It’s Down, Down and Away for Olympic Skiing Hopeful - 20 February 2007

Wallis Shipping, a Colchester-based shipping firm has set its sights on helping a young skiing star to get to the 2012 Olympics.

Wallis Shipping, which specialises in global freight and logistics,
has backed leading British ski team member, Ed Drake, for several years, but has stepped-up its support after the young skier made an astonishing return to the sport due to a hip injury that has kept him
off the slopes for a year and a half. Although based at Britain’s ski training camp in Austria, Ed has strong links to Colchester. His grandparents herald from the town and his father studied at Colchester Institute.

Ed, 21, recently took first place at an international race in Switzerland, beating 112 racers from all over the world, including top American and Canadian skiers.  Ed is a former British and French ski champion and is one of seven men in the British team who are hoping to be chosen to travel to Whistler in Canada for the Olympic Games in 2010.

Managing director of Wallis Shipping, Stuart Gregory, said: “We are very proud to be sponsoring one of the country’s top skiing champions and after this excellent result on his return it has dramatically improved his world ranking and puts him in the top 200, which is incredible. We are so pleased to see him back in action. As a company we have strong ties to local sport and take pride in sponsoring the town’s young talent.”

Wallis Shipping, which is celebrating 20 years in business, has invested in both training and travel expenses for the up-and-coming champion.

Wallis Shipping Services Ltd