a dead heat.
And that wasn’t the end of it. The Super Six gave it a real go, Jay and Rebecca sweeping all aside, Georgina winning twice and George and Alexandra once.
The individual honours list makes remarkable reading. Rich tops it with a maximum 29, Chazzer 28, Robyn and Fraser 27, Max 26, Olivia, Bryony and Creagle 24, and Mike 23 and Dave 20.
In the B’s Kieron led the way with 20, Luke and Dan 18, Jack 16, Gabriella 11 and Carmela 10. Georgina headed Extras with 19, George 18, Jay and Rebecca 10, and Alexandra 9.
Thus, halfway through the 2008 Race League calendar, TSP ‘A’ produced a decisive result. The day’s total of 252 hasn’t been bettered in my memory, and increased the ‘A’s lead over Midland Bears to 54 points with Western Counties and Gloucester ‘A’ a further 16 and 28 points adrift. But the August holidays always play havoc with availabilities, so we cannot afford to let up.
TSP ‘B’ is looking solid in 9th, and if match day withdrawals can be banished, a 7th place finish is possible. Extras are a creditable 12th out of 14, and one place higher is feasible.
I might be injured, but I’m exhausted after every round, and feel like I’ve skied everyone’s race. Once again, thanks to all the parents and friends who helped out, not least indefatigable Brodie who combined fore-running with getting every racer sprayed up and in the gate. Respect Brodes.
Chris Gardner
posted by rorie scott at 10:37 AM
