Allyn makes friends fast (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Allyn makes friends fast

5:18pm Friday 26th February 2010 in

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ALLYN Condon has had to make friends fast ahead of his Winter Olympic debut but insists the new-look British bobsleigh team won’t suffer because of it.

Condon alongside pilot John Jackson and fellow brakeman Dan Money and Henry Nwume will compete as a four for the first time this week after being thrust together less than a month ago.

The 35-year-old has pushed for Lee Johnston as part of Great Britain’s first-choice four-man sled ever since swapping sprinting for bobsleigh in 2006 while Jackson has largely marshalled the second string.

However British selectors overlooked Johnston in favour of Jackson – who finished two places ahead of the two-time Olympian in this year’s World Cup rankings in 21st – and combined the two crews.

The four have had just a matter of weeks to get to know each other as a result but Condon is adamant there will be no lack of trust between them in Whistler.

“We have never competed together as a four before so we have had to do a lot of work to get ourselves into a position where we believe we can be competitive,” said Condon.

“We have had to bond as at team and put as much work as possible so that timing issues, sled loading and seating positions aren’t a problem.

“Most teams at the Olympics will have been working on those for four years if not more but unfortunately it took until recently to establish who was best for the team.

“Now that we know we have done some really good worked and have gelled as a four-man team a lot quicker than anyone thought we would.

“That has given us a much needed boost, we have ticked all the boxes we wanted to tick and now we have to put that into practice.”

Condon and co will have six training runs to get a feel for themselves and the bobsleigh course at the Whistler Sliding Centre before their first run on Friday night.

It is a far cry from this time nearly ten years ago when Condon was running for Great Britain in the 4x100m relay at the Summer Olympics in Sydney.

And while he is now all too aware that he will become the first Brit to compete at a Summer and Winter Games since 2002 – Condon admits he is more concerned about succeeding than making history in Canada.

Lloyds TSB, proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to Vancouver 2010. Visit LloydsTSB.com/London2012