Richmond Park may not seem an obvious training ground for cross-country skiers, but when the park closes on Thursday evening an Olympic hopeful pulls on his roller-skis and takes to its hills.

Hugh Pritchard, who is hoping to be in the British Biathlon team at Salt Lake City 2002, Gerard Evans and Chris Richards, can be seen roller-skiing every Thursday evening when the park is closed to traffic. Mr Pritchard said:

"The park's long roads and its tricky slopes make it an ideal place to train."

Mr Pritchard, the current British Champion, recently completely a 10 mile race in thirty-three minutes, and he said: "The technique involved makes it excellent training for the real thing."

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