Home › Racing › Action kicks off at English Alpine Championships 2017 in Bormio

Action kicks off at English Alpine Championships 2017 in Bormio

By Skier & Snowboarder on 12th February 2017

English Alpine Champs 2017 Day 1

The English Alpine Ski Championships kicked off in style under sunny skies in Bormio today, with some impressive skiing in the FIS National Junior Slalom and Under 12 & Under 10 Giant Slalom.

Around 400 athletes, coaches, parents and supporters descended on Bormio yesterday for the opening parade, which – to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Championships in Bormio – ended in an impressive torchlight descent by local ski instructors.

Kandahar Racing’s Elliott Bennett also took part having been chosen to light the opening flame.

Billy Major NJR SL English Alpine Champs 2017 Photo: Racer Ready

In the men’s Under 21 category of the FIS NJR Slalom, Billy Major took the overall victory ahead of France’s Sacha Lekaene, with English compatriot Robert Poth third overall. Fraser Middleton finished as the third-highest British skier, and ninth overall. For the Under 21 women, Jessica Anderson was fifth overall and the highest-placed English skier, with Yasmin Cooper taking second and Freya Eaton third.

Megan Riley NJR SL English Alpine Champs 2017 Photo: Racer Ready

Meanwhile, Benjamin Bruno topped the pile for the English skiers in the men’s Under 18 race, with Kieran Troup and David Christey the next-highest British racers. Megan Riley – who has been concentrating on her GCSE’s this year – took the win for the Under 18 women ahead of Lucy Scott and Grace Williams.

Kieran Woolley English Alpine Champs 2017 U12 GS Photo: Racer Ready

Over on the Stella Alpina piste, at the heart of the Bormio ski area, the minis tackled the Under 12 and Under 10 Giant Slalom. Taking victory for the boys in the Under 12 category was Kieran Woolley from Evolution, with Luca Carrick-Smith taking second after a skiing out on the first run and completing a storming second. Kayne Stanway from Ambition Racing claimed the third podium position with Ruaridh Blyth in fourth and Alex Ogden in fifth. For the Under 12 girls, Glasgow Ski Racing’s Erin Ward took top spot, with Honor Bartlett from Ambition Racing in second and Maisie Blyth from the Scottish Ski Club in third. Lauren Blook took fourth and Molly Butler finished in fifth.

Tabitha Milkins English Alpine Champs 2017 GS Photo: Racer Ready

In the Under 10 category, brothers Zak and Freddy Carrick-Smith took first and second place respectively, posting quick first runs. Hamish Blyth from Scottish Ski Racing finished in third place, with Harry Parker-Swift the fastest English registered racer in fourth and Jeramie Galmarini in fifth. In the girls Under 10 race, Tabitha Milkins posted a quick time in run one, holding onto her lead to stand on top of the podium. Just behind her was Holly Tutt from Ambition Racing who took second and India Swift-Parker who was third. Fourth place went to Annabelle Davey from Sandown Park and fifth place was Momo Daniel from DHO.

The full results can be viewed on the English Alpine Championships page on the Snowsport England website: www.snowsportengland.org.uk.