GOLDEN GIRL: Jessica van Bentum on her way to winning the Junior Women's 3000m at the Flanders Grand Prix in Belgium at the weekend.PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Wanganui speed skater Jessica van Bentum finished her European odyssey on a high note with two wins in the Flanders Grand Prix in Osteede, Belgium, at the weekend.
Last year, Van Bentum raced this event as a warm-up for the 2013 World Championships and was thrilled with a fifth place
in the Junior B Girls 1000m. One year on, and after a season spent racing and training with the Arma Wheels team in Germany under the guidance of NZ skating legend Kalon Dobbin, she returned to claim wins in the Junior A Girls 10K points and 3000m and second in the 10K Elimination. Only a disqualification for false starting her favourite event, the 1000m, stopped her from winning overall.
The Flanders result was particularly satisfying for Van Bentum as she was racing alone without her Arma teammates. Her other win in Europe was at the Worgl Austria round of the European In Line Cup where she won with her teammates' help. The 10K points win was a close event with Van Bentum and another skater tied on 18 points but the Wanganui teenager crossed the line ahead to claim the win.
The 3000m was impressive with Van Bentum going into the lead with 600m to go and holding off the chasing pack for a convincing victory.
She now returns to Germany to train until she leaves for Argentina in mid-October to join the NZ team for the World Championships in Rosario in November.
