Category Archives: Rollerskiing

Rollerski racing

Cairngorm And Scottish 2009 Series Results

Following the Huntly Sprints on Saturday, the Cairngorm Hill Climb was held on Sunday. This was the last event in the Scottish Rolllerski Series, so the final results for the series are included.

Huntly Championships 12 September 2009

Exhausted Racer

Exhausted Racer

The championships this year were blessed with bright sunshine and blue skies. Visiting teams came from the RAF, GB Biathlon squad, Cairngorm and Highland Nordic. Callum Smith came took first place in the Seniors competition, whilst Sarah Young took first in the Ladies competition. Mike Dixon took the first veteran in the men’s race, and Fiona Crossley took first veteran female. Course records were once again set in the Senior Mens & Ladies 7.1km. In fact standards have risen so much that the first 10 men & first 9 ladies were inside the original course records set in 2005.

To the relief of the organizers, the council roads department had done a good job cleaning up the debris from last Thursday’s flooding. Practice on Thursday night had a distinctly “off road” feel by the car park entrance owing to the large amount of silt depostied by the Deveron.

This year marked the piloting of an automated lap counting and timing system. Despite a few teething troubles the system has proved a success and will, no doubt, be further developed for races next year.

The prizes were presented by George Gabriel. Thanks to all those who gave time to organize the races. Continue reading →

Huntly Race Timing Changes

This year’s Huntly Championships will mark a new stage in technological development for the club. In conjunction with Aberdeenshire Council we are piloting  electronic timing for the races. Racers will have a chip strapped to their ankle similar to that seen in World Cup Events. The chip will register when the competitor goes over the start and finishing line.

Coming to an ankle near you

Coming to an ankle near you

The chip can also be used to generate split times and do lap counting – the bane of longer Huntly events over the last few years. The aim is to pilot the system in 2 or 3 races this year and hopefully have a fully automated system next year. This will probably involve permanently installing timing loops or a pipe for them in the rollerski track.

The system has already been used for cycling and triathlon events, but applying it to rollerski racing where there will be many races in one day and the layout of the Huntly track poses technical challenges for the timers.

Eileen, Sandy, Hilary and Claire can’t put their feet up as they will be responsible for the official timings this year and FIS regulations require a manual backup for any electronic timing system.

Format For Hayes Races 8th August 2009

Adam Pinney has sent out this information

The next race in the British Roller Ski Series will be at Hayes on Saturday 8th August, starting at 4:00 p.m. The format of this race will be 2 x 10 km (2 x 6 laps) pursuit. Both legs will be on Start Combis and racers must stop after the classic leg, remove the rollers, put them back on again and start the skate leg.
Continue reading →

Dates For Your Diary

Our Secretary, Peter Thorn as been beavering away during his last stint offshore. He’s produced the latest newsletter (available March Newsletter (PDF)) and also produced the  2009 GB Rollerski Series Calendar. So keep the weekends of 30/31 May and 12th September free to race at Huntly.

If you want more activity over the summer why not enter Ming’s Challenge Ming Event Details Saturday June 6th 2009.

June 2006 Rollerski Sprints

Time Trials

The races started with time trial sprints over a “flat” 655m & 1135m “Hill” courses. These time were added together to decide the GB Series race.

2 Racers speed by

2 Racers speed by

Remarkably, the first three places were taken by under 18 skiers (Andrew Young (HNSC), Andrew Musgrave (HNSC) and Alistair Duncan (CBNSC)) who just beat former Olympian Mike Dixon (CBNSC) into fourth place. Although a veteran, retired from competitive skiing and not in full training, it was a tremendous achievement for these young skiers to beat Mike and a healthy sign that we have some talented juniors coming up through the ranks. Skiers like Mike are always a target for these young skiers. The first lady home Sarah Young (HNSC) is also under 18. In second place was another Huntly skier Posy Musgrave, who has just moved up into the senior ranks. Fiona Crossley travelled up from Yorkshire to take third place and first female veteran despite a nasty tumble on the hill. Cairngorm brought a large contingent of young skiers who have greatly improved since their last visit to the Huntly races.

Knock Outs

After the time trial races there were open knock-out races over the same sprint courses. With three skiers competing head to head some of the reaces were extremely competitive.

The semi-final with Alistair Duncan just holding off the last gasp challenge from Andrew Musgrave got the spectators excited for the final. In the final Mike Dixon took and held a lead of 5m from Andrew Young with Alistair Duncan struggling to keep with the early pace. However, on the final uphill with 250m to go, Duncan in a fantastic overtaking manoeuvre burst through a small gap while Dixon and Young tangled with each other. Duncan built a few metres lead which he held to win a hugely exciting final from the two pre-race favourites. The Novice knock-out final was won by Stuart Hamna (RAF) who has only been rollerskiing for a few weeks from Huntly new comer Megan Heathershaw. The day finished with a series of age group finals.
Thanks to the Huntly Nordic And Outdoor Centre (Aberdeenshire Council) for using their facility for the races.

Al Dargie’s video of 2006 sprints

Results

HNSC Sprints Results 3rd June 2006

HNSC Rollerski Sprint Knock Out Races 3rd June 2006