CHRISTMAS has come early for former Culcheth High School and ex Croft Cadet Alex Cartagena as part of the GB Bobsleigh team.
Recent performances in the final European cup races of 2023 in Sigudla, Latvia, has shown the team now has world cup ptential in 2024!
Alex, aged 26, who joined the RAF at 17 as a Mechanical Engineer, took up the sport just over three years ago after competing for the RAF in weight and powerlifting when he was identified as showing good potential after speed trials initially for the RAF at Cosford and then for the GB Team.
The team came away with another two Top 6 Wider podium finishes in the European cup races, with 4 Top 6 results in 5 Races.
Corporal John Stanbridge, pilot for Team GB Bobsleigh, who has bounced back from suffering a broken neck injury 12 months ago, said: “We have proven once again that we have World Cup potential!
“Great work from Jens Hullah in Race 4 and a massive effort from Alex Cartagena RAF in Race 5 to secure a top 5 start and Top 5 run- matching the Swiss team to 1 hundreth of a second!
“We now stand 5th overall in the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) 2-man European cup rankings with 3 races to go! These results will open opportunities for the team to make World Cup appearances and potentially the World Championships in 2024.
He added: “We do still need support and funding to keep the team fighting for podiums and progressing to the World stage.”
“If you want to back a team that have endured, adapted and defied the odds to secure result then please get in touch.”
“I’m truly proud of what we have achieved so far this year. You can really see what it means to us!”
What a feeling 😍
2 Top 6 European Cup Finishes and another Top 10.
This is what a podium means to myself and #bobteamstanbridge
12 months on from a broken neck injury that could of changed everything for me.
What a comeback 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/qFBscH9kg7
— John Stanbridge (@johnstanners318) December 4, 2023
