Pat McMillan and Tess Arbez impress in their Winter Olympic debuts for Ireland

Bad weather may have delayed and frustrated them for several days but when Ireland's alpine skiers Patrick McMillan and Tess Arbez finally got to make their Winter Olympic debuts this morning they did not disappoint.

McMillan (26), from Ogonelloe, Co Clare, had a dream debut in the 'Formula One' of skiing, flying fearlessly down the tricky Downhill course with no problems at all to finish 52nd. His time of one minute and 49.98 seconds (1:49.98) was just nine seconds slower than the new Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway.