ISU World Cup Berlin

Written by T Dobbin

This weekend is the first ISU World Cup of the winter. Originally Shane Dobbin was unable to participate in the Berlin World Cup due to his commitments with the DSB Bank Marathon Team. With the problems of the DSB Bank, and all skaters sponsored by the bank no longer have a sponsorship, this left Shane open to a late change of plan this winter and focus 100% on the World Cup to try to qualify for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

Today Shane Dobbin will be arriving in Berlin to get two days training on the ice before the start of the competition. Competition starts on Friday with the 500 meter and 1000 meter men's events as well as the ladies 3000 meter. Saturday morning Shane will be starting in the B Division racing the 5000 meter event, then on Sunday morning the 1500 meter. It will be Shanes first ever start in a World Cup for the 5000 meter. See below the race Schedule for Berlin.

Friday, November 6, 2009
12:30 h Division B*
500 m Men (1)/3000 m Ladies/1000 m Men

17:00 h Division A
500 m Men (1)/3000 m Ladies/1000 m Men

Saturday, November 7, 2009
9:30 h Division B*
500 m Ladies (1)/5000 m Men/ 1000 m Ladies

14:00 h Division A
500 m Ladies (1)/5000 m Men/ 1000 m Ladies

Sunday, November 8, 2009
9:00 h Division B*
500 m Ladies (2)/500 m Men (2)/ 1500 m Ladies/1500 Men

14:00 h Division A
500 m Ladies (2)/500 m Men

For more information go to: http://www.knsb.nl/topsport/wp-content/media/1257109228Announcement.pdf

With many fast times coming out of Berlin in the preseason races it will be a good chance for Shane to get another race under his belt and hopefully set a good time, maybe even a personal best. Keep posted for results and updates during this weekend's ISU World Cup in Berlin.

Marathon Cup Update

Written by T Dobbin

Two weeks have passed and two marathons. On Saturday the 24th of October was the third Marathon Cup race in Amsterdam. It was poring with rain but that didn't stop any of the action in the race.

Amsterdam Marathon Cup Results:

1 Karlo Timmerman Adformatie
2 1 Bob de Vries Haule Schaatsteam
3 24 Sjoerd Huisman Nefit HR Ketels
4 5 Ingmar Berga
5 91 Bart de Vries Windkr88
6 12 Pieter Jan van Eck Van Werven
7 3 Douwe de Vries Adformatie
8 22 Kurt Wubben TNT Express
9 6 Jan Maarten Heideman
10 11 Ralf Zwitser Adformatie

Ladies Results
1 Mariska Huisman Viks Parket
2 D41 Maria Sterk
3 D5 Daniëlle Bekkering Frisia Financieringen

After two years of marathon skating Shane Dobbin decided it was time to look further into his skate set up. After a week of playing with his skate set up Shane realised that for the past two years he was skating on a blade slightly to short and is now skating a lot more comfortable on the 17.5" blade.

Skating his first marathon in the longer blade helped give Shane Dobbin his best marathon result of the season finishing in 10th place. It gives Shane a little more confidence going into this weekend's first World Cup of the Winter held in Berlin. See results from Eindhoven's Marathon Cup last weekend.

Eindhoven Results
1 Bob de Vries BAM Schaatsteam
2 5 Ingmar Berga
3 22 Kurt Wubben TNT Express
4 27 Christijn Groeneveld Equipe Renault Eco2
5 6 Jan Maarten Heideman
6 24 Sjoerd Huisman Nefit HR Ketels
7 8 Rob Hadders Equipe Renault Eco2
8 91 Bart de Vries Team Windkr88
9 19 Karlo Timmerman Adformatie
10 67 Shane Dobbin

Ladies Results
1 Mariska Huisman Viks Parket
2 13 Carla Zielman Pro Horeca
3 5 Daniëlle Bekkering Frisia Financieringen