FRANCONIA – Rain, warm temperatures and thick fog were elements the Crotched Mountain Junior Race Team had to overcome at the New Years Open ski race held at Cannon Mountain on Jan. 2.

Racer Ashley Rose Humphreys came home with a fourth-place trophy in the Girl’s J5 division. Humphreys, age 10 from Lyndeborough, had a first run of 56.82 to put her in fourth place and a second run time of 57.12 to secure fourth place overall with a combined time of 1:53.94 on the steep and challenging course.

J5 teammates Mary Martin of Hollis came in 12th with a combined time of 2:39.87, and Katie Taylor of Amherst placed 13th (2:51.42), while Kaitlyn Laurendeau and Whitney Fitzgerald, both from Bedford, were disqualified for missing a gate during their first runs.

The J4 Girls (ages 11-12) had competitive runs. Rhiannon Allison of Mont Vernon took seventh place with a combined time of 1:47.31. Maura Rapposelli from Peterborough was right behind her in eighth place (1:48.39). Alana Barretto from Amherst came in 12th place (1:51.30), while Erika Wentz from Nashua placed 23rd.

The J5 boys had to deal with poor visibility, which proved difficult for Rowen Ainslie of Hancock, who was disqualified for missing a gate on his second run.

J4 boys also had to contend with fog. RJ Humphreys of Lyndeborough negotiated though the fog to end up in 18th place with a combined time of 1:51.51 and with a .33 second time difference from teammate Luke Martin of Hollis, who placed 19th with a combined time of 1:51.84. Eli Tamok of Francestown placed 21st (1:55.36), and Bedford’s duo Bryce Laurendeau in 23rd (1:58.44) while Vincent Dorow disqualified on his first run.

In the J6 Boy’s race, Andrew Taylor, 8, of Amherst had a good first run.

The coaches were proud of their racers’ efforts at the Cannon race.

“The Crotched Mountain Race Team is looking to have a strong season. They have competed in two events with strong results in preparation for their upcoming state qualifier series.  The first race in the series will be a giant slalom at Crotched Mountain on Jan. 23,” said J4 Head Coach Drew Craig.

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