Golden finish to 2022 as Bath-based bobsleigh and skeleton athletes top the podium at IBSF World Cup in Lake Placid

18 December 2022

It was a double gold weekend for the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association athletes who train at the University of Bath as they topped the podium twice at the IBSF World Cup at Lake Placid in the United States.

Brad Hall, Arran Gulliver, Taylor Lawrence and Greg Cackett (pictured top) ended the calendar year in stunning fashion as they claimed only Great Britain’s second four-man World Cup gold since official IBSF records began.

Sitting third at halfway, they produced the fastest start in Run 2 on their way to a combined time of 1.50.36, beating reigning Olympic and World Champion Francesco Friedrich by one hundredth of a second.

Hall had 13 World Cup medals to his name prior to the race but this is the first time he has won gold as either a pilot or brakeman in his decade-long career.

Sunday’s success came just two days after Matt Weston had won men’s skeleton gold at the same venue, again at the expense of the reigning Olympic and World Champion. His time of 1.48.16 was 16-hundredths of a second faster than Christopher Grotheer and secured Weston’s second World Cup gold in 13 months.

Matt Weston won men’s skeleton gold at Lake Placid in December 2022. PICTURES: IBSF|Viesturs Lācis

It means that British Skeleton have won six medals in World Cup competition since November, with Marcus Wyatt – who finished fourth on Friday – also having won gold and bronze, Brogan Crowley silver and Laura Deas bronze.

There was more success to celebrate on the Intercontinental Cup in Pyeongchang, South Korea, as Amelia Coltman won gold and bronze while there were also bronze medals in the men’s races for Craig Thompson and Jacob Salisbury.

The World Cup circuit resumes in Winterberg, Germany, on Friday 6th January, with a double header in Altenberg preceding the World Championships in St Moritz prior to the final two races of the season in Igls and Sigulda in February.

BBSA skeleton and bobsleigh athletes do their UK training at the University of Bath, which is home to the UK’s only outdoor push-start track. Click here to find out more.

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