Snow and Ice 2014

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© This magazine contains official information and should be treated with discretion by the recipient. No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in this magazine can be accepted by the publishers or printers. Published by Forces and Corporate Publishing Ltd, Hamblin House, Hamblin Court, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 0RU. Tel: 01933 419994 • Fax: 01933 419584 • Email: [email protected]

Army Winter Sports Association

Managing Director: Ron Pearson Designer: Kerry Wells

ICEand

ARMY WINTER SPORTS

ASSOCIATION

In this issue 2014

PatronHRH The Duke of Kent KG GCMG CCVO KSGC ADC (P)

PresidentGen Sir Nick CarterKCB CBE DSO ADC GEN

Deputy PresidentsMaj Gen RBS Nitsch OBE (Ice Sports)Maj Gen PW Jaques CBE (Snowboard)Maj Gen Sir GPR Norton KCVO CBE (Telemark)Maj Gen RPM Weighill CBE (Alpine)

ChairmanLt Gen JG Lorimer DSO [email protected]

Vice ChairmanBrig ASD Harrison DSO [email protected]

SecretaryLt Col (Retd) MK [email protected]

Sponsorship SecretaryLt Col JA Scott MBE [email protected]

Public Fund ManagerLt Col SAJ Davis [email protected]

Editor Snow and IceCatharine [email protected]

Discipline officials are listed on individual sports pages. Images are AWSA Copyright unless otherwise stated.

The Army Winter Sports Association was founded in 1947 by Field Marshal Montgomery to help provide military personnel with a break from routine training and operations. Since then it has encouraged generations of Army personnel to take to the snow and ice - often for the first time in their lives.

The Association helps soldiers to develop their skills in demanding conditions thereby fostering self discipline, physical courage and teamwork. Many have gone on to represent their country in successive winter Olympic games.

Winter sporting disciplines currently encompassed by the AWSA are; Alpine, Bobsleigh, Cresta, Luge, Nordic, Skeleton Bobsleigh, Snowboard and Telemark. If you are a keen snow or ice sportsperson you need to be an AWSA member to compete in any Divisional or Army Championships. For further information contact [email protected] or complete the application form on page 58.

a: c/o MOD ASCB, MacKenzie BuildingFox Lines, Queens Avenue, Aldershot GU11 2LBt: 94222 7078 (military)t: (01252) 787078f: 94222 7079 (military)f: (01252) 787079e: [email protected]: www.awsa.org.uk

Army Winter Sports Association

Cover: Cpl Amanda Lightfoot AGC, Sochi Olympiad - photographed by Marcel Laponder

4 Events 2014-2015

5 AWSA News

8 Alpine

10 Bobsleigh

14 Olympic Bobsleigh

19 CSDST

22 Cresta

24 Luge

30 Nordic

32 Olympic Biathlon

36 Skeleton Bobsleigh

39 Snowboard

45 Telemark

48 Sponsorship

50 Ex SPARTAN HIKE

54 Ex PIPEDOWN

58 AWSA membership

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Season Events 2014 - 2015Army Winter Sports Association

Army Junction Novice Championships St Moritz - Switzerland 23/01/1517th / 21st Lancers Cup Army Top Championships St Moritz - Switzerland 27/01/15Scots Guards Cup Inter Services Cresta Championships St Moritz - Switzerland 29/01/15Prince Phillip Trophy

Army Pre-Season Events Bottrop - Germany 11/09/14 Snowdome - Hemel Hempstead 18/09/14Army Freestyle Championships Stubai - Austria 16/10/14 – 01/11/14EX SNOW METHOD Army Championships Stubai - Austria 28/03/15 – 11/04/15EX SNOW JACK Inter Services Championships (ISSSC) Meribel - France 31/01/15 – 07/02/15

Alpine

Bobsleigh

Cresta

Luge

Nordic

Skeleton Bobsleigh

Telemark

Army Ice Camp - weeks 1 & 2 Igls - Austria 30/11/14 – 13/12/14EX RACING ICE I Army Championships(Novice, Junior, Intermediate & Senior) La Plagne - France 10/01/15 – 17/01/15 EX RACING ICE II Inter Services Ice Sports Championships La Plagne - France 07/03/15 – 15/03/15

Army Ice Camp - weeks 1 & 2 Igls - Austria 30/11/14 – 13/12/14EX RACING ICE I Army Championships La Plagne - France 10/01/15 – 17/01/15 (Novice, Junior, Intermediate & Senior) EX RACING ICE II Inter Services Ice Sports Championships La Plagne - France 07/03/15 – 15/03/15

AWSA Discipline Secretaries Meeting 2014 ASCB, Aldershot 02/09/14AWSA Management Meeting 2014 Cavalry & Guards Club - London 29/10/14AWSA AGM and Cocktail Party 2014 Cavalry & Guards Club - London 29/10/14

Army Championships Rauris - Austria 10/01/15 – 22/01/15EX TELEMARK TITAN Inter Services Championships (ISSSC) Meribel - France 31/01/15 – 07/02/15

Snowboard

UK Regional and Reserves Championships Monetiers - France 11/01/15 – 21/01/15EX SPARTAN HIKE BFG & North Region Championships Les Contamines - France 10/01/15 – 20/01/15EX PIPEDOWN Army Championships Serre Chevalier - France 21/01/15 – 30/01/15EX LIONS CHALLENGE Inter Services Championships (ISSSC) Meribel - France 31/01/15 – 07/02/15Royal Navy Championships Tignes - France 10/01/15 – 24/01/15Royal Air Force Championships Saalbach Hinterglemm - Austria 10/01/15 – 24/01/15

UK Regional and Reserves Championships Monetiers - France 11/01/15 – 21/01/15EX SPARTAN HIKE BFG & North Region Championships Les Contamines - France 10/01/15 – 20/01/15EX PIPEDOWN Army & Inter Services Championships (ISSSC) Ruhpolding - Germany 21/01/15 – 06/02/15EX RUCKSACK


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AWSA PRESIDENTAWSA NEWS

Do you use Facebook?

Annual General Meeting

General Sir Peter Wall GCB CBE ADC Gen - Chief of the General Staff

Date for your Diary - the AGM of the Army Winter Sports Association will be held at the Cavalry and Guards Club, 127 Piccadilly, London W1J 7PX, 4 St James’s Square, London on the 29th October 2014 at 1730 hrs.

If you are a facebook user, the AWSA has its own page where all the latest news and updates will be posted. During the season there will be daily updates with images from the various disciplines and AWSA members are encouraged to use the site as a notice board.

Facebook is a great way to stay in touch with our dislocated population so spread the word. Visit www.facebook.com/ArmyWinterSportsAssociation and click LIKE.


As the President of the Army Winter Sports Association in this Olympic year I was enormously proud of the part our athletes played in Sochi. We were represented in Bobsleigh by LSgt

Lamin Deen and Cpl Paula Walker, in Nordic skiing by Cpl Amanda Lightfoot and LBdr Lee Jackson, and in the Paralympic programme by Sgt (Retd) Mick Brennan. Their stories, and tales from those who narrowly missed selection for Team GB, are described later in this magazine. I commend them all for their skill and commitment at the pinnacle of their various winter sports.

Whilst our Olympians set the tone at the elite level, I am also heartened by the participation by many hundreds of soldiers and officers at lower levels, noting that every event run by the AWSA this year was over-subscribed. Our efforts to swell participation are paying dividends. Well done! Sport promotes exactly the right sort of challenge including leadership, teamwork, physical courage, fitness and good administration, founded on a desire to win, that is fundamental to success on military operations. Hence the importance of strong involvement in winter sports across the Army, regular and reserve.

This has been my final season as President and I am delighted that my successor as CGS, General Sir Nick Carter, has agreed to step into the post on my departure; I am confident that he will find the experience as invigorating as I have. The Trustees have asked me to stay on as an Honorary Life President, an invitation I have accepted with great pleasure. So I look forward to continuing to follow our eight disciplines closely and perhaps visit the occasional event. As I ‘sign off’ as President I would like to congratulate all our athletes for getting involved, commend our volunteer officials who spend so much of their spare time making all this happen and, in particular, thank the small number of staff

in the AWSA who keep the organization running so smoothly. I also express my sincere gratitude to our sponsors and donors without whom Army winter sport would not be accessible by so many. I wish you all the very best for the forthcoming season.

At the first ever Winter Games at Chamonix in 1924 the GBR 4 man Bob team consisted of one Colonel, two Majors and a Captain; they won the silver medal!

In St Moritz in 1928 the Army made up one fifth of the only ever 5 man bob.

In 1964 Captain Robin Dixon (now Lord Glentoran) Grenadier Guards won the Gold Medal with Tony Nash in the 2 man bob (see page 13). They were nearly emulated in 1998 when Corporals Dean Ward and Sean Olsson of the Parachute Regiment were members of the bronze medal four man bob.

At the first post War Olympic Winter Games in St Moritz 1948, “Winter Pentathlon” (Alpine, Cross Country, Equestrian, Fencing, Shooting) made its only Olympic appearance - as a Demonstration Sport. The BOA does not appear to recognise this 1948 “Winter Pentathlon” although the results are recorded in the Official IOC Report for St Moritz 1948. We believe that all four athletes were serving in the Army at the time.

Amy Williams who won a gold medal for Skeleton Bobsleigh at the 2010 Winter Olympics first tried the sport at an Army Ice Camp in Lillehammer Norway.

CGS with Army Alpine Champion 2014, SSgt Dougie Macpherson 1 LSR

Winter Olympics - did you know?


Visit the AWSA website at www.awsa.org.uk for further information on Army winter sports

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AWSA Chairman

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AWSA NEWS

AWSA ChairmanLt Gen John Lorimer DSO MBE

Although an operational tour in Afghanistan has kept me away from the mountains of Europe this season, I have followed the progress of our athletes closely from Kabul and I have been in regular contact with the Trustees and Executive Committee. I am delighted that the level of participation has been so high, and particularly so in one or two corners of the Army where the habit of taking part in these sports had seemed lost. It has been very heartening for me and the Committee to see it so enthusiastically regained. We must keep this up.

In the inter-Service competitions, we have been forced to share the team spoils this year with the athletes of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force to

a greater extent than I would have liked. In Alpine, the Army ladies proved their dominance at Meribel, whilst the men, despite some winning performances from individuals, were beaten into second place by the RAF. The Army snowboarders managed to win the men’s combined inter-Service prize, with the ladies coming in just behind the RAF. In Ice Sports, and despite our Olympic achievements, the RAF is proving hard to beat in both Bobsleigh and Skeleton, although our clean-sweep in Luge proves that we continue to have plenty of talent on the ice. If ice sports are your thing, watch out for our nascent plans to re-invigorate our efforts in all three of these disciplines in the coming year. In Cresta, we were narrowly beaten by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, although it is heartening to hear that we have some talented ‘young blood’ emerging. The good news is that

the Army continues to dominate Nordic and Telemark racing, although neither discipline should take the emerging Royal Navy and Royal Marines team for granted once they set their sights on a goal.

It would be remiss of me not to reinforce our President’s words on the previous page regarding our Olympians and Paralympian at Sochi this year. It is fair to say that few of them would have become involved in winter sport had they not caught the bug in the Army; they are an inspiration for us all.

I look forward to seeing many of you on the slopes and at the tracks in the coming season.

The Princess Marina Duchess of Kent Cup (usually known as ‘The Marina’) is the ‘Holy Grail’ of Army skiing and is awarded to the overall Champion Army Alpine and Nordic Unit. It has been won by 22 different units since 1948 when it was first awarded to 1 West Yorkshire Regiment. The cup is presented annually and is decided by calculating which unit has the most wins in both Alpine (Giant Slalom, Slalom, Super G and Downhill) and Nordic (15Km Cross Country, 10Km Biathlon, 4 x 7.5Km Biathlon and the Military Patrol Race). In the event of a tie the 30Km Military Patrol Race is used as the decider.

Princess Marina CupIt was the closest SAS Cup (Champion Inter Service Unit Nordic Ski Team) competition for many years as 17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps took the coveted award by just one point. 17 P & M Regt also won the Kentish Cup (Champion Army Unit Nordic Ski Team); this is the first ever year that 17 P & M Regt has been crowned both Inter Service Champions and Army Unit Champions.

2014 Champions – 1 LSR RLC

SAS and Kentish Cup

1LSR Alpine team at EX LIONS CHALLENGE 14 17 P & M Regt Biathlon Team at EX SPARTAN HIKE 14

2014 Champions – 17 P & M Regt RLC

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ALPINE

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Contact AlpineChairman

Brigadier Karl Ford MBE

Vice ChairmanCol Tim Wordsworth

SecretaryLt Col Hugh Campbell-Smith MBE

t: 07887821509e: [email protected]

Male Champion SSgt Dougie Macpherson 1 LSRMale 2nd Cpl Jonny Marsden 27 TLR RLCMale 3rd Cpl Dougie Bray ATR(W)Female Champion Capt Lizzie Cranfield BATUKFemale 2nd Capt Angie Fewster 100 Regt RAFemale 3rd LCpl Hollie Suff 29 Regt RLCTeam Champion 1 LSRTeam 2nd 3 CS BN REMETeam 3rd KRHCorps Champion Royal Logistic CorpsCorps 2nd Royal EngineersCorps 3rd Royal Artillery

Results 2013 - 2014Male Champion Lt Chris Sharrott RN (Navy)Male 2nd SSgt Dougie McPherson (Army)Male 3rd Cpl Gary Smith (RAF)Female Champion Capt Lizzie Cranfield (Army)Female 2nd Sqn Ldr Caitlin Wroe (RAF)Female 3rd Gnr Vicky Inman (Army)Best Male Newcomer Cpl Danny Rix (Army)Best Female Newcomer Gnr Vicky Inman (Army)Male Team Champions RAFFemale Team Champions Army

Army Championships Inter Services Championships

Photographer - Paul Ford

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ALPINE

Snow conditions were excellent overall but the quality of the race piste really came through a potent cocktail of gregarious attitude from our Chief of Race, Maj Ross Anderson, hard work from the hill team and the full and unreserved co-operation of the racers. Without the latter, sliding the course up to ten times each at the beginning

of the day, the races would not have been possible.

This year, a full

For a second year in a row, the Army Ski Championships at Serre Chevalier was run at capacity in terms of racers qualified for the event. This is very encouraging for all involved in the sport, illustrating great interest from skiers and great support form units and regiments alike. Racers arrived from across the entire spectrum of the Army ranging from our training regiment in Kenya to logistician reservists in the Scottish Transport Regiment as well as a number of Infantry Battalions.

complement of three speed training days made for an outstanding and nail-biting climax to the championships. Not only was there an opportunity for a new Men’s Team Captain following the retirement of racing legend Capt Matt Shepherd (Retd) but the chance of a new Men’s Champion loomed and there was no shortage of competition. Congratulations especially go to Jo Williamson for winning the downhill race and SSgt Dougie Macpherson on winning 2014 Overall Men’s Champion. In the ladies competition Capt Angie Fewster won the Downhill but it was not enough to stop Capt Lizzie Cranfield from winning overall Ladies Champion. A special mention must go to Cpl Adam Oldham for jumping the greatest number of places in the Downhill winning the Chairman’s ‘Bottle For Bottle’ award.

Some skiers only began their life on the slopes a mere seven weeks prior to arrival in Serre Chevalier. Championships at Corps and Divisional level set the conditions including training, acclimatisation and racing for the finals in Chantemerle. For many individuals the prospect of travelling approximately 80 miles per hour on 220 cm skis down an Olympic Downhill race is a daunting one. This is certainly an achievement in itself. However, with a gradual build-up of inspection runs culminating in race day itself, few hold back and the race is a real spectacle drawing attention in vast numbers from locals, sponsors and senior officers from across the Army.

