DOBCROSS-BASED Neal Killen made a successful return to racing after a 24-year absence as he and Gary Smith recently won the veterans’ section at the British Bobsleigh Championships.
The former Army colleagues, with a combined age of 103, rolled back the years to triumph in Igles, Austria, where they also competed against the Great Britain team which took part in the Winter Olympics recently in Sochi.
Brakeman Neal and driver Gary decided last year to make a comeback, though it was a troublesome build up with both plagued by injury.
Indeed, they both arrived at Igles with little preparation for the championships only to triumph in the veterans’ class.
And there was a further thrill for Neal when the medals were presented by legend Tony Nash, who along with Robin Dixon, won gold for Great Britain in the two-man bob at the 1964 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck.
They are vowing to return next year to defend their title and may also have a stab at the four-man bobsleigh if they can tempt Sean Olssen, who won a bronze in the 1998 Winter Olympics at Nagano, out of retirement. That team would have a combined age of over 200.
Neal, a Greater Manchester Police officer, previously competed in decathlon, biathlon and rugby for the Army when he served in the Royal Signals.
It was felt his strength and speed would be great skills for bobsleigh which he also took up in the Army. The first time he competed in the British Bobsleigh Championships, he won a medal for being the best novice/newcomer.
An accomplished sportsman, Neal also competed in the decathlon for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Neal took over as captain of the Army athletics team when former Olympic hurdles and 400m relay medallist Kriss Akabusi retired. He also coached with double Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes during their time together in the services.
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