THEY came, they saw, but they did not quite conquer.Although their medal chances went downhill this year, the intrepid Suffolk team representing England in the World Ski and Golf Championships are determined to come back for more.

Golf:

THEY came, they saw, but they did not quite conquer.

Although their medal chances went downhill this year, the intrepid Suffolk team representing England in the World Ski and Golf Championships are determined to come back for more.

There may have been one or two novice skiers in his team, but captain David Marr is hoping they will return to Kaprun and Zell Am See in Austria next year.

It was not surprising that Suffolk golfers were up against it when they faced the likes of Bode Miller, the American Olympic ski champion, went down the glacier in 36.86 seconds.

However, his golf was not so good with rounds of 96 and 86. He finished in 10th place.

Marr said: “It is a fantastic event and quite an experience. The scoring formula is loaded in favour of the top skiers rather than the good golfers or else I think we would have had a very respectable finish. As it was we beat Scotland which was pleasing.

“We made quite an impact and were the most talked-about team. We had quite a crowd watching us on the golf practice ground.

“We were last after the ski-ing with no real chance of a top 10 finish overall. Some of our golf maybe reflected this although Kristian Day had the low round of the entire tournament, four-under par 69, in his second round. He was runner-up over his two rounds.

“Late starters for the grand slalom down the Kitzsteinhorn glacier were at a disadvantage because it had become rutted. You needed to be an expert skier to cope.

“A team of five like top golfer Ernie Els would have no chance against a team of five like Bode Miller, the American ski-ing star.”

Marr is hoping that the formula might be changed next year to give the golfers more of a chance.

There were 180 competitors from eight countries including international skiers and professional golfers. The Austrians dominated the prizes.

Marr, in the senior section, was 41st in the ski-ing in a time of 53.58 seconds but moved up to 32nd place with golf rounds of 86 and 83.

Lee Dinmore was 48th in the main group in the skiing with 52.67 seconds. His golf rounds of 80 and 86 left him in 39th place.

Jerry Procter had a ski-time of 57.27 seconds leaving him in 55th place. Golf rounds of 88 and 86 lifted him to 45th.

Day fell twice and did not finish the slalom but went round Zell Am See in 75 and 69. He was placed 51st. Matt Gissing, who also fell twice on the slalom, had golf rounds of 86 and 81. He finished 55th.