The race committee comprises of ex-racers, conveniently doted around the mountain

at points where they can most effectively influence the safety of the course and

offer advice, encouragement, words of wisdom and sometimes a

simple reassurance that so far there have not

been any grave injuries, crashes

nor collisions with stray punters. As during race week,‘the

door is always open’ and the

committee welcomes suggestions on all subjects ranging from how to better attract more racers to the mountain, to

Cpl Jonny Marsden Super-G ChampionCapt Joe Williamson Downhill Champion

Inter Services Championships

Army ChampionshipsEX LIONS CHALLENGESerre Chevalier, France

21-30 Jan 2015

Inter-Services Championships(ISSSC)

Meribel, France31 Jan - 7 Feb 2015

Capt Lizzi Cranf eld Ladies Combined Championi

ideas about the feasibility of running a skier-cross event.

This year we were grateful for all of the help, guidance and good judgement that Brigadier Jim Richardson gave to the sport, in particular his meticulous monitoring of his ‘Brigadier’s Jump’ during the Downhill race which claimed more than a handful of crashes but thankfully not too many injuries. We welcome Brigadier Karl Ford MBE as the new Chairman of Alpine Skiing.

Inter-ServicesThe culmination of Army Alpine skiing, the

Inter-Services Championships, was held in Meribel, France at the beginning of February. In sometimes challenging conditions, the Army team upheld a strong challenge from the start. In the women’s competition, the ladies dominated throughout, taking team gold in three of the four disciplines, silver in the slalom and gold overall. The competition was much closer in the men’s; the Army team started strongly with a team gold in the Downhill but the Royal Air Force proved too hard to beat overall in the end. Individually there were some convincing results. A haul of gold medals coming from Capt Lizzie Cranfield (Downhill, Super G, Super Combined and Giant Slalom), and Capt Rob Ronz, who won the Men’s Downhill, as well as silvers and bronzes from Capt Angie Fewster, SSgt Dougie Macpherson and Capt Lucy Kirkpatrick. Many congratulations go to Capt Angie Fewster and Cpl Dougie Bray who were selected to ski on the Combined Services team at the British Championships this year.

UK Regional and Reserves ChampionshipsEX SPARTAN HIKEMonetiers, France11-21 Jan 2015

BFG & North Region ChampionshipsEX PIPEDOWN

Les Contamines, France10-20 Jan 2015

Events 2015

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BOBSLEIGH

athletes moved up to the bobsleigh track to meet Steve McFall, the head coach. Students were paired up according to size and then issued with their bobsleigh for the week; they were taught the basics about their bobsleigh and how to safely conduct daily maintenance. They were also instructed in how to move the bobsleighs both safely and efficiently as they are not the most mobile of sporting equipment to move. Once the staff were content that the new students had a basic grasp of this they conducted their first track walk. Track walks are absolutely essential (even for the most experienced bobsleighers); it gives drivers the opportunity to visualise the track, corner by corner prior to each days sliding. Steve McFall’s encouraging coaching style and down to earth approach relaxed the potential bobsleighers to the extent that nobody refused to slide on the first day (both weeks). Once all preparations had taken place, it was time for the students to take the leap of faith from the Damen Start (known as Ladies Start) which was situated two thirds of the way up the track. The only way to learn to bobsleigh is to get in a bobsleigh and go!

The first few laufs (runs down the track) saw the novices crash, bump and churn their way across the finish line in just about one piece. Most teams crashed during their first few laufs causing minor damage to the equipment and a few minor injuries to themselves. Bobsleighing really is the school of hard knocks and those who crashed will testify to that. By the end of day one most of the novice sliders were quite sore. However as the week progressed the students refined their driving skills and the laufs

became smoother and faster and of course with all Army personnel, once they got into the swing of sliding, out came the competitive streak. By the latter half of both weeks most of the novices were sliding from the Bob Start for the first time.

Ex RACING ICE I was fully manned for both weeks and it was a pleasure to see so many keen participants. The results for both weeks were impressive with 80% of the group qualifying as novice bobsleigh drivers. It was also heartening to see that those who did not continue sliding (for a number of reasons) stayed with the group in order to help with the administration at the track. The attitude of both groups was excellent and the strong camaraderie made the experience really special for all concerned. After ten laufs each in the driving seat (most also had laufs in the back seat) and a few beers on the final night, both groups returned to the UK. I hope that all who participated will spread the word about the opportunity to be involved in such an adrenaline fuelled sport. They now have the right to become armchair experts and I sincerely hope that during the recent Olympic Games, all those who participated in Ex RACING ICE I were commenting on each and every run.

Thanks must go out to our sponsorship and all members of staff for their outstanding dedication to the training of the novice sliders. It was a fantastic start to the season which proved to be challenging, unpredictable and fun. The Ex identified new bobsleigh talent and the task for the Army Bobsleigh Association staff is to pull these personnel through to the Army Novice/Junior/Senior Championships in Feb 15 and beyond.

Bobsleigh is one of those sports that for most personnel is a once in a lifetime experience. It is a white knuckle,

adrenaline fuelled, very complex sport that demands a great deal of dedication, courage and teamwork from all those involved. Ex RACING ICE I offers Army personnel of all ranks the opportunity to participate in 2-man bobsleigh; it opens up an expensive, elite sport to the masses.

Ex RACING ICE I was held at the Olympic Bobsleigh Track in Igls, Austria from 8-19 December 2013. This event signalled the start of the Army Bobsleigh season which would conclude in early March 14 with the British Championships. The aim of the Ex was to introduce complete novices to both driving and braking in a 2-man bobsleigh so by the end of the Ex they are able to drive competently down the track from either the Damen Start (2/3 up the track) or the Bob Start (top of the track). They are taught the basic skills required to race at an Army novice event with the potential to progress in the sport and future selection for the Army Team competing in the Inter Service Championships. Personnel of all ranks ranging from Pte to Col from across the Army attended the Ex and each individual completed a week of sliding. The Ex was run as 2 x one week periods. The bobsleigh element of Ex RACING ICE I was run by Capt Will Holden LANCS (Secretary Army Bobsleigh Association) with the coaching undertaken by Mr Steve McFall (ex GB driver/ex RAF driver). They were ably supported by WO2 McGrath and Kgn Shard who took on all the additional tasks at the track and worked tirelessly in the background to ensure the smooth running of the bobsleigh sliding.

The Ex delivered safe, exciting and enjoyable training in a relaxed but professional atmosphere. Each week of sliding commenced with the novices being processed by Capt Will Holden and subsequently allocated accommodation in the beautiful Walzl guesthouse in Lans (a couple of kms from the track). Army Ice Sports have developed a great relationship with the hotel over recent years and they welcome us back whenever we hold events at the Igls track. The Ex OIC was Maj Tor Gullan RE, who issued a detailed admin/discipline brief to all exercising troops (this included personnel participating in luge and skeleton bobsleigh).

Once all the mandatory briefs had been completed the groups of budding ice sports

ARMY CHAMPIONSHIPS

‘The only way to learn to bobsleigh is to get in a bobsleigh and go! ’

EX RACING

ICE ICapt Will Holden LANCS

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BOBSLEIGH

The Army Bobsleigh Championships were held in Igls, Austria from 23 Feb to 1 March 2014. Yet again they were

held in the week prior to the Inter Service Championships which enabled the Bobsleigh staff to select the Army Squad on the back of the results of the Army Championships. The event encompasses the Novice/Junior and Senior events; in the past they have been held separately but for the last few years have been held at the same time in order to encourage participation and allow those competing as Novice/Juniors to also race for the Senior title. It was an excellent turn out for the Championships with ten teams competing. This was an increase on numbers from last year and it was heartening to see last year’s Novice sliders return as Junior’s this year.

The movement of the bobsleighs from Germany to Austria was coordinated by Capt Will Holden (Secretary Army Bobsleigh Association (ABA)); he drove down with two drivers, kindly provided by 16 Signal Regiment, Sig Wilkinson and Sig Hoof. The ABA welcomed back Sean Olsson as Head Army Coach for the second year in succession; Sean is now retired from the Army but he remains one of our most successful male bobsleigh athlete winning an Olympic Bronze medal in the 4-man bobsleigh in Nagano in 88. Sean learnt to drive on the Army Ice Camp in 1987 and is a great example of what can be achieved in the sport. He was ably supported by Will Golder who is one of the current British bobsleigh drivers. Will learnt to drive on Ex RACING ICE in 2006 and was the British Champion in the 2-man bobsleigh in 11/12. The team was completed with Kenney Pereira on his first visit back to the Championships as a civilian after leaving the Army last year. In charge of administration and equipment he also sat by the final corner of the track during racing to extract any bobsleighs and athletes that were unfortunate enough to crash!

When the teams turned up for the Championships they were all issued with their kit for the week and taught the art of runner polishing. The teams would spend hours every night preparing their runners ready for race day. Any nick or mark in the runners can slow a bobsleigh down, and every second (or in the case of bobsleigh 100th of a second) counts. During the week the sliders were briefed on the Championship rules, which are based on the FIBT (International Governing Body) rules, so that there would be no surprise on race day. Most of the bobsleigh teams had a nominated driver and brakeman but in one or two cases, this had yet to be decided so there were a number of race-offs during the early training days to determine who would drive and who would brake. The weather throughout the week was excellent and the training sessions went really well with teams getting in two training runs a day from Monday to Thursday. The race draw for the Novice/Junior/Championships took place in the Baerhotel, Patsch on 27 February and was conducted by Colonel Pete Smith (Director Ice Sports). This was Colonel Smith’s first visit to an Ice Sport Championship and he took the opportunity to experience bobsleighing first hand by braking in the 2-man bobsleigh for Sean Olsson.

The weather on race day was perfect; the race started at 1000 hrs on 28 February and consisted of two race runs. In order to test the timing equipment, five Italian sleds were the “spur” bobs prior to the first Army sleds setting off. The first run was in the order the sliders were drawn at the race draw the previous evening and the final run was on time (slowest to fastest from their first run). Members of the Worshipful Company of Vintners supported the race and the ABA welcomed Simon Le Shallis, Court Member of the Worshipful Company of Vintners both to the race and the subsequent prize giving. There were five novice, three junior and two senior sleds racing; all could compete for the Army Championship trophy. It was a nail biting race in both runs with one of the favourite’s crashing in both runs, taking themselves out of the running for the Junior and Senior Trophy. Pte Darren Smith and LCpl Darren Little also crashed in their second run but luckily for them this didn’t push them out of the medals as they crossed over the finish line with all equipment and athletes intact so their time counted. The top four places were decided on the outcome of the second run.

It was heartening to see so many teams attend the Championships and I hope that all those units that did participate will build upon their teams for next Season.

‘There were five

novice, three junior

and two senior sleds

racing; all could

compete for the Army

Championship trophy’

ARMY CHAMPIONSHIPSMaj Helen Smyth RAMC – Chairman Army Bobsleigh Association

Results 2013 - 2014 Army ChampionshipsArmy Champions Pte Ivan Londal & Pte Jonathan Brown 3 PARA (Inf Team)Army Runners Up Cpl Dan Hawker & Pte Ricky Wilde 3 PARA (Inf Team)Fastest Army Brakeman LCpl Darren Little & Pte Ricky Wilde - 5.51 secondsArmy Novice Champions Pte Darren Smith & LCpl Darren Little 3 PARA (Inf Team)Army Novice Runners Up Lt Mike Hague 1 RTR & Sgt Steven Burnell RAPTCFastest Novice Brakeman LCpl Darren Little 3 PARA (Inf Team) - 5.51 secondsArmy Junior Champions Pte Ivan Londal & Pte Jonathan Brown 3 PARA (Inf Team)Army Junior Runners Up Cpl Nathan Dacres & LCpl Tooks Tanuku 3 PARA (Inf Team)Fastest Junior Brakeman Pte Ricky Wilde 3 PARA (Inf Team) - 5.51 seconds

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BOBSLEIGH

Following selection of the Army squad at the Army Bobsleigh Championships

there was no rest as kit was issued and training began in earnest on 2 March. Having already spent a week on ice in Igls, the Inter Service training was an opportunity for the Team Manager, Sean Olsson to try different combinations of drivers and brakemen in order to form the strongest pairings. The squad was joined early in the week by Olympians LSgt Lamin Deen and Cpl Paula Walker fresh from their experiences in Sochi. They were unable to use their Olympic bobsleighs as these were still in Russia waiting to be transported back to the UK so they had to rely on two of the Army bobsleighs.

The Inter Service Championships is based on a World Championship/Olympic race and consists of four heats over two days. On day one the first heat is in accordance with the draw, with the second being slowest to fastest. On day two, the third heat is the reverse of the

INTER SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIPS

draw and the final run is reverse on time. This makes for a thrilling race with the result not certain until the final bob has crossed the finish line. The Army had four male and two female crews racing and the prizes up for grabs were the Individual

and Team Champion titles. In the last 30 years the Army has never been awarded the wooden spoon and this year was not going to be an exception; it was all to play for. Training had been going particularly well, and on the last day of training

Maj Helen Smyth RAMC – Chairman Army Bobsleigh Association

there were only 18 hundredths of a second between the RAF and the Army (based on one run).

However on race day the RAF team produced three International brakemen (two who had just returned from Sochi) and their

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BOBSLEIGH

starts were significantly quicker than anyone else’s. The Army wasn’t disheartened and although their starts were not as fast as the RAF, it was obvious from looking at the split timings for each run that the Army team possessed better driving skills. Unfortunately Igls is a starter’s track; it is relatively short with only 14 corners so if you get a good start at the top of the track, you have to really mess up the drive in order to lose time. The battle was now on to ensure that the team did not take the wooden spoon and that LSgt Lamin Deen and Sgt Steve Smith took the male individual title. At the end of the first day of sliding, LSgt Deen and Sgt Smith had a comfortable lead and the other three Army sleds were lying in 7th, 8th and 9th place. In the women’s race, Cpl Paula Walker and Sgt Alicia Jarman dominated events, easily beating the three RAF teams and the one

RN team. Army 2 in the form of SSgt Sarah Smith and Bdr Bella Pearson had two good runs and in the second run were the only team to improve on their finish time. At the end of the first day there was a 3/10 second difference between the RAF and the Army in the Women’s team event. Cpl Walker just needed to extend her lead and SSgt Smith required two consistent runs down the track in order to challenge the RAF for the title.

On day two the weather had improved but the sun started to melt the ice, conditions at the top of the track going into curve one were not good and racers had to deal with slush which greatly reduced their times. However SSgt Smith and Bdr Pearson stepped up their racing and in run three they achieved their fastest start of the Championships. Cpl Walker and Sgt Jarman held onto their substantial lead and after all four runs they took the Individual trophy. Sgt Jarman was also awarded the Fastest Brakewoman trophy with a start time of 5.95 seconds from her first run. SSgt Smith (only in her second year of driving) and Bdr Pearson (second week in a bobsleigh) contributed to the women’s Army team taking second place in the team event;

Prize giving took place in the Bob Café at the Igls track and we welcomed two special guests in the form of Tony Nash and Robin Dixon, the 2-man bobsleigh Gold medal winners from the 1964 Winter Olympic Games held in Innsbruck. As Chairman Army Bobsleigh Association I had the honour and privilege to present Capt Robin Dixon (The Lord Glentoran) Gren Gds with his Army Bobsleigh Colours, 50 years after he should have received them. It was a poignant moment and both Nash and Dixon received a standing ovation from all those present. It was a superb way of ending the Inter Service Championships.

Bobsleigh Olympians 1964

Events 2014 - 2015

Army Ice CampEX RACING ICE I

Igls, AustriaWeek 1: 30 Nov 14 - 6 Dec 14

Week 2: 7 - 13 Dec 14

Army ChampionshipsEX RACING ICE II

(Novice, Junior, Intermediate and Senior)La Plagne,

France 10 - 17 Jan 15

Army Squad training weekEx RACING ICE III

La Plagne, France 1 - 7 Mar 15

Inter Services Ice Sports ChampionshipsIgls, Austria 7 - 15 Mar 15

Contact

Chairman Maj HS Smyth RAMC

SecretaryCapt WGA Holden LANCS

m: 07842 590363e: [email protected]

The British Bobsleigh Championships draw took place immediately following the Inter Service prize giving with five Army teams taking part. LSgt Deen was crowned British Champion 2014 in the 2-man event on 8 March.

