On the 31st Jan to 1st Feb, Sophie Muir secured herself a podium finish in the Challenger's Cup in Hamar, Norway, in the 500m and 1000m, breaking two national records in the process.
Coach Desley and Sophie
Sophie on the Podium
Other Australian skaters competed at this event with Joshua Lose securing a World Cup berth with his 5000m time of 6:57.74, which was a personal best for that distance.
Daniel Grieg (photo) competed in the 500m, 1000m events, also securing personal bests over these distances. Daniel is well on his way to securing a World Cup qualifying time in the 500m after skating 38.39secs.
On the 1st of Feb, Daniel Yeow competed in the Klasse 4/5 competition in Enschede, Netherlands. Daniel skated personal bests in both the 500m and 1000m events, finishing 8th of 21 in the 500m, and 2nd of 13 in the 1000m.
Brooke Lochland competed in her first LT event, skating in the Klasse 4/5 on the 1st of Feb. Brooke only skated the 500m, finishing 9th of 29 in a time of 46.67secs.
Daniel Yeow skated in this event as well, skating the 500m and 1000m distances, also lowering his PB for both distances, skating 44.01 in the 500m, and 1:28.01 in the 1000m.
MASTERS
Frank Anderson travelled to Berlin for the 13th International Masters Cup on the 7th & 8th of Feb. Frank had been on clap skates for two days before this event, but managed to secure PB's in all 4 distances, taking 39sec off his 3000m, 24sec off his 1500m, and just under a second off his 500m.
Frank then travelled to Inzell for the 1st Masters International Sprint Games the following weekend, finishing 3rd overall for the over 35's - securing PB's in the 500m and 1000m.
Frank is on his way back to Australia later this week but he hopes to return next year for some more Masters events.
Frank was in supershape in Europe. For a person who was'nt used to clapskates he did very very well. We where shouting Aussie Aussie go go! (and we earned an Australian cap). Frank, it was nice to meet you and we hope to meet you again on a Master's tournament anywhere else in the world. Greetings, Jim and Maureen (I don't wear a dress made of a leg of an Norwegian speedsuit, :-) !!)
ReplyDeleteThanks guys - it was nice to have the support, and I hope you will wear the Aussie caps proudly, especially if any Aussies are racing!
ReplyDeleteYes, Johann Koss will be wondering where the left leg of his old suit has gone???
Hopefully I will get back up next season and can venture to the Netherlands and stay a while longer and have a chance to get used to claps. i will email those photos to you soon.
When is Australia going to get its own 400 meter indoor speed skating oval?
ReplyDeleteHi Anon,
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your question about Australia getting it's own ice oval, the answer is "Probably not for a long time!"
There is a new rink being built at Melbourne's Docklands precinct and I understand that when those plans were on the table, the suggestion of building a 400m oval was proposed but decided against due to the high cost and the low profile of LT in Australia.
So unfortunately, we'll have to wait for a while and hope that Team GoldRush bring some profile lifting results in Vancouver.