YORK St John College's hot hopefuls don't want to feel the chill in Salt Lake City.

A final year part-time research student and a 2001 graduate of the college are hoping to raise the spirits at what has been a disappointing Olympics to date for the British team.

Current PhD student Simon Timson is performance director for the British Bob Skeleton Association (BBSKA).

His competitors race on Wednesday and will be hoping to break their duck with women's bob skeleton hope Alex Coomer ranked number one in the world.

Driffield-based Zoe Crawford, who studied Sport and Exercise Science at York St John College and graduated last year, is first reserve for the women's bobsleigh team who are in action tomorrow.

The 26-year-old was selected to join the national development squad for the British Bobsleigh Association in February 2000, after taking part in the College's Talent Identification Programme.

Dr Andy Smith, Head of the School of Sport and Psychology said: "It is a great achievement that two students with strong connections to York St John College are making an impact on the winter sports scene.

" We are all rooting for Simon's bob skeleton team and for Zoe and the bobsleigh team, and wish them both the best of luck in their pursuit of sporting

excellence."

In the bob skeleton event, competitors travel on a sled on their stomach, head first down a track. The sled rides along the course on two steel runners and can reach speeds of over 90mph.

Men's bob skeleton has this year returned to the Olympics for the first time

since 1948. The women's event is making its Olympic debut.

Britain's women curlers still have an outside chance of getting through to the semi-finals despite losing 6-5 to the United States. Britain led 5-3 but the Americans hit back to take the match into an extra end.

Victory over Germany, whom they were playing today could put them in contention for a medal.

The British men found their form when it was too late. They beat France 7-3 but they were merely playing for pride after already failing to progress to the next stage.

Updated: 11:54 Monday, February 18, 2002