BBU LOTTERY

Next Draw
30 Jun 13


Winners in March:


1st  - Ticket # 109
2nd  - Ticket # 75
3rd -  Ticket # 80
4th  - Ticket # 27
5th  - Ticket # 28

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The British Biathlon Union (BBU) is the UK National Governing Body (NGB) for the Olympic winter sport of Biathlon. The BBU was incorporated on 23 October 1996 and selects the GBR teams at all levels.

 

 

This site is updated frequently during the winter season, and periodically from April - November!


 

07 Apr 13 - THE SPY WHO LOVED BIATHLON

For a light-hearted and amusing end of season short movie, with a short (very short) cameo-role for Lee-Steve JACKSON check out the IBU Biathlonworld.com TV film of:

The Spy Who Loved Biathlon
 
07 Apr 13 - WOLFGANG PICHLER LOOSES RUSSIAN JOB

One of biathlon's most respected and experienced coaches, Wolfgang Pichler has lost his job as Head Coach of the Russian women's team. This follows a disappointing end to the season with the Russian women not winning a single medal in the Nove Mesto World Championships and then recording only two 2nd place results in the final two World Cups on the "home snow" of Sochi & Khanty Mansyisk. Although they came 3rd in the Nations Cup this was a drop from 1st place in 2012.

Pichler's training methods were severely criticised just a week ago by the dis-credited but still influential "elder statesman" of Russian biathlon, Alexander Tikhonov.  Some true, if unwise, comments on President Putin's knowledge of biathlon in an interview during WC 5, may not have endeared Pichler to the billionaire President of the RBU Mikhail Prokhorov. 

Alexander Selifonov returns as Head Women's Coach having been in charge from 2007 - 10 when four of his athletes were banned for doping! Pavel Rostovzev und Sergei Jefimov join his team.

Pichler coached Sweden for 16 years before being appointed to oversee the entire Russian training programme following a very poor home World Championships in 2011. He was also a coaching advisor to GBR's only female Olympic biathlete, Emma FOWLER. Russian media report that he will stay on until after Sochi 2014 in a "functionary & special training role". Pichler lives in Ruhpolding and is the cousin of former GBR Team Coach, Walter Pichler.

 
07 Apr 13 - EKLUND QUITS AS SWEDISH HEAD COACH

Staffan Eklund who took over the Swedish team from Pichler in 2011 has resigned and is returning to his home Club. He will be replaced by 32 year old Johan Hagström to coach the Men's team with 38 year old Marko Laaksonen the women

Word on the track is that Raphael Poiree's time as Belarussian Men's Coach could also be drawing to a close, whilst the Russian Shooting Coach, Andrei Gerbulov also "resigned" last week!

 
07 Apr 13

New training location? No, a view near the BBU office in South Wales last week.

The 2018 & 2022 squads start training in North Wales this week - they have even more snow!
 
07 Apr 13 - WADA issues alert on substance GW501516

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has issued a statement alerting the athlete community to the risks associated with prohibited substance GW501516. This is sold on the black-market and can have such severe long term health risks that WADA has taken the unusual step of issuing the warning. Read now!

This comes on top of a 2 year ban for leading British boxer Dillian Whyte for use of sport supplement "Jack 3D" containing Methylhexaneamine (MHA) / Dimethylamylamine (DMAA).  As the CEO of the British Dietetic Association said yesterday:

      "Why take supplements in the first place? In most cases, even in elite sports, diet can tackle the issue rather than supplements"

All athletes (Club, Regimental and National) Beware! And we again emphasise the fact that "ignorance is not an excuse". 

 
05 Apr 13 - WORLD CUP PROGRAMME 2013 -14

World Cup Date Venue Competition
WC 1 22 Nov - 01 Dec Östersund SWE MR,I,SP,P
WC 2 03 - 08 Dec Hochfilzen AUT SP, P, R
WC 3 09 - 15 Dec Le Grand Bornand FRA SP, P, R
WC 4 01 - 05 Jan Oberhof GER SP, P, M
WC 5 06 - 12 Jan Ruhpolding GER R,SP,M
WC 6 13 - 19 Jan Antholz ITA SP,P,R
Olympic Winter Games 07 - 23 Feb Sochi RUS I,SP,P,M,R,MR
WC 7 03 - 09 Mar Pokljuka SLO SP,P,M
WC 8 10 - 16 Mar Kontiolahti FIN I,SP,R
WC 9 17 - 23 Mar Oslo-Holmenkollen NOR SP,P,M
RAC, RA, AAC Champs 03 - 10 Jan Hochfilzen AUT SP,R
       
Army Regional (Div) Champs 11 - 21 Jan Les Contamines FRA SP,R
Serre Chevalier FRA
       
