January 18th to February 7th 2025

David Orf

Andrew Davies and Ruth Marshall have had three weeks of leading members and guests around slopes including the Inferno Races and McMillan Week not to mention our 100th anniversary

DHO Inferno week.

It is sunny in Wengen, the pistes are in good condition and the hoards of Lauberhorn have moved on and so those here a looking forward to a week of quite mountains. Over the last week we’ve been practising on our long skis, racing on our longs skis and on Saturday climbing up hills on our long ski’s.

We’ve had my self (Andrew) and Ruth leading this week and it’s been fun. Pleasant cruises around the mountain were enjoyed and as the Inferno team built over the week, I got ready for my Wednesday evening ski race on cross country skis! Our faithful member and treasurer Marguerite always races the Inferno Combination; langlauf wednesday, GS Thursday, downhill Friday often with very little club support on the evening.

So this year I had hoped to increase her support by having a few more of the team join in. It worked and John, Russell and I had loads of support as we careered around the village of Muerren. Sadly, Marguerite has injured her-self a little and had to settle for being part of the support team herself.

Thursday was a huge GS on Muerren side, it decided to snow and a fresh blanket of 3 inches covered everywhere, and clouds hid the view for much of the day.

Friday; we were back our own side of the valley, where we ran our open race down the Lauberhorn race piste. Wind stopped play for a while and made us finish the course at the reservoir. The Eastwood trophy went brilliantly with lots of great times and brave performances. Well done to Oliver Walduck for setting the winning time and getting a DHO name on the trophy.

Bringing us to Inferno Saturday. A team of 37 came 95^th in the Arnold Lunn cup thanks to great times from James Lynch, Giles Hirst Malin, Catherine Gay and Angus O’Gallagher. The visitors all survived, and many personal bests were had. Once more our Team was supported magnificently by other club members, food, drink and lots and lots of encouragement.

At dinner in the evening we Awarded the Inferno Trophy to John Quinn who has now joined us many times for AICC racing and the Inferno, traveling over the Atlantic again and again. John is a great ambassador for our club, an enthusiastic racer and as many of us agreed an all-round good egg! A great day with great people in great place.

DHO Inferno week. – Ruth

I arrived to the pandemonium of the Lauberhorn Saturday Evening prize giving and celebration outside the club room so battled through the crowd with skis backpack and big wheelie bag – not to be recommended in future!

As well as normal leading, that week was mainly taken up with signing up racers in the evenings and supporting our DHO members not only on Inferno Saturday itself but also cheering on the 3 game skiers doing 3 laps of Mürren village on cross country skis on the Thursday evening and recording the finishing timings for the Eastwood Cup GS on the Friday.

Inferno Race

Eastwood Trophy Prize Giving

26th of January – First of February. – Ruth

The highlight of this week was the Railway Cup on the Thursday when as a club we were invited by Marco Luggen to a tour of Grindelwald First, and with a fun competition on the Skier Cross course and then to a very nice sit down lunch at the Firstbahn restaurant.

The Railway Cup was presented to Marco himself by Sarah Hoyle for his kind hospitality.

Some of us finished off the day by skiing Stepfi which is open this season after being closed for several seasons.

Railway Cup

Centenary week – Andrew

Wengen was blessed with great weather and excellent pistes for the centenary week of the DHO. It was quite the treat. Each night the Clubroom was buzzing with chatter and fun. Walkers had a beautiful views and crisp air and skiers had quiet wonderfully groomed pistes.

On Tuesday evening we held the Lucy Dicker parallel slalom. The knockout competition quickly brought the field down to a tight final and our visitor and new member Lorraine was the victor.

Wednesday was the Tourist Cup, a GS out of the Lauberhorn Start hut and down to the reservoir. Some great efforts from all the competitors on another glorious day found Thomas Clayton to be the winner.

Thursday was McMillan Downhill Day, 31 competitors including myself waited to run the course; the usual delays of people on the course meant that ready, steady go was shouted at 11:20. Less than 4 minutes later the first of the racers crossed the line. Now what would the McMillan race be without controversy? In the first 5 were two young men from the Rankin Family whose Club Membership had not been updated and so their runs did not count for trophies – however, this state of affairs was taken so well that Huw Alban Davies found the opportunity to award our newest McMillan Trophy for behaviour and attitude that was in keeping with the McMillan race and the Downhill Only Club. First place went to Thomas Clayton, 2^nd to James Ommaney and 3^rd to the Novice Racer; me!

I have to say it really was quite exciting setting off in a pack down the old ladies downhill, desperately trying to be brave and go fast whilst staying in control and making it to the bottom.

Following prize giving the ball was brilliant. Great food, excellent company and a short but fun dance to top it all off. There were many words of gratutitude along with a rumble of excitement at the prospect of another 100years! I’ll add my thanks to Sarah Hoyle for taking on the presidency of the DHO and successfully bringing together so many things to mark our Clubs Centenary.

On our actual day Centenary Day, Urs Kessler came to Wengen and unveiled a plaque at the train station celebrating a 100 years of partnership between the DHO and the Jungfraubahn.

As I write this a 12 hour snow storm is coming to an end and those coming for half term can look forward to great snow on magnificent piste.

Centenary week – Ruth

This was a busy week racing wise. I was the starter for the Tourist Cup on the Lauberhorn race course on the Tuesday. The Rankin family were very well represented with 5 of them racing and Tom as the winner of the cup.

Wednesday evening was the Lucy Dicker parallel slalom on Figeler and the crazy McMillan took place on the Thursday, again I had the fun job of starting the field and sweeping the course at the end of the race.

Thursday evening after leading it had to be a quick change into ‘glad rags’/ flapper dress for the Centenary dinner with a 20’s theme – a memorable event to finish off my 3 weeks.