East Gippsland Biathlon Club and it’s members again achieved commendable success at the Biathlon Australia National Championships on 9th and 10 August at Whisky Flat, Hotham. While participation in our EGBC – Hotham Biathlon – Biathlon 4 All Abilities programs continue to grow over July and August.
EGBC / Team Hotham and B4AA members featured highly on the podium of Race 3 and 4 of the BA National Series, which consisted of a Sprint and Mass Start event. Both races were held in sunny weather and on an excellent cover of snow. It is the first time in several years that both weekend of events have been able to be held. The event was enjoyed by 37 participants. The following is an overview of the results of EGBC members -
- Bethany Franzke – 1st U14 Women in Sprint and Mass Start
- Carmen Cullen – 1st U16 Women in Sprint and Mass Start
- Alberto Allan – 1st U16 Male Sprint and Mass Start
- Rosie Franzke – 1st U18 Women Sprint and Mass Start
- Liam Cullen – 1st U18 Male Sprint and Mass Start
- Matthew Brumby – 2nd Open sit ski in both Sprint and Mass Start
- Ian Franzke – 2nd Open Male in both Sprint and Mass Start
- Sapphire Sparke – 2nd U16 Women Sprint and Mass Start
- Nell Anger – 2nd U21 Women and 3rd overall
- Thea Harvey – 2nd U18 Women
- Thomas Kinnear – 3rd Open Male Sprint and Mass Start
- Deborah Stephens – 3rd U55 Womens Sprint
A huge congratulations to all on their effort and achievements. Some other notable achievements for EGBC included providing IBU standard 10m air rifle metal targets for the sit ski competitors. It was great to see this class 300% larger this year than last year where our own Matthew Brumby was the sole sit ski representative. This time Matthew was able to provide mentoring and coaching support as an experienced World Cup sit skier to new LW 10 sit skiers across the weekend which was warmly received.
A big call out to our coaching team which was headed by IBU Level 2 and World Cup Coach Damon Morton for their work both in supporting and coaching members and also supporting BA with IP in delivering the weekend’s events. EGBC coaches provided valuable support to emerging World Class Para double leg amputee David Milne and Visual Impaired athlete Taryn Dickens on Official training, set up the para range each day, was chief of stadium set up each day, chief of setting up course each day and helped to run the range for the Mass start event.
As part of our Biathlon 4 All Abilities project EGBC / Hotham Biathlon has welcomed and supported a number of new members over the last weeks including masters Deborah Stephens and Jacquine Rande and para athletes Lenny, Peter and Lachie.
We have also welcomed new juniors Arvin Aminizad and Pippa Creed who both won medals at the recent Victorian Interschools, while Sean-Hope Craig has joined our group to enjoy our race support next weekend at the Australian X C Championships.