‘We welcomed two special guests … the 2-man bobsleigh Gold medal winners

from the 1964 Winter Olympic Games’

definitely a pairing to watch in the future having demonstrated great potential over the two weeks on ice.

In the men’s race the RAF was the team to beat; their sleds were lying in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th position after the first day of racing. The Army 1 sled needed to increase its lead and the remaining Army sleds needed to shave some time off their third and fourth runs. The teams worked incredibly hard and pulled out some outstanding runs but unfortunately the RAF had too much of a lead and won the team event, with the Army coming second. However, LSgt Lamin Deen and Sgt Steve Smith held onto their lead and took the Individual title finishing .88 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals, the RN/RM sled of Sgt John Jackson and Major Karl Johnston (both Olympians). The final positions for the rest of the Army sleds were as follows:

Army 2 - Pte Ivan Londal/LCpl James Steel 3 PARA - 7th placeArmy 3 - Cpl Dan Hawker/Pte Ricky Wilde 3 PARA - 8th placeArmy 4 - Cpl Nathan Dacres/LCpl Darren Little - 9th place

The remainder of the Army squad who trained during the week and then provided the support crew on race days were Pte Darren Smith, LCpl Tooks Tanuku and LCpl Chris Green (all 3 PARA) and their assistance during racing was invaluable. The 13/14 Army Squad were all Novice/Junior sliders apart from the Army 1 crew. This is a strong foundation to build upon for future years.

14

WINTER OLYMPICS

PAULA WALKERS

OC

HI 2

014

Images © Alex Livesey/Getty Images

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WINTER OLYMPICS

PAULA WALKER

hosting the Winter Olympics. I had the great pleasure of sharing my experience with many military personnel, one being LSgt Lamin Deen. This was his first Olympics and it was pleasing to watch him enjoy himself as I did in Vancouver four years earlier.

At the Games I had six training runs to get to grips with the track. Unlike Vancouver this was a really difficult track for me, I just couldn’t fathom it out. Over the six training runs I was improving but not placing where I should be. The Olympic races are over two days (two runs per day) with the times of the four runs added together. After the first day of racing I was ranked 12th, not where I wanted to be, but I knew I had points in my run that I could improve on. The second day of the competition came and I woke up feeling dreadful but you can’t let illness get in the way of the Olympic

Games. I made a huge driving mistake on my third run which cost Rebekah and I nearly half a second but unbelievably I didn’t drop a place. However I knew I wouldn’t be able to gain any more places on my fourth run so 12th place it was but I knew I couldn’t have tried any harder; I had devoted the last four years of my life to Sochi 2014. Although I did not walk away with the result I would have liked, I walk away a double Olympian who will dust herself down and start again.

‘I walk away a double

Olympian who will

dust herself down and

start again’

The build up to an Olympic season is like no other. Athletes spend their lives trying to achieve the great honour of calling themselves an Olympian. The 2013/14 season was no different and throughout the summer I had to battle a number of setbacks as a result of a knee operation I had to have after the previous season on ice. Thankfully with great rehabilitation treatment from Bisham Abbey I was able to make the GB team as the number one pilot once again. I was paired with Rebekah Wilson and Kelly Denyer but the season also saw me join forces with Sarah Adams and Gillian Cooke to really test who was the best brakewoman.

Over seven World Cup races I used four different brakewomen and achieved mainly top ten World Cup results. In Igls during World Cup seven our 2014 Olympic team was announced and I was paired with Rebekah Wilson to represent Team GB as the only women’s bobsleigh team. Sochi 2014 was my second Olympic games having made my debut at the Vancouver Games in 2010. Sochi differed somewhat from Vancouver with its culture. I had never really been to Russia before and I always had a preconception that the people were harsh and never smiled; how wrong I was. From the moment we entered the Olympic village we were greeted by lovely volunteers, some spent as long as a six hour round trip traveling to do a 12 hour shift. It really showed that the Russians had great pride in

Cpl Paula Walker R SIGNALS - GB1 Women’s Bobsleigh Driver. Paula first took up sliding when an

Army friend needed a brakewoman at the Army Championships. Shortly afterwards she was invited

to take part in the GB trials and made her GB debut in 2006 as a brakewoman for Jackie Gunn. After

one season she moved to the driving seat and placed 5th at the 2007 Junior World Championships.

Paula competed at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver finishing in 11th place and went on to

become the 2011 Junior World Champion.

Over the last eight years I have had great support from the Army. I am certain that without the support of the Army Winter Sports Association and the Army Bobsleigh Association I would not have even had the chance to try my hand at the sport let alone attend two Olympic Games. I suggest to anyone who is interested, give it a go .... you never know where it may lead you.

If you would like to follow Paula visit www.teamwalker.co.uk

Olympic BobsleighBobsleigh consists of three events in the Olympic programme; the male four-man and two-man and female two-man. Each event consists of four heats, held on two consecutive days.The four runs are timed to 0.01 seconds. The final standings are determined by the total time over the four runs; the winner is the sled with the lowest aggregate time. If two teams complete the competition in a tie, they are awarded the same place.

Images © Alex Livesey/Getty Images

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Lamin Deen

The 13/14 season did not get off to a great start due to an injury which I sustained during the summer training period; this set me back in my preparation for the Olympic season. However, overall it has been by far the longest and most beneficial season I have experienced for a variety of reasons. I have beaten my personal best timings and of course I was selected to race in both the 2-man and 4-man bobsleigh at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games.

After my groin injury eased I conducted three weeks of essential track training at La Plagne

in France, this enabled me to correctly prepare for the season. The plan was to race in all three International Cups (European Cup, Americas Cup and World Cup) in order to gain the points needed to achieve a top 20 world ranking. This would mean that I would gain Olympic Selection for the Sochi 14 Winter Olympic Games.

I began the season with the Americas Cup where the focus was finishing in the top 3. I had a great first result taking Gold in the 4-Man and Silver in the 2-Man event at Park City, USA.

By the sixth race I had already picked up four podiums positions and was set to make Olympic qualification. I was happy with my results and ranking but at no time became complacent as I still knew it was going to be a challenge. During the next four races on the World Cup circuit I had two respectable top 20 finishes but it was in St Moritz where unfortunately events took a turn for the worse. Heavy snow brought about a very bad result for me and this made me veer from my planned route for Olympic qualification.

LSgt Lamin Deen Grenadier Guards, is a keen sportsman and represented his regiment in

athletics, boxing and basketball before being asked to try out for the GB bobsleigh team in

2006. He scored a new personal best finish in January 2014 at the Bobsleigh World Cup when he

finished in 11th place. Only a month later he competed in his first Olympic games as driver for

GB1 2-man bobsleigh (finished 23rd) and GB2 4-man bobsleigh (finished 19th)

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WINTER OLYMPICS

SOCHI 2014With only a week to go until the cut off

time for Olympic selection (and only one race remaining) my world ranking was 22 and I required a top 20 ranking to be on the plane to Sochi. I needed a top 16 result in the final race in Igls, Austria to move up the rankings and with the help of all the team and staff I managed my best result ever with an 11th place in a World Cup race. This was an excellent result and a personal dream come true; I was going to the Olympics to represent my country! When the GB team was announced I was selected as the GB1 driver in the 2-man event and the GB2

driver in the 4-man event, a selection which I was thrilled with.

‘...a personal dream come true; I was going to the Olympics to represent my country!’

My experience in Sochi was unbelievable and still has not totally sunk in. I would never have thought that joining the British Army all those years ago would lead to this, competing in the sport I love on the biggest stage in the world. It was just a dream and I hope to replicate it in four years in Pyeong Chang, South Korea. I could not have done this if it wasn’t for my introduction to the sport via the Army Bobsleigh Association and their Ice Sports programme.

Post Sochi saw me racing at the Inter Service Championships in Igls, Austria. In the individual race

my brakeman (Sgt Steve Smith 3 PARA) and I took first place just beating fellow GB team mate John Jackson. Immediately after the Inter Services I entered the British Championships, also held in Igls, taking another Gold medal and the title of 2014 British Champion in the 2-man event.

I would like to thank the Army, AWSA, Grenadier Guards and all the Army Bobsleigh staff for their continued support in helping me develop as a bobsleigh driver and as a solider. I would advise any serving member of the Army, regardless of rank, to have a look at attending the Army Ice Camp (Ex RACING ICE 1) and hopefully one day they may be able to live the dream that I have done over the 13/14 season.

Images © Alex Livesey/Getty Images 17

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CSDST

Six years into the existence of the Team and our initial goal of getting at least one athlete to the 2014 Paralympics has been achieved. It has been a fantastic journey with some truly inspirational athletes and staff, all made possible by the generosity of our numerous donors: Selex ES, Supacat, Team Army, Raytheon, Westland, Navistar, QinetiQ, Scott-Erdine Trust, Van Kappel, Ford, Morgan NP, Allocate Software and Trinity Insurance.

Our next goal is to refine our activities,

retaining our competitive ethos but also focussing a little more on ensuring the necessary off-snow aspects of our athlete’s lives are in order through a closer relationship with the Defence Recovery Capability and Help for Heroes. We aim to ensure every one of our athlete’s lives are better for having been part of the CSDST, and that the relationships with

our donors are viewed and appreciated as much as their financial support is. The manner in which David Claridge (Selex ES) and Jamie Clarke (Supacat) have engaged with the Team, and in particular Mick Brennan, is nothing short of exceptional and is a perfect example of the corporate sector working intimately with Defence and Service charities.

Following our strong attendance at Sochi, we are working increasingly closely with the National Governing Body, Disability Snowsport UK, and are developing new and exciting relationships with potential donors and supporters. Our vision is to quadruple the number of military or veteran athletes in the British Disabled Ski Team for the next Paralympics. With Mick Brennan already training hard following his return from Sochi, there are at least three more vacancies to aspire toward for athletes with the right level of skill, dedication and commitment. We are also on the cusp of introducing Adaptive Nordic opportunities by next season, and are keen to develop Adaptive Snowboarding in due course - watch this space!

COMBINED SERVICESDISABLED SKI TEAM

Foundation Team The 2013/14 season has seen the Team as a

whole prepare for the athletes’ ultimate goal - the Winter Paralympics - in support of Sergeant (Retd) Mick Brennan and WO2 Mark Scorgie RE and also preparing for future Paralympic success through focused training under our Foundation Team coaches, Major ‘Fram’ Framingham and Mr Terry Large.

With Scorgie concentrating on Mick’s training and preparation for Sochi and Flight Sergeant John Kirk recovering from an unfortunate anterior cruciate ligament injury, the Foundation Team has enjoyed plenty of attention. The Newcomers’ Event back in May introduced several new skiers and they began training in Hemel Hempstead Snow Centre to get a feel for the programme the Team can offer. The Foundation Team ran a number of really constructive technique training long weekends at

A few words from Col Fred Hargreaves OBE,

CSDST Chairman

Development team training - Jen Kehoe. Terry Large, Ollie Thorne and Grant Harvey19

20

the excellent facilities at Landgraaf, Holland. The indoor snow centre provides accommodation on site and very flexible training hours, and is twice the length of any UK indoor slope. Those athletes who were ready, attended the all-important Paralympic classification meetings, where each athlete is assessed and hopefully given an appropriate classification for their disability for the purposes of International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing (IPCAS) competition. Training then continued out on the mountains. In his second season with the Team, Fusilier Andy Barlow GM completed his first international GS race at Pitztal. He also gained some valuable training alongside the British Team in Austria and with the Royal Engineers at their camp in Stubai in November.

The New Year saw those athletes who are at the right level, moving on to attend military competitions, either training alongside the Championships or competing. In their first season of race training, four Foundation Team athletes attended the Divisional Championships at Serre Chevalier. For Sergeant (Retd) Grant Harvey RMP, Officer Cadet Ollie Thorne and Major (Retd) Graham Barwick RLC this was great introduction to racing and enabled them to begin to transfer basic techniques onto real courses. Having completed a season of training last year, Andy Barlow built on his previous experience of military racing. Graham was unable to join the remainder of the Team at the Army Championships due to illness - we wish him well in his continued recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to training in due course. Grant and Ollie also managed a quick trip across to La Molina, Spain, for an IPCAS race. This provided another valuable introduction to the race atmosphere. At the Inter Service Championships in Meribel, as well as at Serre Chevalier, the Team had an opportunity to meet some of our generous sponsors (as well as some potential new sponsors!) - we appreciate their support so much and look forward to another exciting four-year journey to the next Paralympics in 2018.

What an incredible season it’s been, with the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team’s (CSDST) top

skier and Head Coach joining the British Paralympic Team at the Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi and two Development Squad athletes joining the Paralympic Inspiration Programme (a British Paralympic Association initiative, supported by Help for Heroes, to give potential Paralympic athletes a taste of what they could experience in four years time).

Sergeant (Retd) Mick Brennan, 34, served as an EOD operator in the Royal Signals and began mono-skiing after he lost both legs in a suicide bomb attack in Iraq. His guts and determination over the years of rehabilitation and training with CSDST and the GB Squad since his injury in 2004 were rewarded in February this year when he was selected to represent Great Britain and Paralympics GB in Sochi.

Mick was the only serviceman or veteran representing GB in the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games. Mick said “I am immensely proud to have been selected....I am joining a group of incredibly talented athletes and we all aim to do the country proud in Russia. I will also be added to the very small and exclusive group of British winter Paralympians. There are not many of them but the list is very distinguished.” It seemed only fitting that he was joined on the squad by CSDST Head Coach, WO2 Mark Scorgie RE, who has been through most of Mick’s highs and lows over the years training with CSDST. Scorgie has raced at Inter Service level throughout his career and began coaching with CSDST when he hung up his catsuit. His patience, experience and excellent coaching skills earned him the role of Assistant Coach and Ski Technician for the Paralympics GB Alpine Squad.

“It has been touch and go getting Mick in shape following a string of injuries that have removed him from the snow” says Scorgie. “He broke his sternum at the World Champs in La Molina, Spain, in February last year after coming 9th in the Super Combined. His recovery from that was long and frustrating but we managed to get him out to New Zealand and Australia this summer (their winter) for a good training block and some World Cup races.” Mick won a bronze medal in the World Cup GS in Thredbo, Australia, in September 2013. It was shortly after this success that he broke his wrist and was off snow for a further nine weeks. Never deterred, Mick embarked on an intensive rehab program at Tedworth House with the support of Help for Heroes, steadily regaining his fitness and returning to on-snow training. Mick had a battle on his hands trying to get his pace and timing back, but he has gone from strength to strength, racing in the Europa and World Cup circuit in Austria and France and visiting the Inter Service Snow Sport Championships in Meribel, France. A final, intensive training period at the Paralympics GB Holding Camp followed, before flying out to Russia at the end of February.

CSDST

SO

CH

I PA

RA

LY

MP

ICS

CSDST is open to any serving or retired member of the Armed Forces with a permanent disability.

The disability may have been sustained through action on operations, illness or accident; and may have occurred after them leaving the services. CSDST aims to improve the individual skill of every athlete who joins the team through high quality coaching through

a process which encourages and promotes the raw talent of near beginners, as well as providing high level performance coaching up to International level. CSDST’s ultimate aim is to feed athletes into the British Disabled Ski Team (BDST) at the appropriate moment; with the ultimate goal of participation in Paralympic events.

CSDST generally takes novice disabled skiers from Exercise SNOW WARRIOR (Adaptive), which is run by the Adventurous Training Group (Army). However, personnel also come to the team after participation in other skiing events, such as with BLESMA.

Anyone wanting to join the team should contact the Development Manager at [email protected]. The Chairman would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in sponsoring the team via

ABOUT CSDST

Contact [email protected]

20’’“

21

as once again everyone has been gripped by British Paralympic sporting excellence. Two Development Squad members, Fusilier Andy Barlow GM and Sgt (Retd) Grant Harvey, ex-RMP, were selected to join the Paralympic Inspiration Programme. Andy and Grant experienced the spirit of the Paralympic Games and they also learned about nutrition, media engagement, competition planning and goal setting at a series of workshops. Andy, who lost his left foot in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan in 2006, started skiing competitively last season; “My goal is to be selected for the next Games in Pyeongchang in 2018 and I want this experience to prepare me for that as much as possible.”

