FOUR dry ski slopers from Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw have competed in the British Championships in Edinburgh.

Rowenna Smith, Stephanie Belcher, Alana Pocknell and captain Lowri Hodder make up the Gwynllyw Girls Ski Team which is now ranked 18th in Britain – a remarkable achievement for a first outing at the championships.

Performing on a slope which has the steepest dry slope section in Britain, the team should be very proud of their efforts said school head of culture Ion Thomas.

So intimidating was the slope in fact that 18 girls from other schools, despite having made the trip all the way to Scotland, pulled out having seen it.

Mr Thomas said: “Despite relative inexperience and very bad nerves, none of the Gwynllyw girls pulled out. All the Gwynllyw parents there have individually reported back to me what a superb captain Lowri was. This was Gwynllyw’s first race with her as captain and she was totally supportive of her less experienced team mates, leading them down the slope and calming their nerves. It is fair to say that Gwynllyw would not have posted a team time without her influence. Additionally she climbed back up round a gate after a fall, meaning that Gwynllyw has the necessary three runs in the morning to post a team time.

“A mention must also go to Alana who received a special prize from the course organisers for bravery and politeness. Despite a really bad attack of nerves, Lowri’s calming influence persuaded her to compete. Unfortunately she fell during the morning run but overcame her fears to compete again successfully in the afternoon. Both Rowena and Stephanie also skied really well.

“Thanks to all the parents who not only drove the entire way to Edinburgh and back but who also spent then spent the day as gate judges etc while there. Thank goodness the British Championships come to Wales next year.”