News Season 2004 - 05
07 April 05- GBR LEAVE "PREMIERSHIP"
It's not actually called the "Premiership", but to be ousted from the IBU Nations Cup Top 20 is almost as severe as relegation from football's Premiership. Alas, this is what has happened to the GBR men's team, in spite of a late rally which saw them end equal 21st with China. Unfortunately the Japanese Team rallied even more and produced some stunning results in the New Year to comfortably take 20th place.
There are unfavourable financial repercussions of not being in the elite, but more to the point it means that next season GBR will have only 2 start places in each Men's World Cup Sprint & Individual race, instead of 3. It will therefore be that much harder to score enough points to climb back into the Top 20. However also from next season, the Relay will count towards Nations Cup points, and we must hope that our 3rd and 4th men can help us beat key rivals.
The killer punch though is the fact that outside the Top 20, the number of Olympic start places is cut from four to one. This will result in GBR fielding its smallest Men's team ever in Turin 2006. One bit of good news is that Emma Fowler has shown such good form that she is almost certain to become the first ever GBR female biathlete to compete in the Olympic Winter games
Nations Cup - Men (Final) Nations Cup Women (Final)
07 April 05 - TICKETING ARRANGEMENTS FOR OWG TURIN 2006
Ticketing and travel arrangements for the XX Olympic Winter Games, Turin 2006 are available now on line from Sportsworld - the BOA official travel agency for the Games. Tickets for some events, including biathlon, are selling fast! The BBU regrets that it can not assist in travel or ticketing.
30 Mar 05 - RUSSIAN ROUND UP
Only the Men's team went to Khanty-Mansiysk RUS for the final World Cup of the season, which included the inaugural World Championships Mixed relay - won by the host Nation. The GBR athletes are now on a well earned rest before full training resumes in early May.
16 March 05 - A CHAMPION WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The World Championships in Hochfilzen started and finished in glorious conditions, but in between there was some very mixed weather with yet another metre of snow falling in midweek. The GBR results were somewhat mixed as well! Emma Fowler posted another Olympic Qualifier in the Sprint, but was then beaten in the 15 km by Adele Turner. Lee Jackson recorded his best ever result in the Sprint, but the rest of the men's team generally failed to live up to expectations, although raced a confident relay.
Stars of the Championships were Ole Einar Bjoerndalen NOR with 4 gold medals, Uschi Disl GER with 2 golds and a bronze and Sven Fisher GER with 2 silvers and a bronze. A gold medal for organisation should be given to Hochfilzen and the Austrian Ski Verband who probably surprised themselves with the efficiency of it all, to the volunteer helpers and to host broadcaster ORF who, with 44 cameras, gave the world biathlon at its best. Over 15000 spectators per day attended both days of the final weekend - just "a few" more than will be expected for the opening WC next season ... in Hochfilzen.
25 February 05 - WEB UPDATES SUSPENDED
As the BBU "Office" will be in Hochfilzen, we regret that there are unlikely to be any web updates on this site until after the World Championships! Check the IBU site for live results and all news of the GBR athletes.
16 February 05 - WONDERFUL WALKER
Mark Walker was one of only 4 athletes to shoot clear (the others being the Top 3) as he posted a life time best, finishing 39th in the Sprint at WC 8 in Poklujka. It was GBR's best result since Jason Sklenar's 38th at WC 6 in 1999 - 2000. Marc also recorded his personal best "percentage behind" of 8.2%. His first Olympic Qualifier of the season ands again the best by GBR for several years.
Tom Clemens (11) with 10.2% was 49th, missing out on the top half of the field by just one place. Both he and Marc will start the Pursuit (1200 GMT on Friday). The team scored its highest Nations Cup points for many a day, and although Japan also did well we are gaining on China in the bid to secure an important Top 20 slot.
16 February 05 - CARRIER ZEROES EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Carl Carrier was the leading GBR athlete with a perfect 00 shoot in the opening event of the European Championships today in Novosibirsk.
13 February 05 - WOMEN SKIP SLOVENIA
Both Emma Fowler and Adele Turner will miss World Cup 8 in Pokljuka SLO this week, as they take time out to prepare for the World Championships. The Men's team race next on Wed 16 Mar in the Sprint at 1315 GMT / 1415 CET.
13 February 05 - EC TEAM HEAD FOR SIBERIA
The 10th European Championships open in Novosibirsk RUS tomorrow. Representing GBR are Carl Carrier, Lance Hodgkins and Simon Heard. The first race is the Sprint on Wed 16 Feb.
13 February 05 - BBU CLUB CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to all the BBU Club Champions based on the results from the Divisional and Army / British Championships:
Scott BANES 1 HLDRS (Overall Men), Marcel LAPONDER 35 Engr Regt & Nick MAY LI (Joint Novice Men), Robert CHUDLEY 3 RHA (Junior Men), Simon MUSSELL 2 RTR (Junior Novice Men), Michael BROOKS (Youth Men), Jude HUMPHRIES APTC / 19 Regt RA (Overall Women), Sam CRAKE 29 Regt RLC (Novice & Junior Women)
13 February 05 - MARINA AMENDMENT
There was a slight discrepancy in the final Marina results (Army Champs) published on 4 Feb. This has now been amended!