Another member of CSDST who also got to experience the Paralympic spirit in Sochi was newly appointed Performance Manager Captain Jennifer Kehoe RE who is an experienced alpine racer on the military circuit. She has been also been involved with the GB Team for a year as a guide for 15 year-old visually impaired skier Millie Knight. When Millie

The Sochi Games opened on 7 March 2014 with a spectacular ceremony and alpine racing commenced the following day with the Downhill. Piste and weather conditions were extraordinarily challenging and on consultation with the coaching staff, Mick made the difficult decision to not compete in this first event. His first race was therefore the Super G a day later. The competition faced gruelling conditions again, with fourteen racers not finishing. Mick skied exceptionally well, finishing 10th in his Paralympic debut. His next event was the Super Combined (one run each of Super G and Slalom). Mick was yellow flagged (stop and back to the start for a re-run!) on his Super G run after a Norweigan skier fell in the finish area. This was nail-biting viewing for those in the stadium and those watching on Channel 4! He nailed a sound run, finishing 9th, but had to wait two days to race the slalom part of the event due to bad weather. He went on to finish 8th overall, another fantastic result. Mick sadly missed a gate on his first run of the Slalom event. His final event at the Games was the Giant Slalom where he finished 15th.

Mick Brennan subscribes to the ‘train hard, fight easy’ philosophy and his determination and sheer hard graft paid dividends in this Paralympic year. He has fought extremely hard to reach such a high level in this tough sport and thwarted every challenge along the way. Huge congratulations to Mick for his Paralympic performance and best of luck for the next four years of training for 2018!

The Sochi season has provided inspiration throughout the team and across the Nation it seems,

CSDST

Mick Brennan

was selected to represent GB in Sochi, Jen was set to join her, but unfortunately ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament during training. Jen was able to join Millie’s support crew and represent CSDST

in Sochi whilst also gaining an understanding of Paralympic level competition. This experience will be invaluable for both her CSDST and guiding roles on the journey to Korea in 2018.

21’’“Mick was the only serviceman or veteran

representing GB in the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games.

22

CRESTA

‘The Cresta is a powerful and attractive mistress. She will stand no nonsense when you are learning the ropes, and many and severe are the rebuffs that she administers to her most ardent suitors.’ Sir James Coats

After the Army victory in the 2013 Inter-Services, we were hoping to retain the Prince Philip Trophy in

what was to become a very competitive season on the Cresta Run. The Army Season opened with a field of 26 riders representing eight regiments, of whom 14 were novices and seven were soldiers.

The first two weeks of the season allows regimental teams to practice before the Army Junction Championships and more experienced riders to look further ahead to the Army Top Championships and the Inter-Services. Novice riders attend the infamous ‘Death talk’ and Beginners School and those who show potential will be asked to stay on for Services week, with the aspiration to ride from ‘Top’. All Beginners will start on ‘Traditional’ toboggans, which are the older type of Cresta toboggan and when of a sufficiently high standard they will be invited to convert to a ‘Flat Top’, which is almost identical to a Skeleton sled.

The Army Championships is based around a regimental pairs race where riders are placed based upon their combined time, meaning that pairs do not have to be confirmed prior to the race. There are separate races for the novices and a handicapped race for all, allowing inexperienced riders a change of collecting some silver.

The Army Junction Championships race day began with warm, snowy conditions, resulting

in a slow Run and ultimately causing the race to be stopped after two courses,

the first time in many years. The 17th/ 21st Lancers Cup was

contested by a strong field

CRESTAwith a Queens Royal Lancers pair under the command of Colonel Rupert Wieloch in his final year taking third place. Second place was taken by the Life Guards again, but this time the riders were Lieutenant Tom Seccombe and the novice, Trooper Grossman. Victory and the silver were retained for the Queens Royal Lancers by the fastest service rider of the season, Lieutenant Sam Seccombe and Major Toby Barrington-Barnes. The Novice race was won by the talented Trooper Grossman LG and the Handicap committee were embarrassed when the experienced Army rider, Captain Tom Wythe 9/12 Lancers rode three fast courses to clinch victory.

Services week began with the Army Top Championships, the Scots Guards Cup, which had the largest field since I began riding in 2000. For a second race day the weather did not allow us to complete three courses, but a fair race was had and the stage set for the Inter-Services. Captain Archie Horne LG came in third, Captain Tom Wythe 9/12 Lancers, second and victory delivered in style by Lieutenant Sam Seccombe QRL .

Lieutenant General James Everard CBE (Late QRL), the new Chairman, Army Cresta arrived on the Wednesday and was hosted at the annual pre-race dinner, along with riders, wives, family and friends. Race day began with fresh snow and the likelihood of slow conditions. With a large competent squad to choose from, the Army were probably the favourites but failed to match the times ridden by the Royal Navy. The race entered the third course with the Army trailing behind the Navy in a distant second place. Orders were given to storm the Naval citadel, regardless of casualties and the entire Army team surged forward with Lieutenant Sam

Seccombe thundering down the Run, riding the fastest ride of the day; an extraordinary feat on the third course of a slow day. Unfortunately these acts of valour were not quite enough to change the result and the Royal Navy won by a mere three seconds. The fastest ride of the day, the Auty Speed Cup and the fastest combined time of the day, the Lord Trenchard Trophy, both went to Lieutenant Sam Seccombe for the second year running.

Lieutenant Tom Seccombe came a close second to Colonel Kevin Oliver RM in the Harland Trophy and novice rider, Lance Corporal Tonkin managed to push Major General (Retd) Pringle RGJ out of third place in the Silver Spoon. Prizes were presented by Lieutenant General James Everard CBE who also had the chance to become a Cresta rider the following day before returning to London.

Despite a narrow loss to the Royal Navy, 2014 has been a year of significant development for Army Cresta and we are likely to enter next season with a strong, young and committed Army squad.

Finally, and after 32 years as an Army Cresta rider we say farewell to Colonel Rupert Wieloch who leaves the Army this year, and ‘hello, hello’ to the new St. Moritz Tobogganing Club Secretary, Colonel Rupert Wieloch.

Maj Nick Foulerton SCOTS DG

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CRESTA

The Cresta run was a unique opportunity for me. I was able to see and stay in one of the most beautiful places in Europe

whilst participating in an exhilarating and challenging sport. The atmosphere was one of encouragement and inclusion as I, like all the other beginners were made to feel very welcome by the Club and the more experienced riders.

Nothing will beat the thrill of that first ride down the Run, I held on for dear life, hoping to make it to the end in one piece. Having survived it, I was addicted. One day I would very much like to ride from “Top”. The whole trip will remain firmly in my memory as another fantastic experience afforded to me by the Army.

CRESTA A fantastic experience

Lance Corporal Tonkin LG

Contact CRESTA

ChairmanLt Gen JR Everard CBE

CaptainMaj NG Foulerton SCOTS DG

e: [email protected]

Cresta Results 2014

Scots Guards Cup Army Top Championships

Inter Service Championships

Images © Ryan Larraman

Cresta Events 2015

Army Junction Championships17th 21st Lancers CupSt Moritz, Switzerland23 January 2015

Army Top ChampionshipsScots Guards CupSt Moritz, Switzerland27 January 2015

Inter Service ChampionshipsPrince Phillip TrophySt Moritz, Switzerland29 January 2015

23

Open Individual Race

Army Junction Championships17th/21st Lancers Cup Queen’s Royal Lancers Open regimental pair’s race

Open Novice Champion Tpr JR Grossman LGHandicapped Race Capt T Wythe 9/12 L

Prince Philip Trophy Royal NavyOpen team race from TopHarland Trophy Col KB Oliver RMServing, Reserve and retired handicapped race from Top

Lord Trenchard Trophy Lt SO Seccombe QRLFastest combined time from TopAuty Speed Cup Lt SO Seccombe QRLFastest time of the race from TopSilver Spoon Flt Lt B.H. Vracas RAF (Retd)Regular, Reserve and retired race from Junction

Lt SO Seccombe QRL

24

Maj Tor Gullan RE

LUGE

‘The 2013/14 luge season has been a very successful and exciting time for the Army Luge Association.’

The 2013 Inter Service Luge Championship saw the Army giving up the championship title to our long-

standing rivals, the RAF. It was time to take the trophy back! With another compressed season and the Army Championship running back-to-back with the Inter Services, a new Army game plan was needed…

A new training programme was established at Team Bath in Somerset, where two of three Army elite luge athletes now train. This programme is the beginning of a new approach for GB Luge, and one that directly benefits our Army elite athletes who currently make up 75% of the GB Luge Squad.

Chain of Command support for ice sports was key to a heavily over-subscribed Ice

Camp (Ex RACING ICE 1). With 80 spaces up for grabs, and a confirmed waiting

list of another 40, not to mention as many again being turned away, this the most successfully attended Ice Camp in recent years.

We also had some major changes going on behind the scenes of the ice sports world, with a new Director Army Ice Sports, Colonel Pete Smith QGM taking the reins from Brigadier Mark Armstrong.

Team Bath Summer TrainingTo date, there is no luge training during

the summer months, save for Army elite athletes seconded to the GB squad. This year’s summer training programme was a pilot, funded heavily by LCpl Foulkes’ Olympic Solidarity Grant and subsidised by funding from Sodexo for the development of Army luge athletes to international competition level. A complete programme covering nutrition, sports psychology, strength and conditioning,

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LUGE

physiotherapy and testing was created for LCpl Harry Foulkes and Gdmn Ray Thompson. At the same time, the national governing body’s performance director, Mr Mark Hatton, was able to facilitate an application for TASS (Talented Athlete Sponsorship Scheme) funding for Cpl Dani Scott, capitalising on her status as a nursing student and getting her free access to local training resources. As well as this, a project at the University of Bath School of Mechanical Engineering was started develop a luge start facility at Team Bath, and Swindon Ice Rink provided a flat ice training facility for the Army athletes.

Pre-Season Ice Training Pre-season training commenced for Foulkes

and Thompson in September, with a week on ice in Lillehammer, Norway. It was soon clear that the summer training programme was not translating directly to on ice performance! The GB Development Squad, as our Army athletes are known, train with the Federation International de Luge. This means they travel with an international group numbering about 40-50 in size on a pre-planned training cycle prior to then competing in as many races as possible during the winter months. This year was an Olympic year, and the FIL pre-season training package was an unprecedented six weeks long: Norway; Canada; USA; Germany; Austria and then Russia to finish! After this gruelling session, the Viessmann World Cup started immediately in Lillehammer, Norway on 10 November, incorporating nine tracks in six different countries across two continents.

Due to the Sochi Olympic Winter Games in February, the international season was cut short at the end of January. With extremely high British Olympic Association selection criteria, none of our Army athletes were selected for the Games. However, they continued to build experience and improve their rankings accordingly, with a firm focus on qualifying as a team for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeong Chang, Korea. Cpl Scott’s performance was particularly notable, and when she got down the track intact she scored well, achieving an overall ranking of 49th place in the World Cup. Having only competed in less than half the point-scoring races of the season, this is an outstanding achievement! Gdmn Thompson performed very well too, with a strong performance on the ice. In a very positive end to the season, Gdmn Thompson and Cpl Scott have both accepted offers of full-time places on the GB Development Squad and have moved to the Resilience Margin. This allows them to focus fully on their goal of representing Great Britain at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, joining LCpl Foulkes in full-time training at Team Bath.

‘The School of Hard Knocks’In the meantime, back in camp, Chairman and

Secretary Luge, Secretaries Luge and Bob, and a supporting cast from AWSA and elsewhere were busy pulling together Ex RACING ICE 1. This year saw a full complement of novices into the three

ice sports. The Royal Navy was also catered for, with three dark blue sliders breaking up the procession of green on the track each week! This was a real bonus, for it meant that we had some experienced sliders to aid, guide and counsel the novices.

For reasons not worth mentioning, we had to share the track with the RAF’s ice camp and novice championship during the first week, and the second week was shared with a plethora of sliders from a variety of different nations. The net result was only achieving three runs per day at best, directly impacting on the novices’ progression up the track. However, the two weeks were one of the busiest ice camps in recent memory, with intense collaboration between bobsleigh, luge and skeleton to ensure that we made the most of the limited track time available. Even the medic, Sgt Andy Sinnott, a Reservist Paramedic kindly loaned to us by 16 Med Regt and facilitated by Major Rob Hinton, spent more time fishing bobsleighs out of the finish curve with Chairman Luge then he did tending to injuries! Having said that, whilst there were a lot of bumps and scrapes, there were thankfully very few serious injuries over the fortnight. Sgt Andy Sinnott summed it up perfectly as we waited together in the finish curve to fish out upside-down bobsleighs: ‘This really is the School of Hard Knocks!’ Note that this didn’t stop him having a go!

The Royal Engineers stood out (author’s note: no bias!), sending four young officers from the Royal Engineer Troop Commander Course in Minley, four Sappers from 21 and 26 Engineer

Regiments, and a token Squadron 2IC! By far the strongest representation by a single cap badge, with the new Director RE Ice Sports, Lt Col Paul ‘Jack’ Nicholson visiting to the sports in action on the ground. It is hoped that other cap badges will follow suit and, like the Royal Tank Regiment, begin to commit to pursuing sporting glory through Army ice sports.

This was the most successful Ice Camp for some years and we hope to cater for even more soldiers and officers during next season’s ice camp in November/December 2014!

The Army ChampionshipsWith the compressed season impacting

heavily on our ability to train Army athletes for competition, and the Navy and Air Force copying our winning strategy from previous years, the pressure was firmly on at the Army Championships. The Navy and RAF were using the week before the Inter-Service Champs as a training week for their teams, putting even more pressure on us during the Army Championships. We had to develop our novices, refresh our old sweats (most hadn’t been on ice since March 2013!), conduct the Army Champs and then immediately select the Army team for the Inter-Services the following week!

After an unprecedented number of entries which then rapidly diminished due to career courses and other good reasons for non-attendance, we ended up with eleven sliders competing in the Army Luge Championships: three elite athletes, Chairman Luge (who couldn’t bring himself to hang up his boots even

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after a significant set of crashes at the end of the last season), three novices from Ice Camp in December, three absolute beginners (taken at risk due to the fall in numbers), and a late entry from Capt Tom Docker RE who flew in from Kenya the day before the Army Championship race. He got straight off the flight, into Lycra and onto a sled having completed Ice Camp just two months earlier! A valiant effort, but he paid the price on his second and third runs, before managing to cross the finish line with his sled on his fourth run of his one and only training day before racing the following morning!

The Army Championship went very well, with some outstanding performances from new and old sliders alike - Visit www.awsa.org.uk/luge/results/ for full results.

The Inter Service ChampionshipsThe Army Team for the Inter Service Championship was selected after the Army Championship:

Team Capt - Maj Tor Gullan 8 Engr Bde* Men - LCpl Harry Foulkes QRL*; Gdmn Ray Thompson 1Bn IG*; Tpr Dan Cree 1RTR; Tpr Steve Webb 2RTR; Capt Tom Docker 26 Engr RegtWomen - Capt Laura Kevan AGC(ALS) / 2RRF; Cpl Dani Scott QARANC*(* Indicates Team Race competitors)

With another week of training to go before the Inter Service Championship, the Army team felt strong. Our three elite athletes taking on the top slots for the gold ribbon event of the Team Race, the pressure was on for selection of the fourth and final Army slider. This particular event runs in parallel with the individual men’s and women’s competitions and determines which service takes the Inter Service luge crown.

We started the week with an all-round performance that put the pressure on the RAF. It seemed that the other services were hell-bent on damaging themselves, with various sliders (both old and new) injuring themselves in such ways that meant that they were unable to continue. Luckily for us, we all survived the odd battering on the way down, leaving us

Army ChampionshipsMale ChampionLCpl Harry Foulkes QRL Male Runner upGdmn Ray Thompson 1LG Female ChampionCpl Dani Scott QARANC Female Runner upCapt Laura Kevan AGC(ALS)/2RRF Novice ChampionTpr Dan Cree 1RTR Novice Runner upCapt Laura Kevan AGC(ALS)/2RRF

with a complete team of eight on the start line of the Inter Service Championship race. It was a close run thing, for Capt Laura Kevan had to take a break on the day prior to the Inter Service Champs. Never before had we seen someone return to sliding on race day but she did. Not only that, she took second place the following day in the British Women’s Championships!

