2009 - D T Price - the DHO

Back row: Frank Staddle, Zac Unger, Neil Capel, Sam Shnaps. Middle row: Mark Berry, Roger Hoyle, Gillian Gilyead.
Kneeling: Amanda Unger, Paul Unger, Richard Berry, Sarah Hoyle
British Schoolboys Championships
Richard Berry & Sam Shnaps
Downhill only Journal 2009
Meiringen is a safe haven for the British Schoolboys Races, history is all around us with Conan Doyle Square,
Conan Doyle Museum and various other buildings and roads named for the famous author. The Reichenbach Falls
where Sherlock Holmes met his ‘death’ are nearby.
The race team had their headquarters in Reuti at the top of the
Meiringen cable car in the Hotel Viktoria, this is a truly English
preserve where all the locals speak excellent English. British
skiing has passed Meiringen by for many years and now they
want us to return. This is great news as the Schoolboys Race
has been without a home throughout its existence and many
cannot understand why. This race has now come into its own
and is driven by the schools that want to take part. We have the
occasional troubles but the theme is now distinctly entrenched. It
is a formula that has evolved because, as organisers, we want to
provide what the racers and parents want.
The longer we stay in a resort the more difficult it is to retain
the same arrangement we made the first year. This can be
attributed to one area, the hotels and the local hotel association.
Unfortunately Wengen is not a natural race venue for us, the
Lauberhorn, although famous for its downhill, does not have a
convenient finish area for slalom and giant slalom, but we had
to put up with that during the two years we ran races there.
Once again attempts to arrange the accommodation in Wengen
collapsed. If the club wishes the race to return to Wengen we
need a more concentrated effort to bring influence to bear on the
hotels and hotel association.
The 2009 event was the tenth British Schoolboys Championships
and was a celebratory occasion. Whilst particular schools and
individuals are named below for their outstanding achievements,
all competitors, trainers and supporters should be commended
for their focus, dedication and good old fashioned team spirit
which served to bring about the best atmosphere the event has
ever had. Any attempt to list all the competitors and race results
would probably require space enough to cover the school leaguetable
in a national broadsheet newspaper.
Everyone was most grateful to have Max Davies, President of
the D.H.O with us for the races and prize giving. The D.H.O’s
support of the race cannot and should not be underestimated.
It is only with the forward thinking and (dare I say it) down hill
only culture that they are able to provide the infrastructure to
create the backbone to what is a fantastic and truly important
sporting event in the scholastic calendar year. Also BASI. What
incredible educational gifts of support they provided a few lucky
winners.
Being able to ski is one thing, being able to teach is a whole
different story. By sending Rosalind McDonald to the race, BASI
added that little extra ‘VaVaVoom’ to the prize giving. No matter
what the monetary value of the prizes, George Harris (Reed’s),
Rob Cross (Abbey Gate College), Ian Williams (Cowbridge) and
Edward Reynolds (Glenalmond) can deal be safe in the knowledge
that they know what they’re talking about when it comes to a
stem turn and its application. BASI – thank you, long may this
tradition continue.
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