Highland schools compete in ski contest at Cairngorm Mountain
Nearly 100 school children from across the Highlands competed in the Sir Frances Walker Schools Ski and Snowboard race today (Wednesday 17 March) at Cairngorm Mountain.
Teams from Kinlochleven, Skye and Nairn competed against a strong turn out from schools within Badenoch and Strathspey.
Many of these primary schools enjoyed four great weeks with the Badenoch and Strathspey Schools Snowsport Association (BSSA) programme – so had plenty of time to practice and make use of the great conditions on Cairngorm.
The race has not been run for a number of years, last year the wind put paid to organisers’ efforts. This schools race has a long tradition with Sir Frances Walker being the former county convenor for Inverness and a keen supporter of the early development of Skiing on Cairngorm.
Snowsport Scotland teamed up with Highland Council Active Schools coordinators Dawn Horsburgh and Tina Gibson, with strong support from Cairngorm Mountain to make every effort to run the race. Help was also enlisted from BSSSA and Cairngorm Ski Club (CSC). Conditions were great on Cairngorm with a moderate breeze and sunshine for most of the day. The twenty gate Giant Slalom course was set by CSC coach Mike Jachacy and everyone made it down successfully.
Around 40 primary aged skiers went down first, then 15 snowboarders before the 40 or so high school aged skiers. Teams were mixed and comprised of four skiers and three borders (with the fastest 3 ski and 2 snowboard counting in team event).
Competition was tough with a lot of CSC club trainees present and trainees from other Scottish clubs. There were also many first time racers who performed very well in the gates.
Results:
Primary Skiing
Ind Boy: 1st Seoras Vaughn (Abernethy) 2nd Ian Coltart (Carrbridge) 3rd Jack Smith (Carrbridge)
Ind Girl: 1st Rebecca Shepherd (Carrbridge) 2nd Ailsa Hepburn (Carrbridge) 3rd Hannah Robertson (Kingussie)
Teams – 1st Abernethy (A) 2nd Carrbridge 3rd Kingussie
Snowboard
Ind. Primary: 1st Sam Conolly (Cawdor); 2nd Holly Westcott (Aviemore); 3rd Ella Conolly (Cawdor)
Team: 1st Cawdor
High School
Ind: 1st Calum Forewood (Grantown Grammar); 2nd Jamie Trinder (Grantown Grammar); 3rd Angus Trinder (Grantown Grammar)
Team – Grantown A.
High School Skiing
Ind Girl: 1st Yandra Banks Brown (Grantown Grammar); 2nd Helen Nelson (Kinlochleven); 3rd Sarah McWilliam (Grantown Grammar)
Ind Boy: 1st Jamie McWilliam (Grantown Grammar); 2nd Lewis McWilliam (Grantown Grammar); 3rd Robbie Nelson (Kinlochleven)
Team – 1st place awarded Sir Frances Walker Trophy. Baxters of Speyside trophy to winning local high school (Grantown Grammar).
1st Grantown Grammar – Yandra Banks Brown – Lewis McWilliam – Ed Fletcher – Duncan Coltart
2nd Kinlochleven A
3rd Kingussie High School – James Taylor – David Taylor – Savio Genini – Calum Irvine
Donald Hall, Chief of Race congratulated all of the competitors and was delighted with the day’s proceedings. He also thanked everyone who helped make the day a success and especially Cairngorm Mountain for sponsoring the race.