A giant among slalom skiers
Published 28 Oct 2010 09:30
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GIFFORD'S Special Winter Olympian ski star Claire Jeffray may have been disappointed at just missing out on a medal in her favoured event, the slalom, at a Special Olympics tournament in Birmingham.
But the 33-year-old more than made up for it by taking the giant slalom - supposedly her weaker discipline - by storm and claiming a glorious gold at the Special Olympics West Midlands Regional Ski Competition on October 16.
Competing in the Women’s Advanced section, Jeffray, who lives on Station Road, was up against some experienced and talented opponents but flew down the artificial slope ahead of the chasing pack to take home the top prize.
Jeffray was delighted with her stunning performance and mum Ann was full of pride for her daughter.
“This gold was a tremendous achievement,” Ann told Courier Sport. “Up until now she’s always done better in the slalom races.”
Winning gold in the giant slalom has seen Jeffray’s extra race training pay off.
She has recently earned her way into the Lothian Ski Racing Association’s (LSRA) training squad and has been spending her time honing her racing skills at the artificial slope at Hillend, Midlothian, where she trains twice a week, helping her improve her giant slalom technique.
Jeffray’s involvement with LSRA has given her a big boost, as she had previously been forced into private race skiing lessons, as the Lothian Region Special Olympics organisation have no winter sports groups. However, LSRA were there to help out and Jeffray’s talent allowed her to join the elite group.
“LSRA have no connection with disability sport but they’ve still allowed Claire to join them,” Ann said. “It’s proved to be invaluable.”
Winning gold in Birmingham is just the latest in a long line of exceptional sporting success for Jeffray, who contracted meningitis as a child, leaving her with some learning difficulties. Last year she announced her talent to the world when claiming a brilliant silver at the Special Olympic World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho, finishing second in the advanced slalom of the alpine skiing event while also finishing fourth in both the giant slalom and super giant slalom competitions.
That success was all the more impressive as Jeffray had surprisingly been bumped up to compete in the advanced section - against the best skiers with learning disabilities in the world, many of whom came from countries where snow is much more abundant all year round - rather than in the intermediate section as expected.
And it’s not just at skiing that Jeffray has been successful, starring for more than a decade in Special Olympics swimming events, frequently for the Great Britain team, and winning a host of medals, but she chose to turn her back on the sport in 2005 and try something new.
A trailblazer in her sport, Jeffray had been Scotland’s only Special Olympic alpine skier since she first strapped on her skis but was joined in Birmingham by five Grampian skiers.
“We are very much hoping to get more groups going in Scotland,” said Ann, who hopes to form a Lothian group at Hillend.
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