Aspers takes a gamble on bobsleigh star of the future

A County Durham winter sports star is aiming to be crowned British Bobsleigh Champion this weekend after Aspers Casino in Newcastle stepped in at the eleventh hour to allow her to compete.

Mica McNeill, from Consett, was set to miss the contest in Igls in Austria after funds pledged for her travel, accommodation and competition fees were withdrawn at the last moment.

The 20-year-old is described as ‘one to watch’ by Team GB and is tipped to be in the medals at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea 2018. Mica is currently British bobsleigh number two and world number 20, and narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Winter Olympics in Sochi this year – only her third full competitive season.

Mica has been in Austria all week training and qualifying for the British Bobsleigh Championships, which pits amateurs against professionals. She will be competing for the British Champion title itself on Saturday (8 March).

She said: “Aspers Casino’s support has meant I have been able to concentrate on competing at the British Championships this week.

“As an athlete it’s fantastic to have such a company recognise my talents and to want to work with me to achieve my ambitions. I am very excited at the opportunities that they are able to offer me and looking forward to working with them over the coming months.”

Darren Hedley, campaigns manager for Aspers said: “Mica has shown she has the talent, ambition and determination to succeed and we’re delighted to be supporting a local athlete with such potential.

“She has the attributes to go to the top of her sport and Aspers is thrilled to be part of the team at this vital stage in her career.”

Aspers provided the £2,000 necessary to take Mica to Austria for the competition and cover the costs of attending the contest itself. Despite gaining recognition as a key sport of the future, there is little public funding available for bobsleighing and Mica has paid for much of her progress so far herself, including buying her own sled.

The British Bobsleigh Championships at the Olympiaworld track are expected to attract large crowds on Saturday, thanks to the heightened profile that winter sports are currently enjoying as a result of the Sochi Games.

Mica knows the track well having won silver with brakewoman Jazmin Sawyers at the first Youth Winter Olympics held at Igls in the 2011-12 season. In 2012-13, her first full competition season, Mica was bronze medallist at the Junior World Championships.

The former Durham High School for Girls student, who represented the County at netball and hockey and was an Olympic torchbearer in 2012, took up the bobsleigh in 2009 and started competing when she was 16. She spent her first few seasons learning to drive the sled and has quickly moved up the British and world rankings.