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Steudle and Anderson crowned Downhill champions at GB Alpine Championships

There were British victories in the Men’s and Women’s Downhill National Championship races, on the second day of competition at the GB Alpine Championships

Roy Steudle delivered an eye-catching day’s skiing as he captured both the National Championships and National Junior Championships Downhill titles at the GB Alpine Championships in Tignes today. The victories marked his first race wins since a 2019 FIS Super-G triumph in Bormio in 2019, and saw him hold off GB Alpine Championships Super-G champion Owen Vinter in both contests.

Steudle’s 1:11.13 in the National Championships race gave him a 0.38s margin over Vinter, with Azerbaijan’s Ilia Kostov coming third in 1:12.19. In the National Junior Championships race, Steudle set a marginally slower time of 1:11.53, fast enough to again put Vinter and Kostov in second and third spots respectively.

Speaking after the races, Steudle said:

“In the first run it was a good run on the whole – I wouldn’t complain, there was a couple of turns that weren’t perfect, but the second run was as good as I can ski, so I’m happy with that.

“I reallly enjoy competing here at these races, for me they sort of mark the end of the season and it’s great to see everybody together racing in one place. Usually I’m away on the road all the time alone, so it’s really great to have a sort of sense of family here.”

In the Women’s Downhill events, Jessica Anderson took the National Championships title ahead of Charlotte Holmes and Jordina Caminal Santure of Andorra. Posting a time of 1:15.58 from bib 3, Anderson finished with a +0.43s margin over Holmes, who held second place by just 0.01s from Caminal Santure.

The Andorran was able to chalk up a victory of her own in the National Junior Championships race, though, finishing 0.05s ahead of Martine Brumin of Italy, with Anderson taking third spot a further 0.30s back.

Britain’s Lois Jackson finished fourth in both races, following up her brace of fourth places in Sunday’s Super-G action.

Jess Anderson said:

“First run my splits were quite slow, and I knew the bottom half I had to go – I think I got my line right and everything went quite well, so I’m pretty happy with that. Obviously just need to work on my flats still!”

Trophy awards from the Men’s Downhill National Championships were made to Roy Steudle, who took the Ski Club of Great Britain Challenge Cup and was named the Sir John Ritblat British Men’s Downhill Champion, Elliott Bennett who took the Dilnott-Cooper Cup, and Max Laughland the BSC Cup. The National Junior Championships awards were made to Owen Vinter, taking the Sunfold Cup and Max Laughland the U18 Ski Club of Great Britain Challenge Cup.

The Women’s Downhill trophies went to Jessica Anderson, who took the Tomkinson Challenge Cup, and Charlotte Holmes who was awarded both the Field Challenge Cup and the Raynsford Trophy. Holmes also took the Lions Ski Club Trophy for her performance in the National Junior Championships, while Lois Jackson won the Lawson-Johnston Trophy.

Header Image: Roy Steudle competes at the GB Alpine Championships in Tignes, France, March 2022. Photo: GB Snowsport/ Amelia Steele