Wanganui speed skater Krystine Davies rolled out to France on Monday to represent New Zealand in the World Speed Skating Masters Marathon Championship in Dijon next week.
Davies is accompanied by her partner, longtime coach and former rival Gary Clark. Clark will attend as the team manager/coach for the event on Monday and the trip is the culmination of a long-time plan put together by the pair to contest the age group championship when Davies became eligible for the over 50 grade.
Davies has always occupied a unique position on the New Zealand speed skating scene. With no masters women her own speed in the country she has been forced to race a mixed Masters grade against the men or the open women's events against young skaters a third her age.
She has done this with amazing aplomb over the years winning multiple national masters championships against the men and holding her own with the best of the women.
She is still a current record holder at the 5km distance.