12 February 05 - EXCELLENT EMMA!
Although Emma Fowler had a disappointing week at World Cup 7 in Cesana San Sicario, her form since Christmas has been excellent. Apart from winning everything she entered at the British Championships she recorded four Olympic Qualifiers in succession - 2 at Oberhof, one in Ruhpolding and one in Antholz. There is still a year to Turin, but Emma really looks as though she will be the first British female to become an Olympic ! Results:
11 February 05 - TOM IS THE TOAST OF TURIN
Tom Clemens recorded his best result of the season in the pre Turin Olympic World Cup at Cesana San Sicario today. Finishing 69th in the sprint he was only 9.3% behind the top 3, and thus scored his first Olympic Qualifier of the winter. Results:
11 February 05 - REVIEW OF THE YEAR
All the World & European Cup results since the turn of the year can be found on the World Cup or European Cup page. We are sorry not to have them linked from this site before today, but as all our supporters know exactly where to find the IBU site, this would not have been a problem!
10 February 05 - 365 days to TURIN
The XXth Olympic Winter Games open in Turin in exactly one year. The first Biathlon event is the Men's 20 km Individual on Sat 11 Feb 06 at Cesana San Sicario. Tickets are already on sale - For Turin 2006 information and ticketing click now!
05 February 05 - JASON SKLENAR IS NEW WORLD CUP COACH
Jason Sklenar, who retired from International racing in the autumn, has been appointed World Cup team Coach until the end of the season. He replaces Ed Nicoll who left the BBU on 28 Jan.
Jason competed for GBR in the 1992 and 2002 Olympic Winter Games and spent last summer in charge of the National Development Squads. He raced for his Regiment at the British & Army Championships and produced some excellent results.
04 February 05 - BRITISH TEAM SELECTIONS
The British Teams for remaining World & European Cups and the European Championships have been selected. Also named are those attending the BOA 2010 Development Camp in Lofer, as well as the athletes selected for the National Development Squads.
04 February 05 - BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIPS - FINAL RESULTS
The British National & Army Championships have ended! GBR Team Athletes have been taking the major honours - both male and female.
1 GS Regt won the Men's Team Championship (SAS & Kentish Cups) as well as the Princess Marina Cup. RLC Ladies won the Women's Competition.
For results click here!
29 December 04 - HOPE FOR WORLD CUP RESERVE
The Men's WC team (Brooks, Clemens, Jackson & Walker) remains unchanged for Oberhof (WC 4), however Stephen Hope has been selected as reserve. If not required he, and Carl Carrier, will next appear on the European Cup circuit at Garmisch on 8 Jan 05. Lance Hodgkins and Simon Heard will be racing with their Regimental teams during this period. Emma Fowler and Adele Turner continue on the WC women's circuit.
16 December 04 - Östersund SWE - WOMEN'S SPRINT FOR FRANCE
Sandrine Bailly FRA won the WC 3 Sprint and her second race of the season, whilst the two British athletes Emma Fowler and Adele Turner hit their best form of the season. The first 5 finished within 5 seconds of each other.
Women Sprint Nations Cup: Women
16 December 04 - Obertilliach AUT - SPRINT HITS FOR HOPE
Stephen Hope was the leading GBR athlete for the second sprint running, finishing in 64th place at EC 4 today. All four men achieved World Cup Qualifiers for the first time this season.
EC 4 Results: Sprint
15 December 04 - Östersund SWE - NORWAY ALL THE WAY
Ole Einar may have been racing in World Cup Cross Country, in his bid to qualify for the World Champs in both disciplines, but it failed to stop a Norway 1 - 2 in the Men's Sprint which was run in difficult conditions the 2008 World Champs venue of Östersund. Tom Clemens confirmed his current status as GBR #1, but shooting needs to improve if the team is to retain its "Top 20" slot. There are now no more races for the GBR men until Oberhof on 05 Jan 05. The Women race tomorrow, Thu 16 Dec.
Men Sprint Nations Cup: Men
15 December 04 - Obertilliach AUT - BACK TO BACK IN AUSTRIA
Obertilliach will host EC 4 due to a lack of snow and warm weather in Rosenau-Windischgarsten AUT, 17 - 18 Dec. The order of merit from the results of the GBR athletes in EC 3 were effectively the opposite of EC 1 & 2. Competition for promotion to the World Cup team remains tight.
12 December 04 - Holmenkollen NOR - FOGGY FRIDAY!
The fog which blighted the finale of the 2003 - 04 season at Holmenkollen struck again and the races for Friday were rescheduled for Saturday, which turned out to be a very sunny day. Not exactly sunny for the GBR athletes, but Tom Clemens came home with a British best so far this season, recording a 12.94% when finishing 81st in a very competitive Sprint field. Individual results on Thu 9 Dec were not so encouraging.
