So it wasn't meant to be for Emily Sarsfield but, make no mistake, she will be pleased with her performance in Pyeongchang.

Sarsfield, remember, was making her Olympic debut at the ripe old age of 34 after being ruled out of Vancouver 2010 through injury and controversially left out of the British squad four years ago.

A happy ending? I think so.

Durham's finest Emily Sarsfield starts better than she did in her previous heat - frankly, it couldn't have been any worse - but her rivals still manage to pull away in the early stages. The Brit closes the gap as we approach the halway stage... you could throw a blanket over the other three.

Canada's Britanny Phelan eventually puts clean Pyeonchang air between her and France's Alizee Baron. Those two reach the semi-finals ahead of Italy's Debora Pixner and Sarsfield.

Nerves of steel required here. High speeds, high jumps, high intensity. There are a few worried Swedish faces - is Sandra Naeslund going to make it? Swiss rival Fanny Smith is in control and wins, Naeslund pushing ahead to claim second.

Next up is Emily Sarsfield...

Ed Leigh
Freestyle skiing and snowboarding commentator on BBC TV

Big, big win for Sami Kennedy-Sim. She learned to ski in New South Wales.

She battled hard for that win. She was blisteringly quick through that first section and it gave her the lead she wanted.

Two world champions go head-to-head in the next quarter-final: current champ Sandra Naesland and 2013 winner Fanny Smith. Those two have got to be the favourites to progress...

One down! Austria's Andrea Limbacher hits the white stuff early doors, turning the first quarter-final into a three-horse race when she hooks her skis into a gate.

Australia's Sami Kennedy-Sim crosses the line first, closely followed by Sweden's Lisa Andersson.

I didn't have the Aussies down as strong skiers I must admit. It's a bit like Iceland having a decent beach volleyball team...

Watch how Debora Pixner fell as she approached the finish line... but just crossed the line ahead of Victoria Zavadovskaya to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Graham Bell
Five-time Olympic skier on BBC TV

There's a big gulf in women's ski cross between the very best and the rest of the world.

There is an argument to just bring the top 16 to the Olympic Games.

One more heat to go. Canada's Kelsey Serwa - silver medallist in Sochi - and Russia Anastasiia Chirtcova seal the deal.

No messing about here. Straight onto the quarter-finals...

Caroline Chapman
BBC Sport in Pyeongchang

Lamin Deen and Brad Hall have finished their first training session of the day, with one more to follow at 02:55 GMT.

Deen's crew came in at their slowest pace yet at 50.01 seconds, but they remain in the top 10 for now.

Hall finished in 50.28 seconds - also their slowest run yet - so perhaps there's a game plan in there?

Nick Hope
BBC Sport in Pyeongchang

An overnight dump of around a foot of snow has really freshened up life in the mountains which was in desperate need of a bit of the white stuff!

But although helping add to the ‘Winter’ effect of the Games, it also helps athletes in ski cross who enjoy fast, compact, hard ice to race on.

GB’s Emily Sarsfield did all that she could and by keeping it clean she was able to ease through behind Alizee Baron of France with Canadian rival India Sherret suffering a heavy crash.

Sarsfield reaches the ski cross Olympic quarter-finals and celebrates as though she’s claimed a medal.

We go again. India Sherret has been delicately moved off the track and that means the contest is about to resume.

We have an all-Alpine heat with Austria's Katrin Ofner trying to see off Swiss pair Sanna Luedi and Priscilla Annen. She's done it! Ofner crosses first, just ahead of Luedi.

Graham Bell
Five-time Olympic skier on BBC TV

Emily Sarsfield has done fantastically well even to make it to these Games.

She's self-funded and she's never had really had any support. She's forged her own path, she teaches skiing in Meribel to fund herself.

Good luck to her - she's in the next round.

Spare a thought for India Sherrett. The Canadian is still laid out on the course, surrounded by medics. Thankfully she does appear to be moving so we don't think it is too serious. More updates as we get them.

That means we have a slight break before the final two heats. In the meantime the crowd amuse themselves with, er, Wave Cam. Good job it isn't Kiss Cam. It's that cold you'd get your lips stuck together like hot gum to a rubber shoe sole.

Watch how reigning champion Marielle Thompson came to grief just after the start of the first heat.

Lee Fergusson: Wow!! What drama in the last two heats of the Ski Cross!!

Em J Bj: Yay well done Emily! Such a shame for the Canadian I hope she's alright!

Luke John Frost: Well Done Emily Sarsfield

Ed Leigh
Freestyle skiing and snowboarding commentator on BBC TV

Emily Sarsfield has battled with injuries over the years but she has worked so hard.

She had a bit of fortune there. That is the nature of ski cross!

She had a terrible start but she stuck with it. She now knows what she needs to do.

And there is a miracle! Or at least a nasty crash for Canada's India Sherrett. Her misfortune means Emily Sarsfield has a clear run into the next round as she finishes second behind France's Baron.

Here's our Emily! Sarsfield struggles out of the blocks in heat six... she's well behind France's Alizee Baron and Canada's India Sherrett already. She's out barring a miracle I'd suggest...

What drama! Italy's Debora Pixner stacks it as she approaches the finish line... but just crosses ahead of Victoria Zavadovskaya...

Image source, BBC Sport