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Women's bob pair make top 20 in World Cup

 

Women's bob pair make top 20 in World Cup

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AOC

Australian bobsleigh pilot Astrid Loch-Wilkinson has driven to a top 20 result in World Cup, finishing in 19th place in the opening event of the season in Calgary, Canada.

Australian bobsleigh pilot Astrid Loch-Wilkinson has driven to a top 20 result in World Cup, finishing in 19th place in the opening event of the season in Calgary, Canada.

Paired with Kylie Reed in the Australian number one sled, Loch-Wilkinson put down a 57.95 seconds opening run, 1.50 seconds slower than the leading time of defending World Cup champion Sandra Kiriasis of Germany, then improved the margin behind the German sled in the second run to 1.18 seconds, for an overall margin of 2.68 seconds.

It was the third top ten result of the Australian's short career, and takes her a step closer to Olympic qualification for Torino 2006.

The Australians will qualify for a place in the Games if they finish in the top 15 sleds at the end of the five event qualifying series - not impossible when the third sleds of several nations are excluded - but they also have an opportunity to make the starting line-up in Cesana Pariol through a regional Oceania representation.

Australia's number two pair of Danielle Lynch and Abby Lewtas finished at the rear of the field in 25th place, with a first run time of 2.81 seconds behind the leading sled.

It was Lynch's first time as a bob pilot, after acting as brakewoman in two World Cups for Loch-Wilkinson.

Kiriasis and brakewoman Anja Schneiderheinze took the gold from the USA3 team of Shauna Rohbock and Valerie Fleming, with Helen Upperton and Heather Moyse of Canada taking bronze.

The next event will be in Lake Placid on November 18 (November 19 AEST).
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