2009 - D T Price - the DHO

Part 2: Sheridan Killwick
Downhill only Journal 2009
I set off from London at 4.30am on Monday 15 December to drive to Wengen, my car fully loaded with all the
things I thought I would need for the winter season. Can you imagine my thoughts during my journey to Switzerland?
I was about to start the daunting task of taking over from Paul who had been Wengen Manager/Secretary
for 17 years.
The drive went smoothly; I arrived in Lauterbrunnen at 7pm and
the friendly WAB staff helped me on the train with my luggage.
A complete stranger (who turned out to be a waitress at the Eiger
restaurant), helped me carry luggage to the flat. Thank you
Barbara - a true welcome to Wengen. I had always had fond
memories of the friendliness of people there and nothing has
changed.
There was lots of snow over Christmas; it snowed on New
Years Eve and the sky on New Year’s Day was a brilliant blue.
Everything looked set for an excellent winter, then the wind came
and blew all the snow from the side of the pistes leaving it rather
bare and ugly for the Lauberhorn race. Due to the excellent snow
cannons the pistes remained in very good condition throughout
January and it snowed again and again in February.
It was a very exciting to be starting my new role just as the
D.H.O was in the process of purchasing its very own club room.
Many will have fond memories of the “Hut” which has been
the ‘temporary home’ since the late 1970’s. After the inaugural
evening we used the “Hut” for several weeks of the season and
moved permanently to the new club premises in mid-January.
Susie Davies led a House committee to get the room up and
running. Paul, Max, other members and myself helped paint
the kitchen, put up memorabilia, fix the glass washer, move the
furniture, make an office for the Wengen Manager, purchase a
fridge and various other jobs. Many members very generously
donated items for the new club room.
There was an immediate increase on the number of members
coming to office hours and drinks parties. We could never have
managed 85 people in the “Hut”. Volunteers opened the club
room during the day for a few hours, internet access was set up
for member day time use, tea and coffee machines were donated,
and a library established. The system of members bringing bottles
remained as before but volunteers were needed to run the bar and
clear the glasses. (You will be pleased to know we have dispensed
with the plastic ones). New visitors to the new club room will be
particularly impressed with all the beautiful cups on display in
the glass cabinets.
The D.H.O club races went ahead as usual staring with the Heinz
cup pairs race during the New Year holidays and Paul’s cryptic
poetic clues were as good as ever. The atmosphere during the
Lauberhorn race weekend was brilliant and it was tremendous
fun watching both the downhill and the slalom events.
The following weekend our own 25 strong team competed in the
Inferno. I remember it well back in 1994 when I raced for the
D.H.O in the Inferno there were only six of us. My heart was in
my mouth at the start and all I could remember the whole way
down was my brother Edward’s words of advice “what ever you
do don’t fall” well I made it to the end without falling and even
qualified for a bronze medal.
D.H.O racing in Macmillan Cup week started with the Lucy
Dicker night slalom with some 40 entrants and the same for the
Macmillan. After prize giving on Thursday evening, almost one
hundred people attended Paul and Maree’s farewell party at the
Bären. It was a night to remember and a great way to thank them
for their hard work over 17 years.
In March, Liz Moore co-ordinated our five teams for the Amateur
Inter-club races held in Mürren and hosted by the Kandahar.
Please read Liz’ article for a detailed summary. The D.H.O will
host this race in Wengen in 2011 so please order your cat suit
now!!
On most days during the season we were able to offer members
two ski groups and this seem to work well. In some weeks we had
so many members that we could have done with two D.H.O reps
assisting the Wengen Manager not just one. It was great to see so
many members out skiing in Wengen and I hope to see more of
you next season. The first Presidents party to be held in the new
club room was a huge success with some 90 people there.
Lastly, my special thanks go to Paul and Maree for making me
welcome and to Max and Eden for their kind hospitality for
putting me up for the first half of the season.
Sheridan
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