As perhaps the final heatwave of the year basked Devon in glorious sun and warmth, the new ski season kicked off with the ESSKIA qualifying race in Gloucester and four strong teams from Stover headed North. The teams of four were racing against many other schools from across the South West with the fastest three times in each team counting.
The pupils performed exceptionally well with all four teams from across the school and qualifying for the National School Finals in Norfolk which will be held on Saturday 5th October 2019. This is the first time that the school has qualified for the UK Schools Final and we are proud of all our teams!
Stover A (Rosie Arnold, Arabella Armitage, Emily Sell and Felicity Bill-Gigg) were first to go with Rosie skiing the fastest and then the second fastest times for the whole U10 age group to get Stover off to a great start. Emily skied one of the best technical runs of the day to record the next fastest time. Arabella delivered two good, quick runs to keep the points coming as did Felicity who also decided to ski some of the course on one leg and still finish! Amazingly, between Rosie, Emily, Arabella and Felicity they had the fastest eight runs for the whole category and age group making it certain that Stover A have qualified for the National Finals in Norwich.
Stover B (Tom England, George England, Tom Robinson and Lucas Cox) were next in line and brimming with enthusiasm. Tom is one of our most improved racers but was unlucky to be disqualified on both runs. The ‘full throttle’ Lucas Cox also missed out on his first run but came back strongly in the second . George took his opportunity and delivered two adrenaline fuelled runs whilst Tom Robinson made his debut for the school and together with his brother Will, are another two fantastic additions to the team.
Stover C (Bethany Sell, Molly Arnold, Emily Gaffney and Lynsey Sell) had a setback from the start when Bethany Sell had a crash before the first race. Luckily, she was well enough to continue and led the team with two consistently high quality and brave runs. Molly, in her first ever ski race and debut race for the school managed two surprisingly quick times without ever stopping smiling. Emily, one of the original ski team members, skied the two smoothest runs of her racing career and Lynsey Sell after a cautious first run, finished the second run, three seconds faster!
Stover D (Jack Cox, Frazer Cox and William Robinson) had a challenge ahead of them as they all needed to record times in order to be in with a shout of qualifying. William, another racer making his debut had an even tougher job as he was racing with full size poles on a dry slope for the first time. Nonetheless, his on snow experience counted and William was able to land two consistently strong runs to set up the Cox brothers. Both Jack and Fraser had two blistering runs and both went faster on the second run to have the fastest 4 times in their category and finished in the top few places overall making Stover Senior A Team top the qualification standings and cement their place to represent at the National Finals as well.
Stover School has qualified for the first time ever for the UK Schools Final!
Stover School Ski Club trains on a Friday afternoon. We cater for beginners through to accomplished racers and all are welcome. Please contact Miss Robinson for more details.
Miss Robinson, Deborah Bill, James Arnold and Ashley Cox