The Navy’s numbers dictated the team event size and this year teams of four including at least one female slider raced, with the fastest three sliders to count. The race itself was hotly contested, with the RAF trailing the Army by a fraction of a second at the end of the first run. Our three elite athletes maintained the pressure and extended their lead on the second run, winning the Inter Service Championship Trophy back from the Royal Air Force.

In the individual races we saw strong performances from all our athletes, with LCpl Harry Foulkes of the QRL regaining the

Inter Service ChampionshipsTeam ChampionArmyMale ChampionLCpl Harry Foulkes QRL Female ChampionCpl Dani Scott QARANC

Great Britain ChampionshipsMale ChampionLCpl Harry Foulkes QRL Male Runner upFlt Lt Gavin Arnold RAFFemale ChampionCpl Dani Scott QARANC Female Runner upCapt Laura Kevan AGC(ALS) / 2RRF

Luge Results 2013 - 2014

Individual Men’s title and Cpl Dani Scott successfully defending her crown from the previous two seasons as the reigning Individual Women’s Champion.

GBLA British Luge ChampionshipsFor the first time in more than five years, the Inter Service Championships were extended to allow luge and bobsleigh athletes from all three services to compete in their respective British Championships the following day. This was a hugely successful event, with the Army

sliders stealing the show on the track yet again. In a surprising last minute twist, Maj Tor Gullan

RE was also recognised with an award for his contribution to British Luge and the work he has

been doing in support of the GB Squad. The 2013/14 luge season has been a very

successful and exciting time for the Army Luge Association. With strong results; lots of new sliders; greater demand; raised attendance levels; the new Army Ice Sports Directorate; collaboration between the three disciplines to deliver better events, and the decision by Cpl Scott and Gdmn Thompson to take up full-time athlete positions on the national squad with a view to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games! In addition to all of this success, we have taken the Inter Service Trophy back from the RAF!

This would not have been possible without the continued help and support from a variety of people, from our sponsors and civilian coaches to members of the General Staff and everyone in between. A great thank you to all. And finally, Army Colours are awarded to the following athletes for representing the Army at Inter Service and National level competition: Capt Tom Docker 26 Engr Regt; Capt Laura Kevan AGC(ALS)/2RRF; Tpr Dan Cree 1RTR; Tpr Steve Webb 2RTR.

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The 2013/14 Luge season started in October on a ten day training camp with the Federation of International

Luge (FIL) held in Winterberg, Germany and Igls, Austria. The FIL team consists of sliders from the minor luge nations who come together to train and compete; these nations included GB, Holland, France, Bosnia, Australia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Japan, Taiwan and Hungary. The training camp gave the sliders time to get back into sliding after having the summer off and to iron out any creases prior to the race calendar starting.

Due to work constraints and funding the Great Britain Luge Association decided that the GB Development Team would compete in four World Cup (WC) races rather than competing in the whole World Cup circuit, enabling valuable racing experience but also time to train at new tracks prior to racing. However this meant that we would not have the chance to qualify for the Olympics, as the minimum qualification standard was five International races and a set amount of WC points.

Following the FIL training weeks, the team headed to Igls, Austria, followed by Winterberg, Germany for the first races of the season. Competitors are broken down into four qualifying groups and have 2-3 training runs per day (Tues-Thurs) it is in these training runs that competitors must achieve the qualifying time (107% off the fastest slider) in which to compete on the Friday (Nations Cup), the top 16 females in the Nations Cup then go onto

race in the World Cup on Saturday. I managed to achieve the qualifying time for both the above races and raced in the Nations Cups.

After Winterberg the WC circuit headed to North America and Canada to continue racing, the GB team opted to stay in Europe and train in Oberhof and Konigssee, Germany. Oberhof is an old luge track in East Germany and is renowned for being a hard technical track with lots of narrow turns in quick succession and sharp corners generating a lot of G force, it was the first time I had been on this track and it was an invaluable training week as I was planning on racing there after Christmas.

Christmas soon came and went and it was time to head back out to the snow and ice. The team flew out to Konigssee on 29 Dec and qualification training commenced on 30 Dec, leaving no time to party-in the New Year; we were in the shed working hard doing sled work! I had a good week of training and managed to knock five seconds off my previous years PB to qualify for the Nations Cup.

Our last race of the international season was held in Oberhof, the training prior to Christmas proved invaluable and I qualified for the Nations Cup on the first day; also achieving my best result of the season, a 26th place finish!

After a few weeks back in work, I headed out to Igls, Austria for the final two weeks of the luge season. This was for the Army, Inter Services and British Championships. I had been looking forward to these championships all season, as the atmosphere is fantastic and you are among friends, the camaraderie is great between all three services. However the pressure was still on, a different kind of pressure though, the pressure to retain all three championship titles.

After a week of training the Army Championships were held on 28 Feb, I was

crowned ladies champion and was ranked 3rd overall. The Army

team was selected following the Army Championships and I was named in the four strong team. Another week

of training followed, with the Navy and RAF

joining us. The RAF had won the title in 2013 so the pressure was on to get it back. On race day, the standings were close after the first run, with the RAF team leading the Army by 0.036s, however the Army team kept their heads down, slid consistently and managed to come back to overtake the RAF and take the title back. I managed to retain my Inter Services ladies title, for the 4th consecutive year running, in a very close race with Cpl Amy Smith (RAF).

The last day of the season saw the GB Luge Championships; there were 19 competitors (male & female), which is the best attendance we have had for a number of years. I was drawn to start in 16th, which is not ideal but I could see the competition slide before me! With two solid runs I led the ladies by 5.169secs to be crowned the GB Ladies Luge Champion 2014.

On reflection I have had a great season, competing on the WC circuit, achieving a world ranking of 49th and retaining the Army, Inter Services and GB Luge titles. My aim is to continue improving and to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Thanks to all for the support, it would not have been possible without it.

Contact Luge

ChairmanMaj TP Gullan REm: 07801 240742


SecretaryMr G Holmes RLCm: 07957 564677


Cpl Danielle Scott QARANC - Army, Inter Services and GB Luge ChampionHIGH!SLIDING

‘My aim is to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea’

LUGE

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Howard and Graham Holmes the Sappers, along with the rest of the group, were cleared to move up to the Gastabob-start (Women’s Olympic Start). For the skeleton team, another couple of runs and track walks in preparation for the rather speedy progression up to the top of the track, followed by some technical guidance on how to use knees and shoulders to turn.

The run from the Gastabob-start is 870m long, has ten turns and a gradient of 8.5%. A daunting jump for the young novices and something the locals consider tantamount to extreme bravery. The Sappers bravely laughed their way to the top in the back of a small truck, their luxury lift for the week and prepared themselves for their first run. Spr Partridge mentally prepared himself for the

task ahead, running through every turn and making sure his padding was as streamlined as possible. 2Lt Paske went to his happy place, wherever that is, and Spr Cannedine simply stared

angrily into the distance and defiantly chewed a Milka bar. What was the fuss about, written across his face.

First up 2Lt Posner with an average run but clinging to the sled made it to the bottom. Relief all round was then shattered as 2Lt Rickard misjudged a turn and came off in a cloud of ice and powder. “There is a crash”, the announcer informed everyone almost with a sense of inevitability. After a brief expression of concern, the group was informed that the track was clear and sliding recommenced. Some excellent runs were then recorded with everyone showing good progression, hitting speeds of 93kph+ (58-60mph) a mere 10cms from the ice. With walking starts from the top of the track, the skeleton team began hurtling through the course at speeds over 100kph; 2Lt Ankers even managed to reach 97kph up-side down!

2Lt Andrew Posner RE

‘ ’‘Day six began with a black horse standing

next to the track. That can’t be a good sign!’

LUGE

Pushing the envelope…

Left to Right: 2Lt Posner, Capt Docker, Spr Cannedine, Spr Partridge, Spr Collins, 2Lt Rickard, 2Lt Paske

Events 2014 - 2015

Army Ice Camp EX RACING ICE I

Igls, AustriaWeek 1: 30 Nov 14 - 6 Dec 14

Week 2: 7 - 13 Dec 14

Army ChampionshipEX RACING ICE II

(Novice, Junior, Intermediate and Senior)La Plagne, France

10 - 17 Jan 15

Army Squad training weekEx RACING ICE III

La Plagne, France 1 - 7 Mar 15

Inter Services Ice Sports Championships

Igls, Austria 7 - 15 Mar 15

Day five and six were spent honing the Sappers technique and shaving precious tenths of seconds off run times. Capt Docker firmly at the front of the pack but some solid performances all round with the Sappers safely leading in the all Arms group. Day six began with a black horse standing next to the track. That can’t be a good sign! Luckily skill overcame superstition and an excellent week ended with a trip into the local City of Innsbruck for some last minute Christmas presents.

An excellent week all round with complete novices progressing to the 1964 Women’s Olympic start and skeleton conducting sprint starts from the Top. The exercise is an excellent opportunity for people to try a sport not available in the UK and to push the bravery envelope. The Sappers are looking forward to the opportunity take part again on Exercise Racing Ice Christmas 2014.

Exercise RACING ICE I is the Army Ice Sports Training Camp, held this season in Igls, Austria. Over the course of a

week, novices from across the Army learn to handle a bobsleigh, luge or skeleton bobsled. This season, three Sappers from 21 Engineer Regiment, a Captain from 26 Engineer Regiment and four budding Troop Commanders from 3 RSME took on the 1217m Olympic ice track, reaching speeds exceeding 100kph.

On arrival the 43 strong Army and Navy group split into different disciplines with the largest contingent of Sappers on Luge and 2Lt Ankers on skeleton. The luging sappers were given a familiarisation of the sled and a track walk. “Are there any questions on the Sled?” Mike our Ex British Luge Olympian asked, “Yes, where’s the break!” one Troop Commander replied! There is no break on a luge of course and after a track walk, sappers went to bed excited and looking forward to getting started.

Day two saw the budding athletes take to the track, starting from the Kinderstart (children’s start). An excellent start from Capt Docker, who appeared to have found his calling, putting in some excellent runs. 2Lt Rickard and Spr Collins didn’t fare as well, taking the advice to do as little as possible a bit too literally, but provided some good entertainment for the watching Austrians with some spectacular crashes. All at only a meagre 60kph. Meanwhile, 2Lt Ankers was getting to grips with the bobsled further up the track, beginning with a push start from the coaches. After a tough day the Sappers retired back to the hotel enjoying the excellent food and leisure facilities which included a sauna and steam room. What better way to unwind after a white knuckle ride down some ice?

Day three the Sappers conducted three more runs and were really starting to get the hang of it. With the excellent encouragement of Mike

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NORDIC

NORDICExercise RUCKSACK 14 was the 67th

Army, Inter-Service and National Nordic Skiing Championships and marks the

culmination of the Army Nordic season. As in previous years it was held in the small Bavarian town of Ruhpolding at the Biathlon Stadium used for the World Championships. The naming of the course should give some idea of the terrain; two hills in particular are known as ‘the wall’ and ‘dobbers’, with the later being ski slang for falling. Over the course of two weeks a total of 248 skiers from 31 teams competed in a series of gruelling biathlon and cross country races. Such is the standard of course and competition that a number of international athletes also competed, including teams from the Australian Defence Force, the USA IBU team, German Army and the Ukrainian National Team. One of the Ukranian athletes, Tischenko Artem, was first in the World Cup Junior Biathlon in 2012. Given the fact that RUCKSACK is also the Inter Service Nordic Competition we were very pleased to welcome a Royal Navy/Royal Marine team to challenge the Army teams for prizes.

To even reach the Championships teams must qualify in one of the Regional Championships, either Ex SPARTAN HIKE or Ex PIPEDOWN, and for many teams Ex RUCKSACK is the culmination of six months of training. The dedication and endurance of the teams had been sorely tested but the general standard was very high.

When the teams arrived there was not much snow on the ground, although the German team at the Stadium work hard to maintain a 2.5km loop. Then, the day before the first race, the heavens opened and for the next week there was a constant supply of fresh snow. This was unfortunately followed by a week of sunshine and above zero temperature - good for the tourists but not for skiers. So by the final week

the snow outside the Stadium was beginning to look decidedly patchy.

The Championship also plays a large part in selecting athletes for future development for the Great Britain team. This took special significance in the year that LBdr Lee Steve Jackson and Cpl Amanda Lightfoot competed in Sochi at the Winter Olympics. (see pgs 32-35).

This year saw an increased number of Competitors able to attend the Regional Competitions thanks to the purchase of 150 new biathlon rifles to replace the ageing stock and increased entries from the Infantry, represented at Exercise RUCKSACK by teams from 3 SCOTS, 4 SCOTS and 2 R WELSH.

The ladies biathlon races were decided between SSgt Adele Walker of 29 Regt RLC and Cpl Nerys Jones of the AGC Ladies. While Cpl Jones skied slightly faster, SSgt Walker was the better shot; and where every miss results in extra distance skied on the ‘penalty loop’ shooting can make or break your race. This year SSgt Walker shot consistently well, and in-fact did not miss a shot during the Womens’ 12.5km biathlon - the first woman to do so in any race for approximately a decade. But even then, Cpl Jones’ powerful skiing kept her within a minute or so of the leader.

Another fantastic shot was the former Olympian SSgt Tom Clemens of RAPTC who dropped only his final shot of 20 over the 20km Individual Biathlon.

Maj Elizabeth Sedgwick and Capt Dougie Searle

Events 2015UK Regional and Reserves Championships

EX SPARTAN HIKEMonetiers, France11-21 January 15


Les Contamines, France10-20 January 15

Army, Inter Service & British ChampionshipsEX RUCKSACK

Ruhpolding, Germany21 January - 6 February 15

The British Biathlon Union (BBU) is the National Governing Body for the sport of biathlon in Great Britain. Although tasked to develop the sport at all levels it has particular responsibility for the training and selection of the National teams. All the team members bar one are currently serving in the Army. For further information visit www.britishbiathlon.com

British Biathlon Union

The 15km Classic race saw a truly remarkable performance by Pte Jordan Foley of 17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC who as a Junior came second in the Senior race. Given that many of the other Senior athletes have competed Internationally this was particularly impressive.

In the 4 x 5km Classic Relay 17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC won by over two and a half minutes. The fastest individual lap time by Cpl Carl Gibson of 2 CS Bn REME helped them to second place ahead of 1 LSR and 1 RTR.

The Patrol Race was the climax of the Championships and the season; a 30km race in military style uniforms with teams carrying 40 Kg and rifles. For the first time since the A2 was introduced the SA80 was used in the final Patrol Race.

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NORDIC1 LSR triumphed on the Patrol Race, 5

minutes ahead of 17 Port and Maritime Regiment. This meant that 1 LSR retained the Princess Marina Cup, as the Army’s Champion Skiing Unit, for the 11th time in 14 years. 17 Port and Maritime won the SAS and Kentish Cup for the first time ever; making them the Inter Service and Army Nordic Champions.

So with the completion of Ex RUCKSACK came the end of another great season for Army Nordic skiing. It is always huge boost to see the inspiration that the sport brings to units and individuals alike, and to see so many new skiers being introduced to the sport. Given that so much of what we are able to achieve is down to the generosity of our sponsors, we must pass them our very grateful thanks for their support.

