Crawford and Thomas claim gold at British Championships

DOUGIE Crawford collected his second title with a giant slalom victory at the British Land National Ski Championships in Meribel.

VICTORY: Dougie Crawford claimed his second British title with a slalom win in Meribel (Neil McQuoid/Racer Ready)

Andy Noble look set to snatch the title after a dominant first run but caught an inside edge three gates from home and spun out of control.

Crawford, who also won the super-G title on Monday, took advantage but was pushed all the way by Dave Ryding, who finished just two hundredths of a second behind.

"It was pretty hard work and a bumpy course but I guess it was the same for everyone and it's good to come away with a result," said Crawford, who was overlooked for a place on the British team at last month's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Chemmy Alcott skied out on the first run of the women's slalom and Louise Thomas, who also won the super-G title, took the gold with a mammoth four second winning margin over second placed Harriet Steggles, as 25 of the 65 starters failed to complete two runs.

"It is always great to have Chemmy here - she pushes me massively," said Thomas. 

"She is the one to beat and it is nice to know you are up there, especially when you know that she is one of the best skiers in the world.

"That is a real motivation for me, to see how I do against the best and that is what these whole championships are about."