TRAINING paid off for The Queen’s School’s ski team as they delivered an improved performance at a national competition.
The school ended up ranked seven places higher than last year in the British Schoolgirls Ski Races.
The races took place in Flaine, France, and saw the Queen’s team move up to 29th overall, out of a total of 52 teams.
Queen’s skiers were Orlaith Monk, 14, from Pulford, Alice Thompson, 14, from Christleton, Serena Grace, 13, from Malpas.
Serena’s sister Georgina Grace, 11, raced for the Snowsports team rather than her school.
Orlaith got the fastest team time in the slalom, Serena came third in the overall under 14 unregistered competition (which consists of the combined time of two giant slalom and two slalom runs) while Georgina was first in the U14 unregistered slalom.
Individually, Serena improved by 35 places and Alice by 17.
Orlaith was unlucky not to place due to a fall and Georgina made an amazing debut and will be pressing hard to get into the Queen’s team next year.
Queen’s ski team manager Andrew Thompson said: “There were very difficult conditions this year and the organisers struggled to make it safe.
“A tricky icy section meant Orlaith crashed along with several other competitors but the courage shown by all the Queen’s girls on such a tricky course was really something to behold.
“Overall it was a good team result with plenty of promise for next year’s championships.”
