SKI teams from Abbey Gate College swept their way to podium finishes at a national competition.
The medal wins came at the English Schools’ Indoor Ski Championships, which were staged at the Chill Factore in Manchester.
Two teams from Abbey Gate, comprising students aged from 11 to 16, qualified for the event.
There was a golden display by Abbey Gate’s girls team as they won the head-to-head slalom relay.
After four rounds of good racing, they faced Surbiton High School from Surrey in the final.
Zoe Karavasili set the pace, finishing just ahead at the end of the first leg. The lead was increased by Christie Bell and Ellie Parker, leaving Sophie Caldwell to secure a memorable victory on the final leg.
Sophie’s opponent was a member of the GB junior team but the Chester ski star proved to be more than a match for her rival and finished with a slalom gate to spare.
The next event saw Abbey Gate’s boys and girls teams compete in the slalom race.
Having won bronze in the last two national UK competitions, the pressure was on the girls to bring home another medal – and they duly obliged by taking the silver.
Not to be outdone, the boys’ team – comprising Ben Shaw, Leo Karavasili, Digby Brereton and Ben Goodwin – also clinched a silver medal.
All eight Abbey Gate skiers finished in the top 30 of the individual standings.
Gavin Allmand, deputy head of Abbey Gate College, said: “This was a marked improvement by everyone and a richly deserved result following many weeks of hard practice.”