Mens Indiv Men's Sprint Women's Indiv Women's Sprint
05 December 04 - Beitostølen NOR - NORWAY TAKE RELAY HONOURS
Tom Clemens (00) posted the fastest GBR time with a 7.18% leg, as he returned after illness to anchor the relay team, which finished without much other success. Norway continued their run of relay victories pushing Germany into 2nd place; the same position as in the women's race. The circuit now moves on to Holmenkollen - Oslo. First races are on Thu 09 Dec.
04 December 04 - Beitostølen NOR - DOUBLE DEUTSCHE IN PURSUIT
The old firm of Uschi Disl and Sven Fischer scored a German double victory in the Pursuits today. To see two such good races in a season is rare; to see them on the same day is almost unique.
02 December 04 - Beitostølen NOR - ENCOURAGING START TO WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN
Temperature of -10 greeted the 107 women and 119 male starters in the Sprints. Winners were Uschi Disl GER and Ole Einar Bjoerndalen NOR, so not much change there!
Although the GBR finishing positions look on the low side, the percentages were most encouraging. Marc Walker (11) was the GBR athlete of the day, whilst his fiancée Adele Turner's WC debut was promising. The men's Nations Cup looks like being very tight around the Top 20 cut off point. Results:
30 November 04 - Beitostølen NOR - ALL SNOW FOR NEW WORLD CUP SEASON
Beitostølen NOR will host only its third ever World Cup event, this weekend.
A regular venue on the FIS Cross Country circuit, Beitostølen lies some 3 hours north of Oslo. It is an attractive and well equipped resort with a full 30 lane range as well as extensive nordic and alpine facilities. The team photo (below) was taken in the resort centre. It is a little prone to wind, but as the team has been training there for a month they hopefully have the hang of it! Snow conditions are good for the first of 15 WC events in the next 15 months that will give the GBR athletes a chance to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games in Turin 2006.
30 November 04 - CLEMENS ILLNESS BLOW TO GBR
Tom Clemens has picked up a bug and will miss the opening Sprint on Thu 2 Dec at WC 1 in Beitostølen. This is a blow for him personally, as well as the team, as he was the leading GBR athlete in all selection races earlier this month. Hopefully he will be fit for Sunday's relay.
30 November 04 - TEAM SELECTION
Selection, based on summer assessments and a series of races in Norway was made on 21 November. World Cup (WC) and European Cup (EC) athletes are shown above in the new Rode warm-up kit, supplied by RMA Sports UK Ltd. Left to Right:
Front Row: Emma Fowler 1 GS Regt RLC (WC), Adele Turner 29 Regt RLC (WC)
Back Row: Joe Brooks 45 Cdo RM (WC), Lance Hodgkins 40 Regt RA (EC - WC reserve), Tom Clemens 1 D and D (WC), Simon Heard Rifle Volunteers (EC), Lee Jackson 1 Green Howards (WC), Carl Carrier RAF (EC - Team Captain), Stephen Hope Riala SK (EC), Marc Walker 1 GS Regt RLC (WC - Team Captain), Ed Nicoll (Team Coach).
30 November 04 - EUROPEAN CUPS OPEN IN GEILO
For the first time a scheduled double header European Cup event opened the EC season. GBR fielded a Senior Men's team and saw Simon Heard achieve an WC qualifier in the opening race at Geilo NOR. In addition to the athletes selected (see below), LBdr Simon Allanson 4 Regt RA made his junior debut during EC 2.
30 November 04 - JASON SKLENAR RETIRES
1992 & 2002 Double Olympian Jason Sklenar has announced his retirement from International Biathlon. During the summer he was responsible for the National Development Squad and this winter will continue to train them as well as assist the National Teams and the Royal Engineers ski camp and hopefully race for his regiment - 28 Engr Regt. His retirement means that for the first time ever there will be no Olympian in the GBR Biathlon team.
Jason first raced for GBR in 1990 as a Junior. He competed in almost 200 International races, had a career shooting record a whisker under 80% and just over 80% in Senior Competition. Click for his full career stats PDF HTML
30 November 04 - IBU ANNOUNCES NEW VEHICLE SUPPLIER
The International Biathlon Union has signed an important partner deal with Toyota who will provide official vehicles for the IBU and WC / EC Organisers and eventually (we hope!) transport for National Teams. A minor change to the name of the title sponsor is that they are now known as "E.on Ruhrgas". Other sponsors remain Viessmann (heating systems) and, thankfully, Krombacher Beer!
30 November 04 - INAUGURAL WORLD CHAMPS FOR MIXED RELAY
WC 9 at Khanty-Mansiysk RUS will be be the first place in the history of the IBU, where the World Championships in Mixed Relay will take place. A mixed relay team consists of two women and two men. All four relay team members ski a distance of 6 km with 2 bouts of shooting at a distance of 2 and 4 kilometres respectively. Mixed relays start simultaneously in the order female, female, male, male. At the WCH a maximum of 30 mixed relay teams will be allowed. The top five National Federations, based on the sum of the National Federations’ current Nations Cup Score for Men and Women, will be allowed to enter two mixed relay teams. For further news and updates see www.biathlon.ru