Events 2015UK Regional and Reserves Championships

EX SPARTAN HIKEMonetiers, France11-21 January 15


Les Contamines, France10-20 January 15

Army, Inter Service & British ChampionshipsEX RUCKSACK

Ruhpolding, Germany21 January - 6 February 15

First placed teams:Women’s Military Patrol Race AMS LadiesMen’s Military Patrol Race 1 LSR RLCMarina Cup (Champion Skiing Unit of the British Army) 1 LSR RLCSAS Cup (Champion Inter Service Unit Nordic Ski Team) 17 Port & Maritime Regt RLCKentish Cup (Champion Army Unit Nordic Ski Team) 17 Port & Maritime Regt RLCFirst Women’s team RLC Ladies

Individual results:Junior Men Pte Jordan Foley 17 P & M Regt RLCJunior Novice Men Gnr Steven Hand 3RHAJunior Women Gnr Georgina Kelly RA LadiesNovice Women Lt Alice Ward RLC LadiesSenior Men Bdr Kevin Kane 3 RHASenior Novice Men Lt Benjamin Barkes LD Senior Women SSgt Adele Walker 29 Regt RLC

Nordic Results 2013 - 2014

Contact Nordic

ChairmanBrig N Marshall OBE

Secretarye: [email protected]

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OLYMPIC BIATHLONBiathlon is the dual sport of cross-country skiing and small bore 0.22 rifle shooting from 50metres. The sport features several distinct events: the Sprint (10km - Men /7.5km Women), Pursuit (12.5km /10km), Individual (20km /15km), Mass start (15km /12.5km) and the Relay (4x7.5km 4x6km). On each visit to the range competitors have to hit five targets in the Prone and Standing position. Target size varies depending on the shooting position - 45mm for prone and 115 mm for standing. The consequence of a missed targets results in either a one minute penalty (Individual 20km 15km) or 150m penalty loop around a circuit before they can continue the rest of the course.

SOCHI 2014AMANDA LIGHTFOOT

Cpl Amanda Lightfoot AGC is the first female British Biathlete to compete at an Olympic Winter Games after Emma Fowler in 2006. She was awarded British Biathlete of the Year in 2011 and has been a member of the British Biathlon team for five years, competing at both European and World Cup level. Amanda trains predominantly in Norway due to the lack of snow in the UK. However when she is at home, she uses a variety of different training methods in order to maintain and improve her performance, including dry land roller-skating.

’’‘‘

Image © Richard Heathcote/Getty Images32

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WINTER OLYMPICS

My life as a Biathlete began in 2006. I had just completed a six month tour in Iraq when I was asked if I

would like to attend the AGC skiing exercise. Of course I jumped at the chance, little did I know that I would be skiing up hills rather than down! After three months learning the basics of the sport and competing as part of the AGC Corps team, I found myself winning the top novice prize at the British championships in Ruhpolding. This achievement was noticed and I was selected to train full time with the Biathlon Development Squad in Kinloss Scotland under Coach Scott Banes.

In the winter of 2007/2008 I was selected to join the GB team and at my third European Cup race in Obertilliach, I managed to gain my first World Cup Qualification. The excitement I felt when getting that qualifier for the first time was indescribable; I remember wanting to do cart wheels and hand stands in the snow to celebrate! Another fantastic moment was during the 2011 World Championships in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia where I finished in 34th place in the Individual and picked up my first ever World Cup points - an amazing achievement for me after only three years as a Biathlete. After attending the London 2012 British Olympic Association (BOA) Ambition Programme, which enables athletes to live in the Olympic village and experience firsthand what the Olympic are about, I became more determined than ever to represent GB at the Winter Olympics. In Sochi this February, my dream became a reality!

After a full day of media interviews for Team GB and a long journey - which was very disruptive to my training schedule - I arrived at the Olympic village. It was amazing and such a fantastic feeling to know I was at the Olympics and about to compete for

my country. Seeing the Olympic Rings for the first time was overwhelming as the reality had started to sink in that I had made it. The first week of the Games was preparation week and to enjoy the fact that I had achieved my goal and made it to Sochi! I took lots of photos and soaked up the great atmosphere, alongside some great training with the aim to peak at the correct time for the races. The second week was race week and this just felt like a normal World Cup venue to me in the sense of preparation as I spent the week training, eating and sleeping. Stepping on to that start line for the first time changed everything though and although it was a fantastic feeling, the nerves were started to sink in and got me thinking “this is it, my one chance to show what I can achieve”. I was here and about to compete for Great Britain at the Olympic Winter Games and I was going to give it my all, my goal had become a reality.

The final week after my competitions gave me a lot of time to support the rest of Team GB in various sports and also to get some training in as there was still three World Cup events to compete in; I had to achieve my World Cup qualification to allow me to start the next season (this was achieved in Oslo so I was very happy about that).

Looking back at the Olympic Games I think my preparation in the lead up to the Games was done to the best of my ability; a bout of illness prior to the Games didn’t help, but there was nothing I could change about that. Competing at the Olympics, was the best thing in the world. It has fuelled me up to push for the next Olympics and to perform even better, coming back fitter, stronger and faster. I have come to understand that it takes a balance of hard work, a great amount of commitment, and the will to push yourself beyond your limits to be a biathlete. Bring on 2018!

SOCHI 2014AMANDA LIGHTFOOT ’’‘‘This is it, my one chance to

show what I can achieve

Imag

e ©

Har

ry H

ow/G

etty

Imag

es

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SOCHI 2014LEE STEVE JACKSONLance Bombardier Lee Steve ‘Jacko’ Jackson RA joined the military in 1997 aged 16 and found himself competing in the Junior World Biathlon Championships just 18 months after putting skis on for the first time. A key member of the GB Biathlon team for over 11 years he has competed at every level. His achievements include being four times British Biathlete of the Year, participating in three European Championships, seven World Championships and two Olympic Games. Jacko was the sole Team GB representative at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games where he finished 55th in the sprint, 57th in the pursuit and 67th in the individual.

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34 Image © Harry How/Getty Images

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SOCHI 2014LEE STEVE JACKSON ‘‘ ’’

Living, training and competing at 1500 meters was the most difficult thing to get right’

WINTER OLYMPICS

The aftermath of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics was scary as I hadn’t planned anything past that point but I knew I wanted that buzz again and to be a part of Team GB in 2014. I set in motion everything I needed to

get there and to perform at my best. It’s not about how hard you train. It’s how smart you train and how hard you race! Four years in numbers: 2400 total hours training - 81 races - 7% of overall time spent with a heart rate above 170 BMP - 900 hours (38%) spent skating - 103 hours 32 minutes in highest training month, July 2012 - 33 hours 30 minutes highest training week - 47th best World Cup placing - 25 seconds best clean standing shoot speed in a race....

The trip from our holding camp in Italy to the Olympic Village was a three day process with stopovers in Munich and Moscow mostly compromising of early starts and late finishes. Even though the first thing I wanted to do was get out training and to familiarise myself with the Olympic course, through experience I knew how poor my sleeping pattern had been whilst staying at airport hotels and how inactive I had been on my travel days so I forced myself to take a little more recovery time than normal.

In Sochi the races weren’t until 18.30 so preparing for this with the three hour time difference was very difficult. I had to make a decision whether I’d stay on CET time or change to the local time. Staying on CET time made more sense with the races being so late but it’s really hard to do as it meant going to bed after 2am and waking up around 11am. When I arrived I was so tired that I just slept but luckily I slipped straight into a good routine somewhere between the two. That said I had to constantly pay close attention to my sleeping pattern and to maintain high energy levels throughout the day so that come race time I was ready. Living, training and competing at 1500 meters was the most difficult thing to get right, in addition the ski track was so severe that every session was exhausting. Faced with these conditions recovery and recovery training were paramount.

All the hard work was done so I concentrated on feeling as good as I could for race day. The races in Sochi went reasonably well. The 10km sprint was first and under most circumstances I would have been happy with my timings but my 67th place finish meant that I didn’t qualify for the pursuit the following day; only the top 60 went through. However, in the 20km race I hit 19 out of the 20 targets and placed 42nd which was a personal best and a great end to my second Olympic Games.

I think in elite sport that, whether you are the best in the world, striving to be the best or just trying to get better, the margins are everywhere. Improving your performance never stops regardless of your level or ability; not only the physical training and technical skills but also the lifestyle that goes into planning, preparing and executing the perfect race.

Every Olympics is special regardless of performance or placing but at Sochi the atmosphere and team ethos was amazing. The Olympic Park and competition venues were spectacular and motivating enough to make me refocus for four more years of competing!

Image © Lars Baron/Getty Images35

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SKELETON BOBSLEIGH

SKEL

ETO

NEX RACING ICE IThe season started with Ex RACING ICE I, the Army Novice Ice camp. The exercise is designed to teach novices to learn to drive a Bobsleigh, Skeleton or Luge. We were overwhelmed with applications this year and the majority wanted to have a shot at Skeleton. The Ice camp was held in Igls, Austria in December 2013.

The participants flew out to Innsbruck and were driven ten minutes up the mountain to the picturesque village of Lans. After a central briefing they were broken down into the three disciplines and issued with all the equipment that they needed to participate in their chosen discipline. The potential skeleton athletes produced a tremendous amount of padding whether that being for rugby, snowboarding or the ever faithful issued roll mat and black tape but it soon became apparent that they wanted to cover their whole body and it took a huge amount of persuasion that they only needed a few purposefully placed pieces of roll mat to protect them from the Ice! A lot of trust is placed on the instructors for the first run. There are not many volunteers to be the first person to attempt the unknown! The sliders are gently pushed off from the junior start approximately three quarters of the way up the track but still exceed speeds of 40mph. At the end of the first run the adrenaline and excitement are clearly seen across all faces and everyone rushes to the start eager to have their second run. Skeleton athletes are very fortunate that their progression to the top of the track is much faster than the other two disciplines. On the second day they find themselves at the top of the track on the assurance from the coaches that it is easier from the Olympic start as the skeleton is designed to go from the top and at high speed, over 60 Mph! Some athletes were not convinced. But by the end of the second day, all athletes were smiling and had achieved so much in a short time and could not wait for the next day to begin. The courage and skill of all participants were admirable. We had some very talented novices this year on the Ice camps who were achieving times that would compete with some of our senior athletes. We were fortunate with the weather for both weeks; we had bright blue skies and very little snow which meant only one thing for the athletes, fast ice!

EX RACING ICE IIEighteen Skeleton athletes returned to Igls in February

2014 to compete for the title of Army Champion and be selected for the Army team. A strong field of athletes attended, with eight novices and the remainder both juniors and seniors, expertly coached by Donna Leslie and Michael Robson. The men’s race was close between returning Army Champion Cfn Jago Allen, 13 Air Asslt Bde LAD, and Maj Dafydd Edwards who frequently finishes in the top three every championship. Cfn Jago Allen maintained his performance and drive during the race to take home the Army and Junior champion title. The fastest start title this year went to Novice, Lt Giles Moon QRL, his determination and drive to achieve this began early on in the Championship. In the Women’s race both Novice and Senior skeleton athletes competed. On race day, experience paid dividends for SSgt Nicky Moxon, 30 Sig Regt, who comfortably won the Army title for the third season. Novice, Sgt Rachel Staples, QARANC, achieved the Army Runner Up title. The final achievement from the Army championships was the ‘spirit of the event’ award. This was presented to one

Contact

Skeleton Bobsleigh

Secretary

SSgt N Moxon R Signals


SSg

t Nic

ky M

oxo

n R

Sig

na

ls

of the senior Skeleton athletes Cpl Dave Phillips of 4 Rifles, who has the drive, determination and the selfless commitment that ensures he achieves his best, eagerly assists all athletes and improves every season.

INTER SERVICES CHAMPIONSHIPSOver the training week, the weather did not hold

and snow began to fall. This can only mean one thing, slow ice but luckily this did improve for race day. We were very fortunate this year to have a strong pool of athletes to choose from when selecting the team; a mixture of Seniors, Juniors and novices. The men’s team had a genuine chance of placing this year but unfortunately race day nerves resulted in a few minor mistakes and after two days of racing they placed third. However, they are now in a fantastic position to come back next year and fight for the title.

The Mens Team: Capt Tim Haskell 47 Regt RA; Cpl Dave Manning UK JFC; LCpl Danny Brady RTR; LCpl Lucas Crofton QDG; Cfn Jago Allen 13 Air Asslt Bde LAD

The women’s team had a great championship, improving on every run during the week. As a team they just missed out on first place but individually SSgt Nicky Moxon placed Runner up.

The women’s Team: SSgt Nicky Moxon 30 Sig Regt; SSgt FofS (IS) Mel Vernon 10 Sig Regt; LCpl Sarah Raby 50 Sig Sqn

It was a very promising season for the Army Skeleton team this year; we had two athletes attend GB development and we have definitely laid the foundations for success in the future.

Ex RACING ICE I, the novice Ice Camp, will be held in December 2014). Interested participants should email: [email protected]

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Contact

Skeleton Bobsleigh

Secretary

SSgt N Moxon R Signals


Army Team

SKELETON BOBSLEIGH

‘There are not many volunteers to be the first person to attempt

the unknown!’

Events 2014 - 2015Army Ice Camp (weeks 1 and 2)

EX RACING ICE IIgls, Austria

Week 1: 30 Nov 14 - 6 Dec 14Week 2: 7 - 13 Dec 14

Army ChampionshipsEX RACING ICE II

(Novice, Junior, Intermediate and Senior)La Plagne, France

10 - 17 Jan 15

Army Squad training weekEx RACING ICE IIILa Plagne, France

1 - 7 Mar 15

Inter Services Ice Sports ChampionshipsIgls, Austria 7 - 15 Mar 15

ARMY CHAMPIONSHIPSMale Champion Cfn Jago Allen 13 Air Asslt Bde LADMale Runner-up Maj Dafydd Edwards AMDFemale Champion SSgt Nicky Moxon 30 Signal RegimentFemale Runner-up Sgt Rachel Staples QARANCNovice Champion LCpl Danny Brady RTRNovice Runner-up Pte Dave Gomez 5 ScotsJunior Champion Cfn Jago Allen 13 Air Asslt Bde LADJunior Runner-up Capt Tim Haskell 47th Regt RAFastest Start Lt Giles Moon QRL

INTER SERVICES CHAMPIONSHIPSMale Service Champions 1st RAF 2nd Royal Navy 3rd ArmyFemale Service Champions 1st RAF 2nd Army

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Results 2013 - 2014

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The Inter Services Ski and Snowboard Championships took

place in Meribel, France. A squad of 19 snowboarders, many of

whom were new to the team, were supported by British pro-

riders Seb Kern and Mike Austin and Coach Mike Pearse.

Snowboarder CrossThis season’s course was technical, fast and challenging, perfect for

the Army snowboarders. The team qualified well and set up for strong representation in the first event of the championships. Capt Simon Nicholson REME won the men’s competition, however the RAF managed to gain enough points for the team win. The girls performed brilliantly securing second and third individual finishes, catapulting the Army women team into first place overall.

Parallel Giant Slalom (PGS)Great weather and a fantastic course set the perfect conditions for an

exciting PGS competition. Again, both teams qualified well and arrived for the night-time finals in a strong position. In the men’s race, Capt Simon Nicholson REME was storming ahead of his opposition but fell on the last gate and finished in fifth place. The men’s team outperformed the RAF, winning the team event, but marginally trailed in the overall stakes moving into the final event. The Army women raced well, but did not manage to secure enough points to retain their overall lead, and entered the last event trailing the RAF.

SlopestyleAlthough there were some problems with the initial shaping and size of

the kickers, this was the best park we had seen at the championships for some seasons. Inclement weather and poor visibility delayed the qualifiers, however once underway there was a fantastic vibe in the park. Both the men’s and the women’s teams needed to win to secure overall team victories.

The judges scored highly for big and clean tricks, which played immediately to the Army’s strength. In his first year of Army

‘This was the best park we had seen at the championships for some seasons’

snowboarding, Gnr Rob Collier RA laid down a sweet run to secure first place after the first round of the men’s final and was not beaten. He celebrated his win by finishing his second run with a frontside 900 (and very nearly landed it!). Reservist Cpl Sven Benevides RIFLES completed a clean technical run with a crowd pleasing Rodeo to finish third overall, securing the Army men’s overall team win. A strong performance from Maj Chrissie Elesmore INT CORPS secured individual third, but the women remained in second in the overall team competition.

