On Monday 2 February 2009 founder club member Hilary Field took the gold medal in the 5 km Free Technique F09 Class at Masters World Cup in Autrans, France. Following her previous day's performance in the 10 km Classic Technique F09 Class where she had excelled by taking silver, she enjoyed a runaway victory. Taking the lead on the short hill leaving the stadium, Hilary skied away from the rest of the field to win by no less than 50 seconds, a big win over such a short distance. Her co-medalists came from better known cross-country nations, with Finland second and Russians filling the next three places:
- Hilary Field GBR 20:12.8 2.
- Hanna Laurila FIN 21:03.5 3.
- Makaricheva Galina RUS 21:25.3
Hilary rounded off an outstanding week by taking 17th position overall - and easily winning her age group - in the 25 km Classic Technique race at La Transjurassienne in the French Jura.
Congratulations Hilary, our first World Champion!