Speed Skating: Davies burns up track in Europe

Wanganui's Jessica van Bentum has been in intense competition during the Northern Hemisphere summer.

Wanganui speed skater Krystine Davies staked her claim as one of the best women's masters in the sport when she claimed the silver medal in the 50-60 age section at the Masters World Marathon Championships in Dijion, France on Sunday.

Held during the 2014 Dijon Skating Marathon, which is an important round of the World Inline Cup, the race had one of the strongest fields in its history with 25 countries represented.

Davies was accompanied by her partner and coach Gary Clark.

Wanganui Speed Skating Club spokesman Ken Smith said Clark reported that Davies went out as part of an early four-skater breakaway group.

She was amongst stiff competition from 2013 under-50s champion Ute Enger (Germany), runnerup Eva Wagner (Austria), and the defending 50-60 champion Desiana Caniatti (Italy).

"The pace was too much for the Italian and then an attack by Enger after 12km dropped the Austrian, but she was unable to shake Davies," said Smith.

"The pair powered to a huge lead, lapping most of the women's field, with Davies doing the bulk of the lead-outs into the wind, before a large pack of skaters in the men's race gathered them in at the 34km mark."

Enger and Davies were separated amongst the men's group, where Enger used the slipstream to build up her crucial lead. The German completed the course in 1 hour, 17 minutes, with Davies coming in two minutes behind her, being cheered by a group of holidaying Kiwis who were in the crowd.

"Both skaters' times were faster than any other recorded time for this championship age group," said Smith.

"Both women also finished well ahead of the winner of the under 40 championship race who clocked a time of 1h 27m."

In the feature events of the World Inline Cup, the professional women's class was won by defending world champion Francesca Lollobridgida (Italy) in 1h 10m.

Davies' NZ teammate and former world champion Nicole Begg also got caught up in a big men's pack and settled for 14th.

The men's race was won by France's Guillaune de Mallevoue in an upset with a 1h 17s from world champion Bart Swings (Belgium).

While in Europe, Davies and Clark were also intending to call in to the Geisingen Arena in Germany to touch base with Wanganui clubmate Jessica van Bentum, who is racing with the Arma Wheels team

Van Bentum, who was a recipient of a $1500 grant from the Future Champions Trust last week, has been racing the European season ahead of the World Championships in Argentina later in the year.

"I have been racing as part of the [Arma] junior girls team and our team, made up of three ladies including me, has had some great results," said van Bentum.

"I was overall third place in the race in Gera, Germany and overall second place in Worgl, Austria."