Gower, Brown, Major and Clissold take the National Junior Championships Downhill honours at Delancey British National Alpine Ski Championships

Day four of the Delancey British National Alpine Ski Championships in Meribel saw Jack Gower and Cara Brown crowned British Under 21 Downhill Champions, and Billy Major and Honor Clissold crowned British Under 18 Downhill Champions in the National Junior Championships Downhill.

Jack Gower (1.39.27) skied impressively, pushing the limits to claim the Under 21 title, finishing over 4 seconds faster than the next skier in the Under 21 category Max Baggio, who finished in 1.43.96. In the Men’s Under 18 category, Billy Major won in a time of 1.43.09, with Oliver Davies (1.44.87) finishing in 2^nd and Ben Wajda (1.50.84) in 3^rd.

Gower commented: “I am very happy with my performance today. Yesterday was a good day, but I wasn’t satisfied with the way I skied. Today I stepped things up, and although I made a few mistakes which cost me, I am a lot happier. When you are pushing that’s what happens in ski racing.”

For the girls it was Cara Brown who took the title of British Under 21 Downhill Champion in a time of 1.51.18. Honor Clissold in the Under 18 category put in a strong performance as she skied on the edge to claim the Under 18 title in a time of 1.15.04, just a fraction faster than Under 21 winner Cara Brown. In 2^nd place in the Under 18 category was Darcie Mead who finished in 1.15.88.

Clissold said: “I am really pleased to be the fastest girl down and win my category. I wanted to do well in the Downhill and I did as well as I had hoped, so I was really pleased. It was a bumpy course but I don’t think I gave away any speed which I am happy about. I was surprised to beat Darcie and Cara but I was really happy with the way I skied.”

The British Junior Downhill is open to all British competitors, irrespective of age, so across the whole British field it was Dougie Crawford (1.38.13) who won overall and TJ Baldwin (1.38.93) in 2^nd. Gower was 3^rd overall. In the overall Women’s race it was Natalia Harte who won overall in the absence of Chemmy Alcott. She won in a time of 1.50.41 with Clissold and Brown finishing 2^nd and 3^rd overall.

The 2014 Delancey British National Alpine Ski Championships - the biggest event in the British Alpine ski racing calendar is supported for the fourth year by Delancey who is also the Principal Sponsor of British Ski and Snowboard. The Senior and Junior Championships take place from 30 March to 7 April, followed by the Under 16 and Under 14 Championships, from 8 April to 11 April.

Delancey British National Alpine Ski Championships 2014 – National Junior Championships Downhill results (British racers only):

Men’s Under 21: 1st – Jack Gower (1.40.01), 2^nd – Max Baggio (1.43.96)

Men’s Under 18: 1^st – Billy Major (1.43.09), 2^nd - Oliver Davies (1.44.87), 3^rd – Ben Wajda (1.50.84)

Men’s Overall: 1^st - Dougie Crawford (1.38.13), 2^nd – TJ Baldwin (1.38.93), 3^rd – Jack Gower (1.40.01)

Women’s Under 21: 1^st – Cara Brown (1.51.18)

Women’s Under 18: 1^st – Honor Clissold (1.51.04), 2^nd – Darcie Mead (1.51.88)

Women’s Overall: 1^st – Honor Clissold (1.51.04), 2^nd Cara Brown (1.51.18), 3^rd – Darcie Mead (1.51.88)

Full results from the Delancey British National Alpine Ski Championships can be found on the official website: www.britishalpinechamps.com.

Further information on British Ski and Snowboard visit www.teambss.org.uk and on Delancey and the services they provide visit www.delancey.com.