News: Winter 2006 - 2007

The names and details concerning training locations; course dates; BOA "Generation 2014" are all now on the Athletes' Page.

European Cup squad and NDS athletes and their Units should note a number of looming (or indeed past!) deadlines. Action please!

25 Mar 07 - HOW TO START

Thanks to Rupert Butcher of Wessex BNSC for reminding us that the "About Us & How to Start page was a little dated! It is now bang up to date, and apologies to Cairngorm BNSC and Wessex BNSC for their previous omission from "How to Start".

21 Mar 07 - MEN SECURE TOP 22 SPOT

The GBR Men's team finished the season in 22nd spot in the Nations Cup and, importantly, will thus retain their 3 start places for each World Cup race next season. The expected challenge from Japan did not materialise, but Kazakhstan were not far behind, and as we failed to beat them in any relay this season there is certainly no room for complacency. Our two female athletes finished in 24th.

Congratulations to Jason SKLENAR and Martin GLAGOW for all their efforts and of course to the athletes who helped us achieve this placing: Lee JACKSON, Kevin KANE, Marc WALKER, Joe BROOKS, Lance HODGKINS, Carl CARRIER and Simon ALLANSON.

Russia won the Men's Nations Cup by just 25 points from Germany. The positions were reversed for the Women with Germany 600 points clear. Andrea HENKEL GER was the overall Women's World Cup winner with Michael GREIS GER the Men's Champion. This was in spite of an amazing end of season surge by Raphael POIREE FRA, who retired after one of the most exciting races ever seen in the Holmenkollen Mass Start where he finished 3 seconds ahead of Sven FISCHER GER but just 1/10th second behind Norway's awesome Ole Einar BJOERNDALEN.

POIREE's career stats show 3 Olympic and 18 World Championship Medals. Even more impressive is the record of Germany's Ricco GROSS who retired this week, with 10 Olympic Medals (4 of them Gold!) and 19 World Championship Medals to his name. Ricco is about to commence a German National Coaching Course in Cologne, but will will still be based in his home at Ruhpolding.

Final Nations Cup Final Positions:   Men    Women

21 Mar 07 - WORLD CUP ROUND UP

Emma FOWLER finished the season on a high with her best result of the season finishing 64th from 91 in the Holmenkollen / Oslo Sprint. Adele WALKER never really recovered from illness that forced her to miss the World Champs and was probably pleased to see the end of the season!

Lee JACKSON performed a Captain's role and never missed a race, completing 18 World Cup races. His skiing was generally a little slower than last season, but his shooting better as was Marc WALKER's who came out of retirement for 9 races and with an 83% shooting percentage on all shoots fired, but 90% of targets hit would have out-shot the legendary Mike DIXON! In his first season in the WC team, Kevin KANE probably surpassed all expectations in his 16 races; he just needs to ski faster!

Results from the final 3World Cups:

WC 7 Lahti FIN:   Men Indiv   Men Sprint      Women Indiv   Women Sprint

WC 8 Holmenkollen / Oslo NOR:   Men Indiv    Women  Sprint

WC 9 Khanty-Manysisk RUS:   Men Sprint

21 Mar 07 - EUROPEAN CUP ROUND UP

Shane CLASH finished the last 2 European Cups in good form and became the last of the Senior Men to qualify for World Cup selection next season. Highlight of the season was the unexpected emergence of Si BURKE who, was the highest place GBR athlete on the EC Total Points scoreboard. It was a fairly roller coaster season for the other EC athletes with some good, but a few indifferent performances, however without a coach or full time support on the circuit the boys can generally be pleased with their progress.

Results from the final 2 European Cups:

EC 7 Haute Maurienne FRA:    Men Sprint   Jun Men Sprint   Men Pursuit   Jun Men Pursuit  Women Sprint

EC 8 Ridnaun ITA:   Men Sprint   Men Pursuit    Jun Men Pursuit   Women Sprint

European Cup Points:   Total

21 Mar 07 - SQUADS FOR SUMMER TRAINING TO BE ANNOUNCED FRIDAY 23 MARCH

The confirmed squads for World & European Cup and National Development Squad summer training will be published here on Fri 23 Mar 07. The Course Joining Instructions for the NDS and warning order for the European Cup squad has already been sent to athletes and their Units (Clue 1:  there are no civilians in the squads! Clue 2: there are not too many changes from the early announcement on 13 Feb 07 in the Archive page!).