SNOWBOARD

INTER SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIPS

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SNOWBOARD

SNOWBOARD

The indoor snow domes are the playground for freestyle snowboarders and skiers alike and also the venue that kicked-off the Army season with a 1-day slopestyle training session followed by a short competition. This season around 35 snowboarders and skiers attended Ex SNOW SUMMER at Hemel Hempstead’s Snow Centre. Top of the pops were:

• Snowboard Slopestyle Winner - LCpl Chris Gregory, RE• Ski Slopestyle Winner - Capt Ali Reith, RAC

If you can snowboard or ski at a basic standard, and want to get involved in the Army scene then come to Ex SNOW SUMMER in UK or Germany - a low cost 1-day taster session delivered by professional instructors. No slopestyle experienced required.

PARK RATS

FRIDGE-KIDS!

The Army Snowboard and Ski Slopestyle Championship, EX SNOW METHOD is now in its fourth season and is well established alongside Stubai Glacier’s season opening event,

the MOREBOARDS Sessions. The exercise focuses on the freestyle and slopestyle aspects of our sport. It is what the “fridge-kids” are doing in the UK’s snow domes, and it is what the young officers and soldiers joining the Army want to do, be that on skis or a snowboard.

This, being an Olympic season, meant that the park was heaving with the biggest names in the sport - Jenny Jones and Jamie Nichols both seen smashing up the park, and raving about its size and technical composition. By pro-rider standards the park was “big”, but that did not put off our riders and skiers who put their nerves aside and hit the park with confidence and skill. It was great to see so many British pro-riders out in the same park as the Army’s freestylers.

EX SNOW METHOD also attracts a small (but growing) number of Army freestyle skiers, attending for the second time this season. Small, in this sense, is not a bad thing; low skier to instructor ratios meant some intensive development and that progression, for those with some experience, was fairly meteoric.

The winners:• Snowboard Slopestyle LCpl Lisa Quinn, RAMC • Ski Slopestyle Lt Jack Pullinger

If you can snowboard or ski competently, but would like to learn or improve your slopestyle, then Ex SNOW METHOD is for you.

Individual SBX Women: Capt Kelly Richards RA Men: Lt Dan Hunt REME Ski: Cpl Nick Northall REMEIndividual PGS Women: Capt Kelly Richards RA Men: Cpl Mark Blackbourne REME Ski Cpl Steve Collier R SIGNALSIndividual Slopestyle Women: Sgt Sarah Craig RAMC Men: LCpl Chris Gregory RE Ski: Capt Henry Smith INFTeam SBX Unit: 26 Regt RE Corps: REMETeam PGS Unit: 26 Engr Regt Corps: REMETeam Slopestyle Unit: 26 Engr Regt Corps: REMELadies Overall 1st Sgt Sarah Craig RAMC = 2nd Capt Kelly Richards RA & Cpl Vicky Fox R SIGNALSMens Overall 1st SSgt John Craig RAPTC 2nd Cpl Mark Blackbourn REME 3rd LCpl Chris Gregory RESki Overall 1st Cpl Steven Collier R SIGNALS 2nd Cpl Nicholas Northall REME 3rd Capt Henry Smith INFUnit Team Overall 26 Engr RegtCorps Team Overall REMENelson Pratt Trophy LCpl Ryan Wootton RAC

Team SBX Women : Army Men : RAFTeam PGS Women: RAF Men : ArmyTeam Slopestyle Women: RAF Men: ArmyCombined Team Champions Women: RAF Men: ArmyBest Newcomer Capt Charlie Hay (Army)Best Snowboard Trick Gnr Rob Collier (Army)3rd Overall Women: Maj Chrissie Elesmore (Army) Men: Capt Si Nicholson (Army)2nd Overall Women: Sqn Ldr Steph Ingram (RAF) Men: Flt Lt Jim Smith (RAF)1st Overall Women: Sqn Ldr Claire Collis (RAF) Men: LAET Ross Taylor (Navy

RESULTS 2013 - 2014 ARMY CHAMPIONSHIPS

INTER SERVICES CHAMPIONSHIPS

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SNOWBOARD

SNOWBOARD

This season the first BASI Level 1 courses were delivered on Ex SNOW GURU. A hugely successful start to developing

our instructor base saw 20 riders pass the assessments and qualify as internationally recognised British Association of Snowsports Instructors (BASI) Level 1 Snowboard Instructors. This is the start of BASI Snowboarding in the Army and a huge step forward. Each BASI qualified instructor saves £800 per week (the cost to hire a professional instructor); for 60 novices doing 1 week of lessons this is a saving £6000 in personal contributions. The excellent training was delivered by Snowboard Coach UK and which has initiated a core of instructional excellence that will grow with time and effort.

Next season there are opportunities to attend Ex SNOW JEDI: a two week BASI Level 2 course (10 places), and Ex SNOW GURU: BASI Level 1 courses (two courses of ten places). There is also a Technical Delegates Course planned during Ex SNOW METHOD for those who deliver Corps level events and require a qualified course setter.

Caught the snowboarding bug yet? If you want to get involved log on to our Facebook page or website to find out what’s going on. Whether you want to learn a boardslide or think you have what it takes to be the next Army Champion, then there is an event for you. If you are a total novice, then get in touch with your Corps Rep (details on FB Page and website) to find out details about Corps Camps and opportunities to learn to snowboard.

Want to get INVOLVED?

Ex SNOW SUMMERGermany (Bottrop)11 Sep 14UK (Hemel Hempstead)18 Sep 14

EX SNOW METHODArmy Freestyle Championships16 Oct - 1 Nov 14

Ex SNOW GURU Stubai, AUSTRIABASI L1 14/1- 8 Oct 14Stubai, AUSTRIABASI L1 14/2 - 25 Oct 14

Ex SNOW JEDIStubai, AUSTRIABASI L2 - 18 Oct 14 (2 weeks)

EX SNOW JACKArmy ChampionshipsStubai, Austria28 Mar - 11 Apr 15

Inter Services (ISSSC)Meribel, France31 Jan - 7 Feb 15

Contact Snowboard

ChairmanCol RNH Bennett MVO

Secretary Maj Tim Holmes

[email protected] www.awsa.org/snowboard

Instructing the Instructors

Events 2014 - 2015

Team SBX Women : Army Men : RAFTeam PGS Women: RAF Men : ArmyTeam Slopestyle Women: RAF Men: ArmyCombined Team Champions Women: RAF Men: ArmyBest Newcomer Capt Charlie Hay (Army)Best Snowboard Trick Gnr Rob Collier (Army)3rd Overall Women: Maj Chrissie Elesmore (Army) Men: Capt Si Nicholson (Army)2nd Overall Women: Sqn Ldr Steph Ingram (RAF) Men: Flt Lt Jim Smith (RAF)1st Overall Women: Sqn Ldr Claire Collis (RAF) Men: LAET Ross Taylor (Navy

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EX SNOWJACKARMY CHAMPIONSHIPS

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Exercise SNOW JACK, The Army Snowboarding Championships were held in Stubai, Austria during the first

two weeks of April and for the first time incorporated the freestyle ski disciplines. The Championships delivered high quality, demanding but inclusive courses across all three events: Slopestyle, Parallel Giant Slalom and Snowboarder/Skier Cross. 83 snowboarders and freestyle skiers attended the event with a good balance of entries from across the Army. The RLC were

Photographer - Ryan Dicks

EX SNOWJACKARMY CHAMPIONSHIPS

represented by a Corps Team for the first time and the Infantry and RAC continued to grow their attendance to the championships.

The standard of competition across both men’s and women’s fields continues to improve each season and this year was the closest yet with some notable new entries at the top of the results tables. During the men’s PGS qualifiers just 6 seconds separated the top 32 men and 5 seconds split the top 32 men in the SBX

qualifiers. The SBX course was a little bigger and more technical than in previous seasons. The athletes responded fantastically and there were some incredibly close and competitive races; the women’s final was a photo finish! The progression and standard of tricks during the slopestyle qualifiers was also impressive. Although the finals were hampered by poor weather the value of Ex SNOW SUMMER and Ex SNOW METHOD as developing grounds for the freestyle aspect of the sport is apparent.

SNOWBOARDING HIGH at Sochi Winter Olympics

By the time you read this, several months will have passed since Jenny Jones won GB’s first ever winter

Olympic medal on snow and catapulted the sport into the mainstream. Jenny Jones is, for the Army Snowboarding fraternity, the ‘Forces sweetheart’. She has supported Army snowboarding in the past and was coached by Nelson Pratt before he died; he would have been stoked. Her success will increase participation and investment in the sport at every level. Thanks Jenny!

The sport, and that of the Freestyle Skier, is finally understood and not stereotyped as a baggy-pant-wearing, scruffy-grungy-teenager activity, but a bona fide sport! The exuberant and enthusiastic commentary by the BBC’s Ed Leigh and Tim Warwood, with a little help from Aimee Fuller, means that everyone knows that “riding switch is like writing left-handed while wearing a chip hat and being attacked by seagulls” and that “a 50/50, 50/50 front 1, switch boardslide 180 off and a front 1” followed by “a switch

frontside 5, boned backside 3 and a grabbed front 7” does not refer to some complex computer programming language, but is actually Jenny’s second, and medal winning, run.

And let us not forget the Olympic Snowboarder Cross (SBX). Six snowboarders edge-to-edge, riding berms, woops, kickers and rollers all of which were epic in proportion, at full pelt down a track that is 5m wide at best. The course was without doubt the biggest SBX ever seen and kept everyone on the edge of their seats.

SNOWBOARD

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TELEMARKCol Suzanne Anderson

Contact TelemarkChairman

Col Suzanne Anderson

Secretary Capt Jennifer Dowdell


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Having taken over as Chairman of Army Telemark in March 2013, I am pleased to report that we have continued

to build on the success of previous years. With an already well-established event that delivers both training and racing for the combined GB, Navy and Army championships there was no need to make any significant changes to the format. For the first time this year we had a fully integrated committee and hill team to run the event with the Royal Navy/Royal Marine contingent fully embedded in what has previously been an Army only construct.

Exercise Telemark Titan was held over the period 4-15 January 2014 in Rauris, Austria. The snow may not have been as good as previous years but the support from the resort meant that racing was able to go ahead as planned with both Championship and Development races being held as well as a FIS World Cup on 17-18 January; an amazing feat given the unseasonably warm temperatures and lack of snow.

Having experienced an early surge in registration, numbers were slightly down on last year due to some late notice withdrawals. However, we still had about one hundred racers. The first five days were dedicated to instruction and coaching with a wide spread of ability from GB Team down to complete Novices, some of whom had never even skied before. It is testament to the skill of the instructors and the dedication of the individuals that within a week these Novices were all competently skiing down the Development Race courses and some of them were even challenging the more experienced racers!

Telemark races take place on the same sort of pistes as Alpine downhill races. The format includes GS-style gates, a jump which must be negotiated and where penalty points are accrued for failing to make a distance line and/or land in a Telemark position. The GS race just has gates and a jump with two runs both counting. For the Sprint and Classic

TELEMARKCol Suzanne Anderson

races there is also a banked 360 degree turn called the ‘Rap’ followed by a skating section on the flat or slightly uphill; the length of both the gate section and the skate section dictate whether the race is a Sprint or Classic with the Classic being approximately twice as long as the Sprint event. The Sprint has two runs, both of which count; the Classic is competed for over just one run. The Army also run a Mountain Race where competitors have to make their way up, down and around the ski area using only their own power (ie no lifts can be used). It can be done as an individual or as a team and involves skill, speed and tactical judgement as well as a high degree of fitness.

Due to the snow conditions all Championship races were held on the Steinkar piste at the top of the mountain, this area is slightly less steep than the Championship piste that is usually used. With sixty-six people qualifying for the Championship events it meant that there was wide representation and a good standard of skiing throughout. The selection race had been held lower down the mountain and was based

on speed and skill level; the determining factors being whether a skier could

hold Telemark turns throughout the course and safely negotiate the jump to guarantee selection for the Championship events. For those that

did not make it through to the Championship, two Development races were run with the aim of encouraging racers to improve their technique, enjoy the less demanding race course and hopefully return in future years.

Contact TelemarkChairman

Col Suzanne Anderson

Secretary Capt Jennifer Dowdell


TELEMARK

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TELEMARK

Telemark Results 2014

Army ChampionshipsMale Champion Maj Chippy White REFemale Champion OCdt Dominique Symons EUOTCMale Novice Champion Capt Will Jarret-Kerr REFemale Novice Champion OCdt Natalie Kelk EUOTCMale Mountain Race Champion Lt Jules Everard LDFemale Mountain Race Champion Maj Mel Birtwhistle REUnit Champions 24 Cdo Engr RegtCorps Champions Royal Engineers

Inter-Services ChampionshipsService Champions ArmyMale Champion Lt Col Huan Davies RM (Navy)Male 2nd Maj Chippy White (Army)Male 3rd Maj Tiggs Chohan (Army)Best Newcomer Capt Will Jarrett-Kerr (Army)Team Giant Slalom Royal NavyTeam Classic ArmyTeam Sprint Army

taking the British Junior title from his Exeter UOTC team-mates. In the Novice category Royal Engineer Capt Will Jarret-Kerr’s impressive performance saw him walk away with the Men’s Novice Combination trophy and on the female side OCdt Natalie Kelk brought another trophy home for Exeter UOTC.

On the civilian side, it was no surprise to see the GB Team racers that have been on the World Cup circuit dominating the events. Jasmine Taylor was the clear winner in the Ladies and James French took the Men’s Open title.

The Inter-Unit and Inter-Corps competitions were both dominated by the Royal Engineers and it was great to see how grass-roots development over just a couple of years has led to such a strong performance. The Inter-Unit winners were 24 Cdo Engr Regt with Exeter UOTC’s team of dynamic youngsters battling into second place. The Corps competition champions were the Royal Engineers with the Royal Artillery in 2nd place and The Royal Logistics Corps in 3rd place.

Exercise Telemark Titan was well-supported by the Team Army funding and also this year

benefitted hugely from specific sponsorship in terms of funding from Snow & Rock and Reusch as well as prize donations from POC, TOG 24 and Rossignol. Communications Specialists Ltd once again kindly provided our communications equipment.

Inter-ServicesSeven competitors were selected to represent

the Army in the Inter-Services competition held in Meribel 1-8 February. With so many talented newcomers proving themselves in the Army races it was a tough call for selection. The final team had a good balance of experienced racers and talented youngsters with the following earning their Army Colours this year: Maj Chippy White RE (3 (UK) Div); Maj Tiggs Chohan RLC (Support Command); Capt Will Jarret-Kerr RE (35 Engr Regt); Lt Jules Everard LD; WO1 Alex Mackinnon (REME) (DE&S); LCpl Danny Johnson (RE) (24 Cdo Engr Regt) and Spr Dean Gillon (RE) (24 Cdo Engr Regt). The Inter-Services races were well contested with Maj Chippy White challenging head-to-head with Lt Col Huan Davies of the Royal Marines for the top

With Major Andrew Clarke out this year due to injury, the competition for the Army Men’s title was wide open. Major Chippy White RE of 3 (UK) Division, last year’s Inter-Service winner, took an early lead in the Giant Slalom from Officer Cadet (OCdt) Ben Atkinson from Exeter University Officers’ Training Corps (UOTC) and LCpl Danny Johnson from 24 Commando Royal Engineers. Maj White consolidated his lead by winning the Championship Sprint and established an unassailable lead when he went on to take Silver in the Championship Classic, sponsored by Reusch, giving him the Army Combination title.

In the Army Women’s event, OCdt Dominique Symons of Exeter UOTC dominated the Giant Slalom however was beaten into second place in the Championship Sprint by her team-mate OCdt Milly Bowen. With everything left to play for in the Championship Classic, Dominique really went for it on the jump and maintained her lead to take Gold, earning her the Army Ladies Combination title. A number of juniors this year gave a very competitive edge to the Junior competition with OCdt Ben Atkinson

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The Mountain Race, sponsored by Snow & Rock, has now become an established part of the programme.

