This event is one of the main highlights in the Hungarian race calendar usually. Last year Peter fell ill just on the eve before the races, so we missed out completely then. This year we had high expectations and I think they've mostly fulfilled.
The program started with the longest distance, 500m for Peter. There were 8 racers alltogether, divided into two semifinals. Peter started well in his race and traveled quite comfortably behind TA for most of the distance, advancing to the A Final easily. His time was 58:500~ish but it was declared NOTIME for some techical difficulties.
500m semifinal
Then in the final his start wasn't as good as usual and he quickly found himself in position #3. He was clearly faster then KA right ahead him but he missed at least 2 occasions for taking over. Instead Peter kept on trying an inner pass but quite late, into the turn - that resulted in some close-combat action and while he managed to skate a new PB of 57:557 he was DQ-d later for impeding. Yes, disqualifed, no P(enalty) - why? I thought the new rules apply...
Anyway he has to learn this aspect of racing, too. Referees, decisions, points of view...
Coach TT helped him get through this mental shock (first DQ in his life) and analyze what went wrong - and to concentrate on the next distance.
500m Final A
The 222m seems to fit Peter this year very much - nice quick start and 2 laps of full power. He came 2nd in the semi again with a not-so-good start.
222m semifinal
Then in the A Final he fought off a takeover try from SzÁ for position 2, grabbing 21 points in the end.
222m Final A
As the closing event of the day Peter joined 2 beginners to form an ad-hoc relay team. The original plan was that each of them skates 2 laps and relays then. However being beginner doesn't help in relays, so poor 2nd guy fell 3 times from 4. All 3 times Peter was there in a wink and relayed him and zoomed off to cover 2 laps quickly. But this resulted that he had to do 10 laps compared to the 6 planned. And a closing twist of life, the race officials ordered the re-run of the whole relays for some technical problems. But luckily it was postponed until the next day.
On Sunday Peter started with the 333m semi-final, where he showed quite a good start. But then he didn't have a good transition speeding up in the first turn and that left a good choice for SzÁ to take him over. From then on it was a nice combat, Peter looking for takeover opportunities but never really finding a good one. He almost managed to finish an attempt in the last lap but it didn't come true. No problem, he got in the A Final again.
333m semifinal
In the final he started strong from lane 3 and entered the first turn in 2nd position, right after TA. He was very close to TA but missed a crossover in the 4th turn. So he found himself 3 meters behind immediately and SzÁ was coming close dangerously from behind. But Peter did not give up and pushed a bit harder again in the straight, leaving no chance for SzÁ for an attack. So he finished 2nd again.
333m Final A
In the overall he gained 42 points and so finished 3rd, only 5 ponts behind SzÁ. It is a very good result IMHO given the fact he missed out on points on one distance completely, due to the DQ.
His skating looked good and he showed good form throughout the weekend. Official results
here.