21 Mar 07 - PHOTO CREDIT APOLOGIES

Rob Pollard may be good but not good enough to be credited with photos from WC 6 in Poklujka when he was not even there! So apologies to the real photographer, Archie GEMMELL, our official photographer in Poklujka. More, he is also a BBU sponsor and we are extremely grateful for his gift of an Anshutz Fortner Rifle. Thank you Archie.

22 Feb 07 - MARC WALKER BECOMES GBR EUROPEAN CUP SQUAD COACH

The BBU is delighted to announce that former GBR Team Captain and coach of the very succesful 1 LSR RLC Nordic Team, Marc WALKER is to become the European Cup Squad Coach from May 2007. An announcement will be made shortly concerning details of the squad and training dates. Most training will however be conducted in Ruhpolding. Marc is also in the GBR Team for World Cups 7 & 8 where the Men's team will be hoping to edge closer to Japan in our bid to remain in the World Top 22.

22 Feb 07 - MAJ GEN CHRIS BROWN JOINS BBU BOARD

Maj Gen Chris BROWN was unanimously elected to the Board by the BBU Members at the 10th AGM held in Ruhpolding on 03 Feb 07. All 63 members present voted for him, 2 more than voted for the re-election of Mark GOODSON and Eddy LOWE! Click for full Minutes of the AGM.

22 Feb 07 - BURKE'S BULGARIAN DREAM START

Si BURKE of 1 LSR RLC made a dream start to his GBR racing career in the 20 km Individual race at the European Championships in Bansko BUL yesterday when he finished the "Best Brit". None of the athletes had startling times and both Simon ALLANSON and Mark SCHROEDER failed to finish. However Ginge became a star on TV falling on the range in the 20 km and in the penalty loop in today's 10 km Sprint, when he was the top GBR athlete!

The Championships, which are LIVE on Eurosport, started a day late as many skis and wax boxes were left behind at Munich Airport! Results:

20 km Indiv    15 km Junior Indiv   10 km Sprint   10 km Junior Sprint

13 Feb 07 - GBR SQUAD SELECTION

Following the British Championships which ended in Ruhpolding last week the World & European Cup Teams were selected until the end of the season, as well as the European Championships team. The National Development Squad (NDS) for summer training at the East Grange Biathlon Centre was also announced.  The proposed European Cup Development Squad was also listed, although the formation and activities of this squad are subject to the BBU securing the services of a squad coach during the summer.

Selection Lists

13 Feb 07 - WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Germany, with 5 Gold Medals and a further 3 Silver and Bronze dominated the medals table at the World Championships in Antholz / Anterselva Italy last week. 25,000 spectators filled the Stadium on most days of a memorable week. GBR was represented by Lee JACKSON 2 Yorks (Green Howards), Kevin KANE and Lance HODGKINS (who came out of retirement) - both 40 Regt RA, Joe BROOKS 45 Cdo RM and Marc WALKER 1 LSR RLC. Marc's wife Adele (29 Regt RLC), missed the entire week through illness so Emma FOWLER 1 LSR RLC was the sole GBR female racer.

All GBR Results

13 Feb 07 - WORLD & EUROPEAN CUP ROUND UP

Sorry not to have been able to give a blow by blow account of all the races in the past 6 weeks; our one man Secretariat has been a bit busy at the various races and Championships! However we know that keen readers will have followed the results through the IBU site (biathlonworld)! All the results are now on line on our World Cup and European Cup pages.

Highlights have been the successful qualification of Kevin KANE 40 Regt RA to compete in the World Championships in WC 6 and a visit to WC 5 in Ruhpolding by BBU President Colin JACKSON, where he was acclaimed and interviewed live in front of the 11,000 crowd on the range; the same number as out on the course. Low point was the return of Joe BROOKS'S old ankle injury which prematurely ended his season at EC 6 today.

02 Jan 07 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

On behalf of the BBU Athletes and Board we wish all our Members and viewers a Happy, Peaceful and Successful New Year.

We extend special greetings and thanks to our sponsors and supporters for all their help in 2006: The Army; BAE Systems; the BOA "Winter Sports Fund"; RMA Sports (UK) Ltd; East Grange Biathlon Centre and especially to

Together we shall strive to improve our performance and continue the development of our great sport in 2007. Copied from Alan Border, (former Australian cricket captain, who may just know a little!) is our tip for the year: "If you fail to prepare - then prepare to fail".

