ALPINE:

Toronto’s Irwin snags 2nd-straight GMC Cup win

March 8, 2010 — Alpine Canada    

Join the SRC fun on Facebook

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 1 minute, 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.''

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

Monday's GMC Cup GS results, Georgian Peaks

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.