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Toronto's Madison Irwin wins second straight race at GMC Cup

Monday, 08 March 2010 04:56

COLLINGWOOD, Ont. - Madison Irwin of Toronto earned a second consecutive victory on the GMC Cup alpine ski circuit on Monday winning the women's giant slalom at the last stop on the GMC Cup alpine ski circuit before the national championships.

Irwin posted the fastest time on the opening run en route to the gold in a two-run time of one minute and 37.42 seconds.  Ann West of the U.S., was second in 1:37.70 and Emilie Lamoureux of Mont-Tremblant, Que., third in 1:38.77.

It was the second consecutive victory on the circuit for Irwin who had not finished her first or second run in 11 of 12 races prior to her win in Saturday's slalom at Camp-Fortune, Que.

"I was pleased to win the first run because of my later start position (30th,) for the second run," Irwin said.  "The conditions were rougher but I was able to ski smart and win the race. I had my confidence after my win in the slalom on Saturday so I was ready to compete."

Lamoureux notched her second medal this season on the circuit. She was second after the first run.

"I made a mistake on the second and almost missed a gate," she said. ''After the error I was able to attack the rest of the course.  My second run could have been technically better and it would have been possible for me to win."

In the men's GS, Scott Graham of Chelsea, Que., bounced back from a seventh place finish in the first run to win the gold in 1:40.35.  Simon-Claude Toutant of Val St-Côme, Que., was second in 1:40.36 and Andrew Solomon of Toronto third in 1:41.43.

''Going into the second run my focus was to just to finish the race,'' said Graham.  ''I had been struggling to put two runs together.   I was pretty happy that I ended up in first spot.  What a great surprise.''

Toutant earned his second medal this season on the circuit.

''I was a little surprised,'' said Toutant.  ''I did not think I was skiing that well.  My second run was not that great but I hung in there. Slalom is my best event but my GS is improving.''

Solomon described his performance as his first breakthrough race since injuring his knee two years ago.

''I really took advantage of my start position on the first run,'' Solomon said. ''On the second run I just wanted to keep it all together and finish the race.  I have not been skiing well since I tore my ACL. I'm definitely pleased with the result.''

The series is the brain-child of Olympic champion Nancy Greene Raine, who approached GMC more than four decades ago with the concept of creating a strong domestic ski racing series for up-and-coming Canadian alpine racers.

GMC has a rich history as a benefactor to communities and to amateur support. Thus, the original series was launched, developing some of Canada's best alpine racers including Kathy Kreiner, Gerry Sorensen, Laurie Graham, Karen Percy, and the Crazy Canucks.

Several current members of Canada's Alpine Ski Team are also GMC Cup alumni including past GMC Cup overall winners Michael Janyk (Whistler, BC) (2004), Brigitte Acton (Mont-Tremblant, QC) (2002, 2003), Shona Rubens (Canmore, AB) (2005), Marie-Michèle Gagnon (Lac-Etchemin, QC) (2007) and Erin Mielzynski (Guelph, ON) (2008).

Manuel Osborne-Paradis (Vancouver, BC) and John Kucera (Calgary, AB) are two Canadian World Cup winners who are also alumni of the program.

Last season's Coupe GMC Cup winners were Ashley-Kate Durham (Montreal, QC) and Benjamin Thomsen (Invermere, BC).

Be sure to also check out the Coupe GMC Cup website (www.gm.ca/cup) which features new Canadian Alpine Ski Team bios, videos from Erik Guay (Mont-Tremblant, QC), Janyk, Kucera and Osborne-Paradis as well as other exciting new features.

Another men's and women's GS is set for Tuesday.

Monday's leading giant slalom results at a GMC Cup alpine skiing competition at Georgian Peaks in Collingwood, Ont.

Men: 1. Scott Graham, Chelsea, Que., 1:40.35; 2. Simon-Claude Toutant, Val St-Côme, Que., 1:40.363. Andrew Solomon, Toronto , 1:41.43; 4. Dylan Fisher McCarney, Toronto, Ont.,  1:41.36; 5. Kelby Halbert, Bradford, Ont., 1:42.28; 6. Matthew Beers, U.S.,  1:42.49; 7. William Schuessle Bedard, Sutton, Que., 1:43.17; 8. Chandler Boynton, U.S., 1:43.58; 9. Charles Provost, Lorraine, Que., 1:43.74; 10. Joel Charron, Craigleith, Ont., 1 :43.99.

Women: 1. Madison Irwin, Toronto, 1:37.42; 2. Ann West, U.S., 1:37.70; 3. Emilie Lamoureux, Mont Tremblant, Que., 1 :38.77; 4. Amelia Rowland, U.S., 1 :39.13; 5. Delainey Ackerman, U.S., 1 :39.46; 6. Natalie Knowles, Toronto, 1 :39.60; 7.Katerine Lamoureux, Mont Tremblant, Que., 1 :39.78; 8. Brodie Ritchie, Caledon, Ont., 1 :39.80; 9. Yina Moe-Lange, Denmark and Emma Leblanc, U.S., 1 :39.84.

INFORMATION:

Janice Avon Coupe GMC Cup (604) 318-1081 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it