Irish women's bobsleigh team driver Aoife Hoey warms up before her team's third run in Vancouver. The Irish team won thier personal battle with Australia, finishing in 17th place overall.

The Irish women’s bobsleigh team have won their personal dual with Australia in Vancouver, claiming a highly creditable 17th place finish at the Winter Olympic event.

Pilot Aoife Hoey and brake woman Claire Bergin  finished two places ahead of main rivals Australia whose late entry almost cost the Irish due their place at the Games.

Hoey and Bergin had become the first women’s bobsleigh team from Ireland to qualify for an Olympic Games,and their last run ensured they finished well of the bottom in an event won by Canada’s Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyes.

“Winter sports have got a big boost,” Hoey said. “People have the impression that you’re from Ireland and you don’t have snow but just because you don’t have something doesn’t mean you can’t do it. We want to encourage people to follow their dreams.”

As well as completing their four heats without incident while other teams crashed on the  fastest track in the world, the pair had also survived two legal bids to have them removed from the competition in favour of teams from Australia and Brazil in a dispute of geographic representation.

The Australian pair of Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Cecilia McIntosh were added to the start list as a 21st team and the Irish team had the satisfaction of seeing them finish two places below after crashing on their final run.

“After all the legal fuss before the competition, we feel vindicated with the results achieved here,” Hoey said.

“The atmosphere at the track was awesome but not intimidating and we decided to go for broke on each run but being careful not to crash.

“We’re thrilled to finish 17th and will hold our heads up high in the knowledge we did our best for our country on what was the fastest and toughest track we have ever encountered.”