02 Jan 07 - GINGER SIMON MAKES WORLD CUP DEBUT

Simon "Ginge" ALLANSON (a Junior last season) makes his World Cup debut at Oberhof GER this week. He joins 40 Regt RA team mate Kevin KANE in the WC 4 Sprint on Saturday. Both athletes were graduates of the BBU Biathlon Academy in 2005 and are current Army BAE Systems Scholarship holders, as are European Cup athletes Shane CLASH and Paul WHIBLEY.

Joe BROOKS is rested for WC 4 and Marc WALKER is only available for WC 5 in Ruhpolding. Emma FOWLER and Adele WALKER complete the line up for Oberhof, but both know that it is an unforgiving and most demanding venue.

The European Cup athletes will be racing for their Regiments during January, except for Carl CARRIER and Fay POTTON who will compete in EC 5 at Forni Avoltri ITA.

02 Jan 07 - GERMAN TV HONOURS FOR BIATHLETES

There is a vague link to our BBC Sports Personality story about Tom CLEMENS (30 Dec 06)! Biathletes Michael Greis and Kati Wilhelm were named Germany's sportsman and sportswoman of the year by the nation's sportswriters in their TV equivalent. The pair were awarded for their superb performances at this year's Turin Olympics where they both won three medal's each.

If only GBR could win one medal ... or even the BBC Sports Personality of the year ...

30 Dec 06 - MBE FOR JASON SKLENAR IN NEW YEAR HONOURS LIST - VICTORIES FOR TOM CLEMENS AND COLIN JACKSON

Very many congratulations to Sgt Jason SKLENAR 28 Engr Regt, the Team Coach of the GBR World Cup Team, on his appointment to the Military Division as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours List published today. Jason, a current holder of a BOA / IOC Coaching Scholarship, competed in the Olympic Winter Games of Albertville 1992 and Salt Lake City 2002.

Speaking from his belated honeymoon in Costa Rica, he said: "I am flabbergasted. It has been an amazing year for Charlie and I, and this is the icing on the cake. It is a great honour, not only for myself but for all the British Biathlon family, and especially for the Royal Engineers."

Joining Jason in victory celebrations over Christmas were Turin Olympian Sgt Tom CLEMENS and BBU President Colin JACKSON. Tom, formerly DDLI, had his Passing Out Parade for the APTC on 15 Dec 06 marked by being presented with the inaugural BOA / BBU Athlete of the Year Trophy. Five days earlier he had joined all the other Olympic sports "Athletes of the Year" at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards at the NEC.

Our President is no stranger to the BBC and we congratulate him on his victory in the Christmas Day special "Strictly Come Dancing".  He showed the same immaculate footwork as he did when gliding over the high hurdles in World Record time, and we look forward to his visit to World Cup 5 in Ruhpolding

30 Dec 06 - BEHIND THE BBU

Three updates on "Money", "People" and "Percentages" herald in the New Year on our informative BEHIND THE BBU page. A new feature on "Sponsors" has been added which balances the less than encouraging "Meltdown" report on UK Sport support for Biathlon.

30 Dec 06 - SKIING SNOOKERED ON EUROSPORT

We are sorry that Biathlon and most skiing was replaced on British Eurosport by hours of Patrick Winterton commentating on Snooker (most of which was live on BBC 2) in the week before Christmas. A number of you have contacted us, but as we have said before, "it is out of our hands". Please complain to Eurosport!

On the other hand, full marks to ZDF for their excellent coverage of Marc Walker in the WC 3 second Sprint and story about his summer in Iraq. Unfortunately his post race interview was cancelled as the cameras switched to Germany's Sven FISCHER who stormed round from 112th start place to finish 3rd.

30 Dec 06 - WADA 2007 LIST

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 2007. The 2007 List includes only minor modifications and takes effect 01 Jan 07. For all info see our Medical & Doping Page

REMEMBER: As always the onus is on the athlete; ignorance is NOT an excuse!

28 Dec 06 - HOCHFILZEN ROUND UP

Apologies for the delay in posting the results from Hochfilzen. There are just not enough hours in the day! However we know that avid readers will have found the IBU Live Results or full PDF results from World Cup 2 and WC 3, which was scheduled for Osriblie SVK, but held in Hochfilzen! WC 2 was almost entirely a BJOERNDALEN & HENKEL private event. World Cup 3 was more open with the podium places spread around a bit more, partly because Ole Einar went off to a FIS Cross Country World Cup.

