Bea Martin-Harrington and Frazer Mitchell both Second Form pupils, have been selected to ski with the English Schools Squad for England (Esskia) following the National Championships that were held in Rossendale, Lancashire where over 300 children who had previously qualified at the regional races took part.
For Bea Martin-Harrington this is her 3rd year at selection, but the 1st time at being selected for the Senior A Squad. She trains and races regularly with Gloucester Ski Club and the South West Ski Squad, came 3rd in the British Championships in September this year and 1st at the Pendle Grand Prix in July. Frazer Mitchell trains with Team Slalom Plus and this is his first success with ESSkiA. Both children competed on snow last winter with Beatrice training and living with the British Ski Academy in Les Houche, France and Frazer with SLP at their own training camps before each of the main races in Petzen, Austria and Bormio, Italy.
Headmaster, Alistair McNaughton, said “‘It is hugely rewarding to see our Ski Team going from strength to strength, both because of the passion and skill of those who will be going to Norway but also because of the way they are supported by parents and friends. We are thrilled by all that Bea and Frazer have achieved and wish them well when they join the senior squad for training in February.’
Bea and Frazer will now form an integral part in the squad of about 20 of the best skiers in the country. The objectives are to provide high quality training concentrating on developing young racers in a group of a high standard, and to prepare teams for the World Schools' Championships. The two 2010 training camps will be based in Geilo, Norway, where opportunities for speed training are particularly good, and which has seen some very successful past trainings. The next World School Championships will be held in Folgario, Italy in March and both will be aiming for this.