ED DRAKE SCORES BEST-EVER FINISH

British Alpine Ski Team member Ed Drake recorded his highest-ever career finish with 4^th Place in the European Cup SuperG in Tarvisio, Italy, yesterday (Thursday).

Today (Friday) Chemmy Alcott notched up another top 20 finish for the season with 17^th place in the women’s FIS World Cup Downhill race in Bansko, Bulgaria. Both results reflect the continuing good form of the British Alpine Ski Team in this pre-Olympic season.

At the European Cup in Tarvisio, Drake, 22, from Kingston, Surrey, finished 4^th in the Super G, just 0.25 seconds behind the winner, Petr Zahrobsky from the Czech Republic. In clear conditions, Drake made superb progress from a start number of 27.

Drake was delighted with the result, “This was the best result of my career " it all came together " and I was so close to my first Europa Cup win.”

Drake’s performance in Tarvisio followed on from his excellent results at the Alpine World Championships in Val d’Isere earlier this month, and shows his strong potential for the Winter Olympic games in Vancouver in just under 12 months time.

Since recovering from fracturing her ankle in November, Alcott, 26, from Twickenham, has produced a string of consistent results this season, including personal best finishes in the World Championships. She goes again tomorrow (Saturday) in a second World Cup Downhill at Bansko and competes in the SuperG race at the same venue on Sunday.

ENDS