HELEN TOMKINSON M.B.E.

Helen Tomkinson, who died in April, aged 86, was both a racer and a race organiser, who had a great influence on British and International ski racing. She learnt to ski in Villars, age twelve and competed in children's races there. When she was sent to Kitzbuhel to learn German after school, she met the Austrian Women's Alpine Team and trained with them there, making many lifetime friends.

Helen joined the British Women's Alpine Team in 1935 and competed in the 1936 world championships in Innsbruck and the first Alpine Winter Olympics in Garmisch Partenkirchen that year. After racing in the 1937 and 1938 world championships in Chamonix and Engelberg, she captained the British women's team at Zakopane in Poland in 1939 and went on to win the Czech international championships.

After the war she became a respected Technical Delegate at international events for the International Ski Federation and represented Britain on the FIS Ladies Alpine Committee. A sound knowledge of French and German meant she did not hesitate to put across her views. She helped to set the Citadin circuit for FIS in 1963 and ran the very successful Kandahar- Martini Citadin races from 1964 to 1991. While she was chairing the FIS Citadin Committee, she helped to set up Master racing for FIS and organised the international Kandahar-Master Races.

At home she worked hard on behalf of British skiing becoming president of the Ladies Ski Club from 1951-54 and chairman of the Kandahar Club from 1962-1967. In 1979 she was awarded the M.B.E. for services to skiing. FIS made a her an Honorary Member in 1983 - only the second woman in the world to be so honoured.

A tireless supporter of young British racers, Helen Tomkinson helped to raise funds for them, took an active interest in their success and was always ready to use her contacts, knowledge and wisdom on their behalf.

Elizabeth Hussey
2^nd May 2000.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Helen Tomkinson was a strong supporter of the 2000 World Championships and was due to visit Wycombe Summit for lunch at the time of her death. Wycombe Summit and LSERSA are dedicating this race to her memory.

The Tomkinson family have kindly donated a Trophy for the woman's World Champion to be awarded to the winning female racer in this race.