GB just miss 2-man medal

Brad Hall and Taylor Lawrence just missed out on a first British men’s medal in 57 years as they finished fifth in the 2-man bobsleigh at the World Championships in St Moritz.

Hall and Lawrence were looking to become the first British men to make the podium at the global showpiece since Tony Nash and Robin Dixon took bronze in Cortina in 1966, two years after their Olympic triumph in Innsbruck.

They clocked a combined four-run time of 4 minutes 22.77 seconds in Switzerland, falling agonisingly short of bronze after dropping back from fourth after three runs to fifth after all four.

World Cup points leader Johannes Lochner took his first 2-man title for Germany in a time of 4.21.84, with team-mate Francesco Friedrich, the man who won the previous seven 2-man World Championship crowns as well as the last two Olympic titles, securing silver and home favourite Michel Vogt beating Germany’s Christoph Hafer and the Brits to bronze.

Having won four 2-man World Cup medals already this season, Hall and Lawrence were the second fastest starters in three heats and the third quickest in the final run but weren’t quite able to improve on their overnight position in the final two laufs this afternoon.

They go again in the 4-man competition at the same venue next Saturday and Sunday when they will be joined in the sled by rookie Arran Gulliver and double Olympian Greg Cackett.

Hall and co are hoping to secure a first 4-man World Championship medal since the 1930s in a week’s time.

The 4-man team has won the last two World Cup races, becoming the first non-German team to win in Altneberg since 2006 in the process.

They sit joint top of the 4-man world rankings with Friedrich ahead of the final two World Cup races in Igls the week after the World Championships come to an end.