Great Britain had a mixed time, but there was some shooting that will have warmed the cockles of the hearts of shooting coaches Arthur Harvey, Roger Roberts and Gordon Seaton. Results of GBR races:

WALKER ZEROS A DOUBLE

Marc WALKER skied out of retirement to complete a 0-0 double in the Relay and Sprint at World Cup 2. The following week in wC 3 he was nearly as good, missing just once in each race. Marc spent most of the summer in Iraq where Biathlon training was not high on the agenda in Basra. He is currently coaching his Regimental team, 1 LSR RLC, but hopefully, and especially as he is currently posting the best overall percentages of any GBR athlete, will be available for WC 5 in Ruhpolding 10 - 14 Jan.

It wasn't a bad week for Marc's wife Adele who is narrowing the gap on GBR female No 1, Emma FOWLER. For the second time in her WorldCup career Adele beat Emma, this time in the WC 3 Sprint.

SUPER SHOOT IN HOCHFILZEN RELAY

For the first time in many years (a prize if you can tell us when it last happened!) the GBR team shot clear in a Relay at WC 2. Although slipping into last place, the team of Marc WALKER, Lee JACKSON, Kevin KANE and Joe BROOKS shot superbly and all registered a 0-0, with both WALKER and KANE requiring no spare rounds!

A week later just 2 targets were missed but a fantastic opening leg from Lee Jackson who came in at just 7.7% behind (the best this century!) helped reduce the team's overall behind time.

GUARDIAN & TIMES FAVOUR BIATHLON

Two very positive articles on Biathlon were published during the Hochfilzen World Cups.

First, Ed Douglas of The Guardian reported on the effects of climate change and the great efforts that the WC Organising Committee went to ensure that WC 2 & 3 could take place.

The Guardian Sat 09 Dec 06: Page 1  Page 2

Second, The Times continued a story from Turin by Sarah Potter concerning GBR's first ever female  Olympian biathlete, Emma FOWLER. Great PR for the Army as well, but the rest of the team are now looking forward to breakfast!!

The Times Thu 14 Dec 06: Page 1

EC ATHLETES EYE WORLD CUP

Simon "Ginge" ALLANSON was called up from the EC team to the World Cup squad for the final race before Christmas. Although he did not race, his encouraging EC form suggests it will not be long before he makes his debut, but Paul WHIBLEY actually beat him in the last EC race! Such healthy competition must be good for the future of GBR biathlon.

28 Dec 06 EUROPEAN CUPS IN OBERTILLIACH

GBR recorded mixed results in the two pre-Christmas European Cups held in Obertilliach AUT. Fay POTTON, Lee CUNNINGHAM and Pete BEYER (28 Engr Regt) premiered on the International scene. Fay is the first ever RAF female to race for GBR at any level in biathlon. Pete made a dream start, but came down to earth a bit when Lee (the first  Army Air Corps biathlete to compete for GBR) beat him in the second EC 2 Sprint.

Simon "Ginge" ALLANSON is the leading EC athlete at Christmas although Paul WHIBLEY is not far behind. After a difficult 12 months, Carl CARRIER has yet to regain his full form, whilst Shane CLASH has not yet achieved a World Cup Qualifier. Shane, Carl and Fay will be racing at EC 4 in Forni Avoltri ITA and the rest of team will re-assemble after the British & Army Championships, prior to the European Championships in Bansko BUL. Not that selection for this event is a certainty for any athlete!

02 Dec 06 OLE'S SWEDISH DOUBLE

Ole Einar BJOERNDALEN (0-1) was victorious for the second time in 3 days, when he won the Sprint in Östersund today.

Lee JACKSON (0-2) was the best GBR athlete finishing 98th in a large field of 115. Kevin KANE (1-1) was 111th, just one place ahead of Joe BROOKS (2-3)  Results    Nations Cup

01 Dec 06 EARLY START FOR MEN'S SPRINT

The World Cup Men's Sprint in Östersund SWE tomorrow (Saturday) is LIVE on Eurosport at 1115 GMT. This is one hour earlier than the previous races this week!

Joe BROOKS starts his first race for over a year, following a serious ankle injury, in bib 34. Lee JACKSON goes at 94 and Kevin KANE at 103.

Note the Pursuits on Sunday are at 1015 (Women) and 1145 (Men) GMT.

