Simm comes a cropper again
Brae bobsleigh driver Kenny Simm and his brakeman Chris Woolley from Warrington had a huge crash at St Moritz in Switzerland during practice for a Europa Cup race.
During their third practice on a new run they overturned, coming off corner six of 16 at 60mph. Chris was thrown out of the bobsleigh and sustained a dislocated shoulder and extensive bruising while Kenny managed to stay inside the overturned bob as it hurtled down the track and across the finish line, sustaining an elbow injury and extensive bruising.
Following medical treatment in St Moritz the team decided to drive back to UK the following day.
The bobsleigh was badly damaged in the crash with the nose cone getting cracked with the numerous impacts it sustained during its 1,000 metre upside-down slide down the track. It is currently undergoing repairs in Edinburgh in readiness for the Inter-services Championships in Italy on 13th and 14th March.
Unfortunately Chris is now out for the rest of the season but William Bowman, a Royal Navy diver, has been drafted in to push Kenny at the championships.
Kenny is looking forward to the event as he got fifth place at this year’s British Championships on this track at Cessana. He will also be racing against all the top GB drivers including the number one Lee Johnson.
The BBC is showing a one-hour documentary, Bobsleigh Challenge, on Monday at 11.15pm which follows four of Britain’s most decorated athletes as they attempt to enter the British Bobsleigh Championships in the Italian Alps with only 10 days training. Kenny was interviewed several times when the BBC were shooting the programme and may feature in the programme.