Army & British Champs 22 Jan - 08 Feb Ruhpolding GER SP,M,R,I
Biathlon probably 25 - 30 Jan, Cross Country probably 01 - 04 Feb
(tbc approx 01 May 13)
 
05 Apr 13 - IBU CUP PROGRAMME 2013 -14
 
IBU Cup Date Venue
IBU 1 22 - 24 Nov Idre SWE
IBU 2 26 - 30 Nov Geilo NOR
IBU 3 11 - 15 Dec Obertilliach AUT
IBU 4 03 - 05 Jan Forni Avoltri ITA
IBU 5 08 - 12 Jan Ridnaun ITA
IBU 6 16 - 18 Jan Altenberg ITA
Euro Champs (U 26) 27 Jan - 04 Feb Nove Mesto CZE
IBU 7 07 - 09 Feb Brezno-Osrblie SVK
Youth/Junior World Champs 26 Feb - 07 Mar Presque Isle USA
IBU 8 12 - 16 Mar Martell ITA
RAC, RA, AAC Champs 03 - 10 Jan Hochfilzen AUT
     
Army Regional (Div) Champs 11 - 21 Jan Les Contamines FRA
Serre Chevalier FRA
Army & British Champs 22 Jan - 08 Feb Ruhpolding GER
Biathlon probably 25 - 30 Jan, Cross Country probably 01 - 04 Feb
(tbc approx 01 May 13)

05 Apr 13 - MARCH LOTTERY RESULTS

Pay Congratulations to the Winners of the 31st March Draw:

1st:  Ticket # 109

2nd: Ticket # 75

3rd:  Ticket # 80

4th:  Ticket # 27

5th:  Ticket # 28 

 To join the winners ensure you have a ticket for the next Draw, which is on Friday 30th June! Click here to Join.

 
05 Apr 13 - BBU STRATEGY DAY - WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!

We need your ideas! Please see the News Item of 09 Mar - below
 
05 Apr 13 - SUMMER TRAINING SQUADS - CONFIRMED

2018 SQUAD
SSgt WALKER Marc (Coach) 1 LSR RLC
SSgt WALKER Adele 29 Regt RLC
Cpl JONES Nerys AGC 
Bdr HILL Steve 3 RHA
LCpl  DUNNETT John 1 LSR RLC
LCpl FULLER Dan 2  RTR
LCpl GLEAVE Alex 2 CS Bn REME
Spr SMITH Joel 28 Engr Regt
DIXON Scott Cairngorm BNSC
2022 SQUAD
Bdr ALLANSON Simon (Coach) 3 RHA
  LCpl BOWEN Sean 10 Trg Bn / 1 CS Bn REME
LCpl BRADLEY Darran 1 RTR
Gnr DEAN-NETCHER James 3 RHA
Gnr  FOUNTAIN Vinny 16 Regt RA
Pte  HOWES James 29 Regt RLC
Tpr  MASSEY Alex HCR
Cfn YARROW Brett 2 CS Bn REME
SIRCUS Robert  Cairngorm BNSC
2014 SQUAD
Personal Coaches
Cpl LIGHTFOOT Amanda AGC 
Bdr KANE Kevin 3 RHA
LCpl  BEYER Pete 1 LSR RLC
LBdr  JACKSON Lee-Steve 16 Regt RA
LCpl LAPONDER Marcel 28 Engr Regt

 
16 Mar 13 - BIATHLON ON RADIO 2

At very short notice the BBU's Sec Gen, Mark Goodson was interviewed live on the "Friday Fixture" during the Simon Mayo "Drivetime" programme on BBC Radio 2 yesterday. The theme was a description of the sport rather than a focus on our National team and unfortunately the show was running behind schedule so a couple of questions were dropped!

 
16 Mar 13 - SIBERIAN SLOWDOWN FOR GBR

Unfortunately the final races of the season in the Siberian cold of Khanty-Mansyisk were more of a slowdown than a showdown for GBR. Amanda LIGHTFOOT discovered that the injury to her knee, following her fall last week in Sochi (below), was more serious that originally diagnosed and that she had torn her meniscus. An operation beckons back in the UK next week, and she will not begin summer training for at least a month. At least she has the consolation of 3 Olympic Qualifiers this season as she looks towards Sochi in just 328 days time!

Fortunately Lee-Steve JACKSON and Kevin KANE both have four Olympic Qualifiers in the bag, which was just as well following a very disappointing Sprint in Siberia.

Result   Percents

On a positive note, as a result of GBR's finishing positions in the Nations Cup - both World Cup and IBU Cup - we will maintain our start place quotas for next Season. Two men and one woman will start in WC and four in both the Men & Women's IBU Cup.

