Young skier hits the slopes in England

Heather Wenlock from Rosewood Glen off the Knockmore Road is part of a team from the Craigavon Ski Club Silverwood Flyers and competed against a team from Scotland, England and Wales in the Ice Age SNO!ympics which started yesterday (Thursday).

Little Heather discovered her love of skiing when she went on her first winter holiday in Austria when she was just three years of age.

She was joined at the event by team members Lucy McDowell (6), Jordan Hanna (14) and Harry McDowell (12), who are are all part of the high flying ski club Silverwood Flyers, before being singled out by the event’s organisers to represent Northern Ireland in the prestigious event at the Milton Keynes SNO!zone, where they will perform on the slopes in front of some of our finest Winter Olympians and the glare of the TV cameras.

Among the many events they competed in were five Ice Age themed mini winter sports, including Sid’s Ski Slalom, Scrat’s Skeleton Run, Diego’s Snowboard Sprint, Manny’s Continental Tobogganing and the Acorn Relay Challenge. The events were judged on speed, skill and style and Gold, Silver, Bronze and Acorn medals were awarded at the end of the day.

Mother Victoria said, “Heather really loves to ski. Her brother skis and skied for his school Wallace High. Skiing is great for families. She loves to go to Craigavon and ski. She is so excited about being chosen to go to England. She is just buzzing, She hopes to continue to ski. I cannot ever see her giving it up. She just loves it and is very good for her age and very confident doing red runs.”

During the competition they will compete against other clubs/schools in five Ice Age themed mini winter sports.

Again the events will be judged on speed, skill and style with Gold, Silver, Bronze and Acorn medals up for grabs.

Inspired by the Ice Age films and the success of our London 2012 heroes, the SNO!ympics will see children from as young as six compete in miniature versions of Winter Olympic sports, as schools and clubs from across the UK compete in five thrilling events on the snow and ice, in celebration of the release of Ice Age 4: Continental Drift on Triple Play and DVD.

The sixteen children chosen from hundreds across the UK will compete in front of Olympic heroes including Amy Williams MBE, Great Britain’s first Winter Gold Medalist in thirty years, Olympic Snowboard star Dan Wakeham and freestyle skier Becky Hammond.

Jane McDowell, Chairman of Silverwood Flyers Ski Club, said: “We are very excited that the Silverwood Flyers Ski Club are taking part in the SNO!ympics and are delighted to be involved in the promotion of snow sports at every level.

“These winter sports have helped and developed our children both physically and socially from a young age and hopefully will benefit them for a long time to come.
“Thanks to Twentieth Century Fox for highlighting these sports and maybe someday we’ll match the success of our Summer Olympians.”

Amy Williams, who won Great Britain’s only Gold Medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, in the Skeleton Bobsleigh, said: “It is great that this event is encouraging children to attempt a simplified and fun version of winter sports. I didn’t pick up a Skeleton Bobsleigh until I was 18, using a push-start track at Bath University, and wish I could have been given a similar opportunity when I was much younger.”

Williams, now 30, added: “If it takes a film like Ice Age to inspire children to try a new sport then I think it’s a great idea. It never ceases to amaze me when I see kids in this country displaying so much confidence on the snow and ice. I am delighted to be involved as it is important to celebrate those who are starting out, and am looking forward to cheering on these children who could be the future of winter sports in the country.”