Inghams All England Championships
6th September, 2008
Norfolk Ski Club
In a sporting world of media over-hype words such as outstanding, great and legendary tend to get so over used that they’ve become utterly devalued over time. In truth time is the only genuine judge of what was actually outstanding against what was pretty good. It differentiates disappointment from disaster and the sublime from the mundane. Time allows us space to take breath, to measure, compare and judge away from the adrenalin rush that you get by viewing sporting prowess. Time alone tells us who are our indubitable sporting legends and who, by contrast, were the fly-by-night heroes.
At around half past four on Saturday afternoon Marc Telling again re-confirmed his status as no fly-by-night hero. Amid the supercharged, testosterone fuelled atmosphere found at the start gate at the business end of Snowsport England’s showpiece summer event Telling, the 2006 Champion, regained his crown, producing another devastating 13 second blast of power, balance, complete control and ice cool nerve. Magnificent is another word that tends to become devalued by over use. In this case however it, unquestionably, is a more than appropriate description.
And it had to be because with Bradley Morgan, Oliver Robinson and Peter Walters pushing him every inch of the way Telling found himself involved in a serious four-way battle for supremacy. Indeed as the second run start list edged towards its conclusion the UK’s dendix heavyweights slugged it out and provided spectators, officials, sponsors and the other racers with a vintage festival of dry slope ski racing. One by one they each chipped a couple of tenths off the previous leading time and simultaneously nudged the pressure level up another notch for those still to race. Morgan’s run in particular looked capable of taking the title before Telling expeditious run left the Pendle racer to settle for the runners up spot in front of 3rd placed Oliver Robinson and the evergreen Peter Walters.
In the categories the 5th placed overall Andy Roose claimed 2nd place in Jun 2 in front of Tom Hales whilst Gerard Flahive continued his recent hot streak with 1st place in Jun 1 category and 9th overall. Ashley Hill and Andrew Davies completed the podium whilst Shaun Blythe, impressively dominated the field in Chi 2 category ahead of Kaigan Witts and Timothy Dannatt. In Chi 1 Ashley Breese eased to a deserved victory in front of Robert and Daniel Poth who collected 2nd & 3rd spots respectively.
Never ones to be outdone however the ladies race also made highly compulsive viewing and, as with Telling, Charlotte Davies proved not only a fierce competitor but also a worthy Champion. On numerous occasions this summer Davies has shown her opponents a clean pair of heels in compiling a number of notable successes but this, of course, was the day that truly mattered. Would she? Could she? Might she? Well yes, yes and yes came the emphatic response as the Gloucester racer completely dominated her event, posting fastest runs on both courses en-route to a well deserved victory and the title that all of her piers craved.
In runners up spot Alice Hales superbly tore up the form book and seeding list storming to the second fastest run on both courses, proving the only serious challenger to Davies and deservedly demolish her seed point ranking. In third place overall Emily Evans continued her excellent development producing a fine 2nd run that nudged elder sister Charlotte off the podium and into 4th place.
In the categories Rachel Adcock’s 5th place overall proved good enough to win the senior category ahead of Arrows team mate Alice Thelwell and Lesley Mearns. Kirsty Hatcher followed Charlotte(s) Davies and Evans onto the Jun 2 podium whilst Emily Whitelock’s 6th place overall was enough to secure runners up spot in Jun 1 category in front of Alessia Thomas Jackson in 3rd. In Chi 2 behind Emily Evans finished Nia Jenkins whose 2nd run proved too good for 3rd placed Sarah Lambden. Polly Shailes claimed the chi 1 title, just in front of Hannah Bozier in the runners up spot with Katie Eden and Georgia Hallett in joint 3rd.
In the Minis race Megan Jenkins and Matthew Davis ensured that their summer of event domination continued as both claimed 1st place in the youngster’s event. Runner-up spots were claimed by Yasmin Cooper and Nathan Breese with Freya Eaton and Declan Huppach also celebrating podium positions in a race that offered real promise for the future of British skiing.
The day however belonged to Marc Telling. Behind that cheeky grin and happy go lucky exterior lies a highly skilled racer with the heart of a lion and the intelligence to match. Amid an intoxicating battle for the 2008 Inghams All England Championship Telling applied those skills to again rise above his piers and re-claim the title that clearly means much to this superb athlete. Time may well judge our 2008 champion extremely well.