01 Dec 06 GWIZDON WINS FOR POLAND

Poland's Magdalena GWIZDON recorded her first ever World Cup victory in her 8th season, in the Östersund 7.5 km Sprint today. She shot 0-0, one better than Germans Kati WILHELM and Martina GLAGOW in 2nd & 3rd. Martina made up 13 seconds after the second shoot to clinch 3rd by just 1/10th of a second.

It was not such a good day at the office for GBR's Emma FOWLER (85th) and Adele WALKER (88th). Both missed 5 and will thus also miss the Pursuit on Sunday.   Results    Nations Cup

30 Nov 06 - "WHEN I'M 64!"

Norwegian superstar Ole Einar BJOERNDALEN picked up where he left off at the end of the last season and won the men's season opening 20 km Individual in Östersund SWE. It was Bjoerndalen's 64th victory in a Biathlon World Cup.

He impressively confirmed the expectations he had raised with his strong performance in the Gällivare (SWE) cross country World Cup, where he won a 15 km freestyle race 2 weeks ago.

The GBR team recorded their traditional slow start to the season with Lee JACKSON (1-2-1-1) finishing 91st; Carl CARRIER (2-1-2-0) 106th and Kevin KANE (1-0-4-1) 109th. Results    Nations Cup 

The Women's Sprint tomorrow (1215 GMT) is LIVE on Eurosport and sees Adele WALKER start at 25 with Emma FOWLER in bib 70.

29 Nov 06 - THREE MISSES FOR EMMA - THREE NEW PODIUM NAMES

Emma FOWLER opened her season's shooting with a 0-1-1-1 in the 15 km Individual at Östersund SWE today. Only 15 athletes from a field of 88 shot better. Her final position of 66th was her best in the 15 km for 2 seasons and her percentage of 12.8% was better than all bar one race last season. Adele WALKER was not on such good form recording 3-2-2-2 to finish 85th.

Three new names appeared on the Podium, headed by Russian Irina MALGINA.   Results

29 Nov 06 - KANE KICKS OFF MEN'S SEASON

Kevin KANE will start his first ever World Cup race tomorrow at No 31. Lee JACKSON goes at 83 and Carl CARRIER at 107 in the Men's 20 km Individual in Östersund SWE. The race is LIVE on Eurosport at 1215 GMT.

29 Nov 06 - WORLD CUP 2 ON COURSE FOR HOCHFILZEN

Snow has been lorried in from the Gross-Glockner glacier to Hochfilzen AUT where a cold spell is forecast in the next few days. IBU Race Director Franz Berger reported today that "Hochfilzen is 101% certain to go ahead on schedule."

The start of the European Cup season may be delayed due to a severe shortage of snow in Obertilliach. The GBR EC team is currently training in Lillehammer NOR, but for how long - who knows?

28 Nov 06 - ÖSTERSUND OPENER FOR WORLD CUP

The Opening World Cup of the new season starts tomorrow (Wed 29 Nov) in Östersund SWE. Adele WALKER will be the first to start for GBR in the 15 km Women's Individual which is LIVE on Eurosport at 1215 GMT. She starts 38th with Emma FOWLER in her first Individual race since the Turin Olympics at 55.

The new IBU LIVE Web Broadcasting link will be included soon on this page. Until then go to the IBU News page and click on the Live Broadcasting logo. (This will not open until shortly before the race starts). This service is in addition to the regular LIVE Results which are continually updated during each race.

28 Nov 06 - SNOW SHORTAGE SUITS SWEDES

In a complete reversal to the weather 12 months ago, there is a severe shortage of snow in the Alps, but a reasonable supply in Sweden. A decision on relocating WC 2, scheduled for Hochfilzen AUT, will be made imminently. Östersund will host that World Cup if a change is made. Idre SWE is a possible venue for EC 1 & 2 which are due to take place in Obertilliach AUT. Watch here for latest news!

28 Nov 06 - GBR TEAMS SELECTED FOR FIRST THREE WORLD CUPS

Following the GBR National Selection races in Östersund last week the following athletes have been selected for the GBR teams until Christmas:

Congratulations to all the athletes, and especially to Kevin KANE who makes his World Cup debut, and Lee CUNNINGHAM and Fay POTTON who will compete for the first time for GBR.

20 Sep 06 - SKYPE CONTACT

We are pleased to say that we have a contact name on Skype for FREE phone calls to the Secretary General. (Obviously we can only offer this when the office is manned!!)

Skype User Name:             britishbiathlon 

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