A BROTHER and sister who took up skiing last year are making a big impression in the junior snow sports scene.
Oliver and Phoebe Harris, from Tyldesley, started skiing at Chill Factore in Manchester in February 2018.
Oliver, nine, struck gold in the under 12s ski cross race in Norfolk back in May.
Oliver in the U12 Boys category in which he came seventh in the Indoor Schools Championship held at Chill Factore on June 3. Picture: Matt Birch Pictures
Oliver racing in the Pendle Winter Race League on March 3. Picture: Em Ormerod
Oliver was part of a team in Kendal which won the under 10 third place trophy in the Pendle winter race league
Oliver, left, receiving a bronze medal in the English Indoor Ski Cross Championship, which was held at Snozone Yorkshire in Castleford
Phoebe also won bronze in her under 12s ski cross race at the same event when she was just five.
And between March to June, Phoebe won five gold medals in all five of the Stoke Ski Centre summer series in the slalom races at under six level.
The Garrett Hall Primary School, who has now took up snowboarding, has now turned six.
Phoebe at a training session at Chill Factore earlier this month. Picture: Louise Ramwell Photography
Phoebe in her ski cross race at Norfolk
Oliver meeting Team GB Paralympic gold medallist Menna Fitzpatrick during a skiing session
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Her dad Ian, 40, said: “It was quite an achievement for Phoebe to win bronze in the under 12s event considering most of the children competing were older than eight.
“She had done absolutely phenomenally.
“Phoebe is very competitive and has pushed herself to do better.”
Oliver also won bronze in the English Indoor ski cross championships in Castleford.
Ian, who has never been involved in snow sports before his children took to the slopes for the first time, has started competing in masters events for older participants too.
He won silver in the masters category in Castleford.
Oliver with Phoebe at the Pendle winter league race in March
Phoebe and Oliver together on May 4 dressed up in Star Wars outfits at Chill Factore
Oliver after winning bronze at the Kendal Snowsports Club race competition in March
Oliver claimed the bronze medal at under 10 level in the annual slalom race event at Kendal Snowsports Club as well. At the Chill Factore race of the British Schools Indoor Open Championships, Oliver finished seventh in the under 12s too.
“Oliver is pleased with his results in the competitions,” Ian said.
“He was up against quite a lot of experienced competitors in the school race as well.
“I am extremely proud of how well they have both done.”
The siblings are set to head off to an indoor slope on Landgraaf in Holland at the end of September. Oliver will be training there while Phoebe will be giving her ski boots a rest and treat the trip as an insight into the future for her.
Garrett Hall Primary School pupil Oliver will then be competing in a British Schools Indoor Open Championships event in Hemel Hampstead on September 30.
As well as their dad, they live with their mum Lisa Uehlein, 36, and two-year-old brother Sebastian.
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