Fab Friday for British Skeleton

British Skeleton sliders won four medals in as many races on a fabulous Friday in Austria.

Marcus Wyatt and Laura Deas took gold and silver in the morning’s Intercontinental Cup (ICC) races in Igls, before Maddy Smith and Jack Thomas repeated the feat in the afternoon’s Europa Cup (EC) competition at the same track.

It takes the team’s tally to seven medals from six races in the opening two days of the new season, with more medal chances to come tomorrow in the second instalment of EC action.

Wyatt added gold to the silver he won yesterday morning as he clocked the fastest time in Run 1 and the second quickest in Run 2 in a 26-strong field for his first-ever international race win.

Having missed out on top spot to team-mate Craig Thompson by just two hundredths of a second on Thursday, the 26-year-old former American Footballer finished eight hundredths ahead of South Korea’s Seunggi Jung, with Thompson placing fourth.

“I’ve had a few second place finishes over the last couple of years but there’s nothing quite like being on the top of the podium,” said Wyatt, who won the British Skeleton selection race in Winterberg late last month.

It reaffirms my belief that everything is going well. I put down a PB on this track and I slid better than I did here on the World Cup last year so it’s a good feeling.

"It gives me some proof that things are improving and that I’m going in the right direction.”

That pleasure in continuous improvement was shared by Olympic bronze medalist Deas as she made it successive silvers in her first two race races since last season’s showcase in South Korea.

“I’m very pleased that I was able to back up yesterday’s result with another second today,” added Deas, who was again only beaten by Austrian star Janine Flock on her home track.

“I left myself with a bit to do after Run 1 but I’m delighted I came back with the fastest run in the second heat.

“This week’s racing has been great preparation for the World Cup event here in Igls after Christmas so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Kim Murray just missed out on another British medal as she finished fourth in the EC Women’s race, with Hannah Stevenson placing ninth and Philippa Wellington 11th. Stefan Squire was 14th and Jerry Rice 16th in the EC Men’s competition, while Ashleigh Pittaway finished seventh for the second ICC race in a row and Brogan Crowley improved from 11th to 10th overnight.

There is more EC action tomorrow as Smith, Thomas, Murray, Rice, Squire, Stevenson and Wellington all take to the ice again at 9am GMT.