Use double quotes to find documents that include the exact phrase: "aerodynamic AND testing"

Biathlon Canada —Canadian team hangs on for top-10 finish despite two broken poles—

 

RUHPOLDING, Ger.—A rookie and three veterans joined forces to crack the top-10 as Canada’s top biathletes competed in the women’s relay at a World Cup stop in Ruhpolding, Germany.

 

Led by 22-year-old rookie, Julia Ransom of Kelowna, B.C., the Canadian women combined to post a ninth-place time of 1:18:13.7 in the women’s 4×6-kilometre relay in front of a thousands of passionate German biathlon fans.

 

“Julia got us off to an awesome start despite breaking a pole in her last lap. I think overall we can be happy with this result as there were a lot of positives and great momentum from today to take with us going forward,” said ZIna Kocher. “We used less than eight spares together, and it’s a top-10. It is crucial for staying in 10th for overall nation World Cup points, which was our goal.”

 

Ransom handed off to the leader of the women’s team, Rosanna Crawford of Canmore, Alta. Another two-time Olympian, Megan Tandy of Prince George, B.C., skied the third leg before three-time Olympian Kocher brought the Canadians home. The 33-year-old Kocher, of Red Deer, Alta., completed a solid day of shooting and skiing for the Canadians to finish ninth.

 

“I was happy with my leg of the race. After two not very good personal races here I pulled myself together. I focused on truly enjoying the day, having fun competing in a team event and racing for my last ever time in Ruhpolding with these awesome crowds,” said Kocher, who also broke her pole and fell after a French athlete stepped on it midway through her final lap.

 

“Two broken poles for the team in one race is likely a record – one we don’t want to repeat. But this result motivates us for next week’s relay where we are setting our sights higher.”

 

The Ukraine team won the women’s relay with a time of 1:16:14.2. Germany was second at 1:16:15.4, while Italy captured the bronze with a time of 1:16:58.0.

 

The relay consists of each athlete skiing 6 kilometres with two bouts of shooting. The first starter of each team begins in a simultaneous mass start with other participants, and complete their leg before handing off to the next teammate. Competitors in the relay each carry three spare rounds. If all five targets are not knocked down with the first five rounds, the spares may be used, which takes more time because they are loaded by hand.

 

Biathlon Canada is the governing body for biathlon in the country, and oversees the IBU Cup, World Cup, Canadian Championships, Eastern and Western Canadian Championships, and North American Cups held in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Mackenzie Investments, Millennium Geomatics Ltd., iON Worldwide, Kama, Roeckl Sports, Lapua, Icebreaker, USANA, and One Way Eyewear – along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and Own the Podium, Biathlon Canada’s mandate is to provide national level programs for the continuous development of biathlon athletes from the grassroots to the elite level. For more information on Biathlon Canada, please visit us at www.biathloncanada.ca on the Internet.

 

For Complete Results: http://biathlonresults.com/?RaceId=BT1516SWRLCP05SWRL&view=schedule_race

 

Top-Five Women’s and Canadian Results:

1. Ukraine, 1:16:14.2; 2. Germany, 1:16:15.4; 3. Italy, 1:16:58.0; 4. Russia, 1:16:59.1; 5. Norway, 1:17:25.7

Canadian Result

9. Canada, 1:18:13.7

 

*****

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Chris Dornan

Media and Public Relations

T: 403-620-8731

E-mail: hpprchris@shaw.ca