GB World Bobsleigh Champions…

February 22nd, 2009 | Quintic Video Software

Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke won the Women’s World Bobsleigh Championships, which were held at Lake Placid on 20th and 21st February 2009. Whereas the races that make up the eight race World Cup series consist of just two runs, the World Championships reflect the Olympics and consist of four runs, held over two days, and are only held in non-Olympic years. The results are decided on the total time for all four runs, so consistency is crucial.

After the first day, Nicola and Gillian lay in 2nd place, just 0.04 seconds behind Shauna Rohbuck / Elana Meyers of the USA, who would ultimately finish as runners up in the final standings. Although their start times were not the fastest, Nicola and Gillian had the best times in each of their two runs on the second day to finish 0.38 seconds ahead of the USA1 team and 0.62 seconds ahead of the 3rd place Cathleen Martini / Janine Tischer of Germany.

The last time that Great Britain won the World Bobsleigh Championships was back in 1965 when Tony Nash and Robin Dixon (now Lord Glentoran) won the 2-Man title, when the Championships were held at the St Moritz track. Robin Glentoran, who is nowadays President of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association, described it as a ‘wonderful achievement by the girls’ and said he was ‘really pleased for both girls’.

Twenty six year old Gillian Cooke, who lives in Edinburgh, only came into the sport of bobsleigh this season, after having been discovered by Nicola and enticed away from long jump. Gillian was duly selected with Jackie Gunn to brake for Nicola in the 2008 – 2009 season and now loves the sport of bobsleigh.

Nicola, who is thirty years old and lives in Sheffield, had previously driven to 2nd place in the World Bobsleigh Championships at Calgary in 2005, with Jackie Davies (now Jackie Gunn) as brakewoman. Despite coming close this season, with a 2nd place and two 3rd places in World Cup races, Nicola had never before won a bobsleigh race at World Class level and certainly chose a good time to do it, just one year before the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Winning the World Championships tops a great season for Nicola, who with Gillian and Jackie sharing the brakewoman role, finished 3rd overall in the FIBT 2008 – 2009 World Cup, which is based on the points from all eight World Cup races.

Attempting to finish in the top 10 in the World Championships and so qualify for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, the GB2 pairing of Paula Walker / Kelly Thomas finished the first run in a useful 14th position, but crashed on their second run, after posting a faster start time, and were duly disqualified as the bobsleigh did not cross the finish line.

Quintic Consultancy Ltd would like to congratulate Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke on becoming World Champions and wish to thank the Team Coaches, ‘Gomer’ Lloyd and Peter Gunn of the British Army (husband of Jackie Gunn), and all the Team Minichiello Support Staff for their contribution this season.

by Mark Carter – Performance Coordinator – British Bobsleigh

 

 Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke won the Women’s World Bobsleigh Championships: Lake Placid February 2009.

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