2003 - the DHO

British Schoolgirls Races, 2003
Flaine, France 2003 Sarah Robinson
O
ne minute it's summer then, suddenly, Christmas has been and gone and we're on our way
back to Flaine for the Schoolgirls Races, sponsored once again by the D.H.O. Many of the
girls, and parents and teachers too, look forward to the event as soon as the previous one
has finished so it was a bunch of excited girls and hangers-on who arrived in Flaine on Saturday
25 January.
The weather was good and anticipation high, so a few keen souls
headed straight to the slopes. It had snowed heavily the previous
few days and there was plenty of powder to be found. Some of the
enthusiasts were to be found later in the day covered in snow but
with rosy cheeks and cheery grins, happy to be there.
Sunday was training day with most of the girls looking for some
miles under their skis before heading off to the slalom piste for pole
training. This proved a novelty for the few who had never been
through gates before, but it at least gave them the opportunity of
some practice before the races themselves. Those who had recently
been racing took the opportunity to practice their powder skills.
Many D.H.O members took part. Alexandra Moore and Vicky &.
Clare Tampin made up the D.H.O 'A' team with Elizabeth
Francis-Venezia, Grace McCutchan and Eleanor Yeates forming a
'B' team. The White twins, Erica and Jean, represented Millfield;
Monica Gash and Catherine Pelton were two thirds of the BARSC
team; Louisa Russell-Henry brought a team from her school in
Chamonix; Hannah Bryans and Louise Douglass came with two
teams from the Intercommunity School in Zurich; Isabel de
Carvalho and her sisters made up a team representing Maidens and
the Beaton girls, Claire & Chloe skied for St George's Edinburgh.
Ingie would have been proud of them all!
Monday was gloriously sunny and started with the giant slalom.
The race was won by Louise Thomas from Sandown Park,
followed by Jean White from Millfield and Stephanie Bream from
Rydal Penrhos School in Wales. Erica White was fifth; Isabel de
Carvalho eighth and Vicky Tampin ninth. Louisa Russell-Henry
finished sixteenth, an excellent result for her putting her second in
her age category and ahead of many others older than her. Jean and
Erica's Millfield finished as best team, with the D.H.O 'A' team in
fourth and the Carvalhos' Mardens in fifth.
The most exciting part of the whole event, the parallel slalom,
followed the giant slalom. This is the bit the girls enjoy most of all,
and it brings out the team spirit in everyone. It's wonderful to
watch too, and many supporters stay right to the end. Everything
normally goes very slickly, the organisers now have it down to a
fine art. But... this year the cloud decided to pay a visit up from the
valley in the middle of the race so the Chief of Race was dispatched
poste haste from the warmth of the Finish Hut, sans jacket and
gloves, to conduct proceedings over the radio as the finish flags
could not be seen from the start. Miraculously, the race continued
virtually without a hitch and the aforementioned Chief of Race was
rescued from certain frostbite when the cloud subsided back down
the valley. The D.H.O 'B' team made it through the preliminary
round only to be beaten by the 'A' team, who, in turn, were beaten
by the BARSC team. The Carvalhos reached the semi-final, where
they were beaten by the eventual winners, Sandown, who
triumphed over the BARSC girls in the final.
2003
Isabel De Carualho, Mardens
The weather on Tuesday, the slalom day, was not so kind. There was
light snow and grey cloud most of the time but the girls coped well
and the race was won by Helena Bray from Sandown Park, with
Stephanie Bream in second place and Erica White in third. Jean
White was fourth, Claire Beaton seventh and Isabel de Carvalho
ninth. Louisa Russell-Henry had another good result, coming
eleventh overall and second in her age category. Millfield was the
best team, with BARSC, D.I 1,0 'A' and Mardens in fourth, fifth and
sixth places respectively.
Stephanie Bream claimed the prize for the best racer overall in the
Combined, ahead of Jean White and Helena Bray with Erica White
in fourth place. Claire Beaton and Isabel de Carvalho finished sixth
and seventh with Vicky Tampin ninth and Louisa Russell-Henry
tenth. Not surprisingly, the White girls led Millfield to the team title
with the D.H.O 'A' team finishing third. The Carvalho girls were in
fifth place and the BARSC team in seventh. Forty-six teams took
part.
Clare Beaton,
St. George's, E