News: Gold for Rudman and Bromley Technologies

Great Britain's Shelley Rudman has won gold at the FIBT Women's Skeleton World Cup event in Cesana, Italy.

Rudman is based in Sheffield and uses sleds developed by Bromley Technologies at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Despite feeling unwell Rudman broke the track record in the second heat to take gold and climb to the top of the World Cup rankings.

Rudman won a silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olypics on the same Cesana track and described her second run as the best run of her life on her blog. She also put the win down to her lucky charm, Ella, her daughter with partner and fellow British slider, Kristan Bromley, who has joined them for the European leg of the tour.

Rudman said: "I am so happy with this result and to take gold and beat the track record is such a fantastic feeling. I had two really consistent runs but manage to clean up the second to gain the extra speed.

"A gold here after my Olympic silver at the last games is a real step forward and I still have to keep the focus. Having Ella out here has really helped me to relax and keep focussed and my feet on the ground. I will enjoy today then it's back to the program and the next race."

The Bromley team has more than 50 years' combined experience in elite winter sport, aerospace technology, Formula One engineering and design with its equipment supporting athletes to win over 40 world-class medals, including Olympic Bronze and Silver.

In the skeleton bob, Rudman is the current Olympic Silver medallist and the only British medallist from the last winter games. Professor Kristan Bromley, the company's chief executive and co-founder with brother Richard, is the 2008-9 Triple Crown World Champion, also in the skeleton.

Bromley was also in competetion at Cesana but his sled fell out of the start grooves at the beginning of the second run and he fell from fifth to 16th place.

He said: "I must look at this season pragmatically. My mission is Vancouver 2010 and every World Cup race must be used as a step towards that goal. I must be smart and use these World Cup races to continue to ask and answer questions about what my optimal race set-up will be for the end of season finale. I must continue to risk World Cup medals to innovate and move forward."

Bromley Technologies website
Rotherham

Images: AMP