Final Nations Cup 2012 - 13:  

WC Men   WC Women   IBU Cup Men   IBU Cup Women

 
16 Mar 13 - NDS CONFIRMED TO START IN APRIL

We are delighted to report that National Development Squad (NDS) training will commence on Monday 15 Apr at Kinloss Barracks (39 Engr Regt), Forres SCO. Click for Course Joining Instructions.

 
09 Mar 13 - BBU STRATEGY DAY - WE NEED YOUR IDEAS!

The Board of the BBU and some invited guests will be holding a Strategy Day at the end of April, specifically looking at the 4 year Olympic cycle post-Sochi. We shall also take a long term view by considering options up to 2026, i.e. the three Olympic cycles post-Sochi.

We would be delighted to receive ideas and suggestions from YOU, our supporters. The main areas of discussion well be:

  • Improving Performance & Coaching.

  • Talent ID.

  • Sponsors & Funding.

  • Overall Image.

  • Governance and Administration.

but nothing is off the Agenda! If YOU wish to contribute to the Day please Email (anything from a few lines to a full discussion paper!) by 15 April 2013. Whilst we know "that the difference between the possible and the impossible is merely a measure of one's determination", before you come up with an expensive or outlandish idea, please remember that the BBU:
  • Has a current budget of only £ 130 K per year  - well less than Wayne Rooney's weekly wage! (We know that we need another £ 200 K to make meaningful changes!).

  • Receives no funding from UK Sport (we are not seen as "Podium Potential").

  • Has an all Volunteer Board (all of whom have "day" jobs).

  • Pays for only one part time Sec Gen and occasional winter Support Staff; all the other "staff" are in the Army.

  • Athlete base is almost exclusively from the Army and that there is effectively only one civilian Biathlon Club and one Biathlon Centre in the whole of the UK.

Remember, please  Email (anything from a few lines to a full discussion paper!) by 15 April 2013!
 
09 Mar 13 - SOCHI SUITS JACKO

The Sochi Olympic test World Cup in Russian President Putin's favorite winter sports venue saw the best from Lee-Steve JACKSON. In the Sprint he shot Zero-Zero for the first time this season, finishing 78th and with 13.2% scored his 4th Olympic Qualifier of the season to match the four of Kevin KANE.

KANE almost had a 5th in the 20km Indiv (73rd 0-1-0-1 and 15.3%) when Jacko had a bit of an off day finishing 91st (1-1-2-1 at 21.4%).

Men Sprint Result   Men Sprint Percents

Men Indiv Result   Men Indiv Percents

Amanda LIGHTFOOT continued a run of off-days when she fell badly in the 15km Individual and was casevaced off the mountain. She missed today's Sprint but with IBU medical and physio support we hope she will be fit for the final WC of the season next week in the Siberian city of Khanty-Manysisk. There was an amazing result for Germany's Double Gold and Triple Silver Olympic Cross Country Medalist Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle who finished 6th in the Sprint, which was only her 2nd ever Biathlon WC race.

Women Indiv Result

 
09 Mar 13 - OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS CONTINUE IN OSLO

It was a pretty good week for our two male athletes at the Oslo (WC 7) and Sochi (WC 8) World Cups.

Both Lee-Steve JACKSON (62nd, 1-1) and Kevin KANE (80th, 1-0) recorded Olympic Qualifiers in the Oslo Sprint with 11.5% and 13.8% respectively.

Men Results   Men Percents

Amanda LIGHTFOOT could not match this in the Women's Sprint where she misread the fluctuating wind conditions and missed 7. 

Women Results   Women Percents

 
25 Feb 13 - AGM MINUTES

The Minutes of the 2013 AGM have been published. Click to read.

The 2012 AGM Minutes did not include the Chairman's Report - they do now!  

 
 
09 Feb 13 - AGM & BOARD ELECTIONS

The 16th AGM of the BBU was held in Ruhpolding on Sun 27 Jan 13. The Minutes will be published in due course but of relevance is the re-election of three Directors (Board Members) and of one new Director /Board Member. 46 Members attended and all candidates achieved the required 50.1% share of the overall vote. Results:

Jon CAMPBELL 44 Re-elected
Mark GOODSON 44 Re-elected
Carl CARRIER 33 Elected
Eddy LOWE 30 Re-elected
 

   
28 Dec 12 - WADA 2013


The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Executive Committee, of which IBU President Anders Besseberg is a member, has approved the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods for 2013. The 2013 List takes effect 01 Jan 13.

Click the logo for the full 2013 WADA List

Click for Q & A, Major Changes abd FAQs

The 2013 Prohibited List can also be found on UK Anti-Doping website. 

 

 
Click for News Archive Winter 2012 - 13 Click for ALL News & Results Archives
 
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