There was much plotting and tactical discussion in the bars and cafes of Rauris the day before the race with teams working out when and where to hand over on the relay legs or whether to attempt the full course as individuals. There was high energy, grit and determination as competitors set off on the course early on the final morning. Racers negotiated a ‘le Mans’ style start then put their skis on to race down the track to the Kreuzboden area where they then had to fix on skins and climb to the top of the Waldalm piste before negotiating an off-piste route back to the Hochalm and then making their way downhill to the finish. Much to the chagrin of the Royal Engineers, a civilian hors-concours team used their initiative to gain a tactical advantage in their interpretation of the rule on equipment and won the race by some margin - the rules may have to be tightened up next year! In the individual event Lieutenant Jules Everard LD stormed to victory taking both the Army and British Open titles. Maj Mel Birtwhistle RE took the Army female title but was beaten to the British Open title by Alison Morrissey.

Mountain

RACE

Services place in all races. Overall Lt Col Davies just pipped Maj White to become Individual Combination Champion with Maj Chohan in third place. With strength in depth, however, the Army dominated the team event and easily took the Inter-Services team combination title. The GB team was invited to compete alongside the Services teams again this year and it is noteworthy that two of them are members of Exeter UOTC (OCdts Robbie Houston and Ben Atkinson) both of whom could have made the Army team had they been eligible to compete - it certainly bodes well for the future.

Events 2015

Army ChampionshipsEX TELEMARK TITAN

Rauris, Austria10 - 22 Jan 15

Inter-Services Championships(ISSSC)

Meribel, France31 Jan - 7 Feb 15

Maj Tiggs Chohan

Maj Mel Birtwhistle

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The 2014 AWSA protocol event, held alongside the Army Alpine Championships in January 2014, has

been as successful as ever. This event brings together our supporting captains of industry with the senior Army chain of command to secure the sponsorship that is crucial to enabling all eight AWSA’s disciplines. Our supporters enjoyed the opportunity to watch first class competition in the form of the Army Alpine Championships, to host Sponsored lunches in the magical Chalet Hotel and in the case of the most supportive, to brand the races themselves. This year was particularly notable for both the skill displayed in challenging conditions but also for the Herculean effort to prepare the racing lines given the almost insurmountable snowfalls. Attendees were left in no doubt that this event is the premier fixture of the Army sporting calendar, its impact extends well beyond winter sports as many of Team Army’s non-AWSA affiliated sponsors attended as well.

Army winter sports has had an outstanding year with the desire to participate increasing greatly across the board. This is in part due to receding pressure of HERRICK and to our personnel seeking adventure elsewhere. For

the first time in a number of years, all AWSA events were oversubscribed. The AWSA is working hard to resource increased grassroots capacity for future years and remains ever grateful to our loyal sponsors and the chain of command for the key role they both play in helping us to deliver. It was also a busy year for our regular attendees, both in the business world (encouraging in economic terms) but also for key military attendees. We are enormously grateful for those who made the time to come out and support all our winter sports participants by looking after our sponsors so well.

We always expected our chairman General John Lorimer to be following events from his foxhole in Kabul. What was less expected was Chairman Alpine, Maj Gen Rob Weighill, being unavoidably detained elsewhere on duty, just two days beforehand! Vice Chairman Brigadier Dickie Haldenby took charge and the well-oiled machine adjusted and delivered. This included making allowances for the Sponsorship Secretary who insisted on staying in the hotel and moving around on crutches! Adjustment to the regular team also took account of Helen Kirkland’s unplanned absence. Mike Quaile gallantly stepped in to add depth and experience, as well overseeing the ever popular opportunity to meet and support the most courageous of individuals from the CSDST.

Army Winter Sports Sponsorship and Chain of Comm and EngagementLt Col James Scott MBE SCOTS

Supporting our Racers

CSDST experience

Being the BestWinners of the President’s Challenge

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Contact SponshorshipSecretary

Lt Col James Scott MBE [email protected]

Sadly this was Brigadier Dickie’s last outing as the ‘Muppet Master’ as he moves on from military host to potential sponsor in Civvy Street. To mark this event, he was awarded an appropriate Muppet of his own that best represented his Telemark and social machismo - Animal!

The event itself did not disappoint. A new tranche of Event ADCs facilitated transport and enabled all to relax and make the most of the convivial event. Our hotels looked after attendees superbly, the organised dinners in the newly refurbished La Maison restaurant added a touch of l’aléatoire at dinner, capped by tales from both sides of the competent skiing coin. Regrettably ‘what goes on tour stays on tour’, however it is sufficient to say that there was plenty of material for the Muppet Master to consider on a nightly basis and to award the prize for the biggest Muppet of the day! As well as humour, stamina was displayed by the bucket-load given an intoxicating combination of long mountain days and equally long fun-filled evenings. As the bags are packed at the end of one year’s event, planning is already in motion for next year and we look forward to seeing both old and new friends return again.

Army Winter Sports Sponsorship and Chain of Comm and EngagementLt Col James Scott MBE SCOTS

Supporting our Racers

Nick Ames presenting the Jamie Clarke Trophy

The only way is up

Mike Gilbert presenting the Selex Downhill prizes

Battle of the Brands

President’s Challenge

All to race for

Not going to plan

SPONSORSHIP

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NORDIC

Contact Ex Spartan HikeSecretary


On arrival, the lack of early snow had constrained the French in their piste preparation to an area higher up the valley of Serre Cheavlier at an altitude of 1500 metres. Although this presented a few challenges for both the organising team and the competitors, it did result in us being able to use the best terrain for the 15km Cross-Country race - despite the lack of parking and public facilities (loos) the additional steep climb presented by ‘Herringbone Hill’ along with the more moderate but ‘long’ climbing sections resulted in generous praise from the

During the build-up to the exercise, Major ‘Smudge’ Smith received over 300 entries from 44 teams for Nordic during the autumn of 2013; this was full capacity for the Biathlon racing due to the constraints of the Range. Subsequently 270 competitors from 44 teams actually reported to the race office in Serre Chevalier which resulted in 30 spare places not being utilised; next year we are likely to take a higher entry in anticipation of this happening again.

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more experienced competitors for the provision of such a high standard of course. The first year novices and the less experienced also found the area of Le Cassis to be hugely enjoyable whilst, fully testing their grasp of the classic skiing technique. The aim is to return there again next year for the Classic 15Km race.

After the Nordic training and the two races were complete, competition returned to the area of the Biathlon course at 1300 metres altitude. The lack of track preparation was evident and courses were constrained to the lower levels however, all competitors were provided with yet another challenging set of loops that, with the twists and turns on the run into the range, restricted the recovery to the last 150 metres prior to the shooting phase of the race. The 1400 biathlon penalty loops skied by the 240 competitors amounted to over 400kms in additional skiing over the course of the two races - target shooting with a high pulse continues to challenge even the best shots in Army Biathlon. Any

team that has the opportunity to prepare their skiers properly for Biathlon at SPARTAN HIKE 15 will undoubtedly feature higher in

the results. The overall winners this year and claiming a ‘clean sweep’ in all the races was 17 Port and Maritime Regt

Royal Logistic Corps; the message to their main competition at Ex PIPEDOWN was very clear. Their result in the military patrol race was a demonstration of outstanding fitness and determination - all knew they were going to be hard to beat at the Army Championships. Another Royal Logistic Corps team that impressed consistently was the Scottish

Transport Regiment although, this year they were beaten in the Patrol Race by Oxford University Officer

Training Corps - another exceptional result within the Nordic competition.

Of note this year, the outgoing Chief Nordic, Lt Col Charles Bromley Gardner was recognised in his 15th year as an official at Spartan Hike (his 14th as Chief Nordic). The Officials’ award for outstanding contribution to Ex SPARTAN HIKE was richly deserved – his racing experience, attention to detail and technical knowledge is second to none and we hope he will, at the end of his Regular service, still be in a position to support the Nordic team of Officials over the years to come. He thanked the team of organisers and competitors alike whilst maintaining his promise to be back again next year if he is able to do so.

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It was clear in the autumn 2013 that SPARTAN HIKE 2014 was going to be different; applications were well up on

previous years, even at this early stage. The Jury therefore took a bold decision to accept up to 160 competitors, twenty over the normal maximum and enforced the rule limiting teams to four members in order to ensure maximum unit attendance. Hors concours teams, some of which have been stalwarts of the competition for years, were turned away, even though it is known that these teams provide a route to competition for keen individuals to race when they have no unit team. Individual entries were also refused unless they had strong prospects of making the Army team. The key aim throughout the planning stage was to allow as many unit teams to enter as possible, however it was still necessary to refuse entry to several units due to the sheer numbers requesting to compete. This is obviously good news for the future of competitive skiing and winter sports in general. This experience provided a compelling case for

Ex SPARTAN

HIKEexpanding the competition in 2015 when combat operations in Afghanistan have ceased and the army is on a contingency footing. It is hoped that SPARTAN HIKE will be able to run two alpine competitions concurrently, something which was last undertaken in 2006. On registration day 3 RMP achieved a SPARTAN HIKE ‘First’ by arriving with a team in which two members had never skied at all. They intended for their first taste of snow to be the Seeding GS - how wrong were they. For safety reasons the team was quickly on its way home, leaving just before the Jury realised the opportunity they sought was in the Nordic competition!

The start list for the Seeding GS had 158 starters, ranging from established members of the Army teams to novices: this year 60% had not raced before. We had 36 Army teams and the Combined Services Disabled Ski

ALPINE

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Team racing, the highest number ever, including two female teams. Nine teams were from Reserve units, and three from the Infantry, an improvement on recent years.

The weather in the Alps had been unusual all season, with persistently warm temperatures that prevented a proper snow base building up. Lower resorts had hardly any lying snow, as some teams had found to their disappointment during pre-competition training. Higher up there had been plenty of snowfall, but it was soft and heavy. We had our first evidence of the consequences of this when over twenty competitors failed to finish the first run of the Seeding GS. It seemed the combination of the snow conditions and the undulations of the Clôt Gauthier piste proved to be a more demanding test than the training slopes. It was also becoming clear that the weather was going to play a major part in the competition, since snow was forecast for the days planned for the speed events.

Army Alpine racing has two priorities that should be applied in this situation: speed events, and team racing. However, at the level of Spartan Hike, it is necessary also to provide some progressive training, so that first-time racers can build up their confidence through gates at speed. Therefore the new plan was to run the Team GS and Super G while the weather was fair, then run the slalom races when it was snowing, concluding with the Downhill and Individual GS. Some fine racing in the Team GS confirmed that 7 AA Bn REME would be the team to beat, although they were not as dominant as they have been in previous years. Strong competition within the top seed and in the middle of the order made for some close results, with KRH second overall and 26 Engr Regt and the HAC not far behind. The weather continued to hold for the Super G the following day, although once again the snow was softer than many were used to. SSgt Atkinson (7 Bn REME) took first place by fourteen hundredths of a second from Cpl Bray of ATR(W), while LCpl Suff of 27 TLR RLC was fastest lady, ahead of Lt Touton of 1 RHA. In the team race the Light Dragoons just beat the HAC into third place by the slim margin of four race points, equivalent to a third of a second, while 7 Bn

REME secured a comfortable win. In the Team Slalom, SSgt Atkinson lived up to his reputation as an expert, and won by a margin of over three seconds. Behind him his team mates skied a close race against 26 Engr Regt, but the team result was a clear win for 7 Bn REME again. The KRH took third just ahead of the HAC, with 27 TLR RLC just behind. The individual race the following day was demanding, with poor visibility, and fresh snow falling onto a soft base. These conditions are unforgiving, and many experienced competitors lost time or failed to finish. Once again SSgt Atkinson showed the way, this time followed by his younger brother in second place. Third place was won by Lt Murrow of 23 Engr Regt, five hundredths of a second ahead of Cpl Bray. The women’s competition was between OCdt Nicholls (SUOTC) just ahead of OCdt Smalley (OUOTC).

By this stage of the competition many competitors had picked up injuries and some teams were reduced to three members, bringing extra pressure to the team races as all three racers would need to finish in order to get a result. With snow continuing to fall the Individual GS was held on the L’Aravet slalom slope since the normal race piste could not be prepared in time. This meant the course was slightly shorter than normal, but the course setter still achieved a demanding course. Cpl Marsden came closer to beating SSgt Atkinson than anyone else when he finished less than a quarter of a second behind, While Gnr Inman of King’s Tp RHA finally found her form and won the ladies prize by a clear margin ahead of OCdt Nicholls. Once again the conditions took their toll, with 42 racers failing to finish.

After the Individual GS we heard the disturbing news that one of the French hill team had almost been swept off the Downhill course by an avalanche as he went up to work on it on a skidoo. A magnificent effort by the pisteurs provided us with a race piste in time for Downhill training, but without the top section which had been too dangerous to prepare. The solution was to hold a Downhill in two runs. With only one day available for training runs the pressure was on the racers to get their lines right quickly, but better weather

and piste conditions provided a welcome change. The determination and competitive spirit of the racers was clear during training, in spite of the demanding test of technical skill and guts provided by the course. An exciting feature of a Downhill in two runs is that intermediate times are available at the end of the first run, and the racers have the opportunity to think about where to squeeze out fractions of a second for the second run. Although it lacks the thigh-burning agony of a full-length Downhill, the cumulative length is much longer, so it still provides a real test of physical condition and the ability to ski fast when the legs want to stop! If the pressure of the Downhill wasn’t enough the exercise was fortunate to host HRH Prince Michael of Kent who had come to visit the HAC in his capacity as Royal Honorary Colonel. His Royal Highness chose the jump as the location to view the race from and he it was fair to say he was not disappointed with the enthusiasm and determination he witnessed. After the first run Capt Ronz of the HAC was leading, 0.16 second ahead of SSgt Atkinson. Training had clearly paid off, not just at the top of the field, as the last finisher was within 150% of the fastest time, not often seen at this level. In the second run the course seemed to be holding up well, as the first skier Capt Williamson (KRH) was slightly slower than on his first run, while Cpl Atkinson at number two was slightly

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faster. Capt Ronz was disappointed to record a time over 1.5 seconds slower than his first run, and SSgt Atkinson spotted the opportunity, also skiing slower than his first run but by less than a second, taking first place in the race. OCdt Dodd (SUOTC) beat Lt Touton by fifteen hundredths for the Ladies prize, with most of the experienced female racers failing to finish. In the Team race 7 Bn REME were clear winners yet again, with KRH a strong second. 30 Sig Regt were third, just ahead of 27 TLR RLC by only 1/5 second overall, and with the HAC not far behind them.

The demanding nature of this year’s competition was evident in the combined results, with only 57 competitors managing to finish all four individual races. SSgt Atkinson was the clear winner, with Cpl Bray second. Third

place was a close result, Capt Collins of 30 Sig Regt just beating Lt Murrow of 23 Engr Regt, and Lt Stoddart (7 PARA RHA), a remarkable result considering that he had not been able to train at all before the competition. Lt Touton was the Ladies champion, just ahead of OCdt Nicholls. We had some promising novices skiing this year, notably Tpr Kempton and Tpr Scraff of 2 RTR, but Spr Kemp of 26 Engr Regt emerged champion, having built up an unassailable lead over the first 3 races. 7 Bn REME were overall winners and Midlands Region champion team by a huge margin, having dominated the podium all week. The HAC were London District champions and second overall, just ahead of the Southern Region champion team, KRH.

SPARTAN HIKE 2014 turned out to be a fantastic competition with some excellent

racing from all concerned despite some very challenging conditions. It is hoped that the enthusiasm shown this year for competitive alpine skiing will continue in to the future. It is the intent to increase the number of race officials next season in order to set the conditions to provide two hills, thus increasing the numbers of competitors able to participate. So if your racing days are over keep an eye out for the SPARTAN HIKE DIN and seriously consider coming along to help out on the hill. A big thanks are extended to all our sponsors and the excellent hill team (both French ESF and UK Military staff) all of which volunteer their time and experience for the benefit of the competitors. The lessons for next season are to apply early and train as hard as you can. Oh, and make sure your team can ski!

ALPINE

‘The demanding nature of this year’s competition was evident in the combined

results, with only 57 competitors managing to finish all four individual races.’

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At the opening Team Captains’ meeting, Brig Simon Humphrey OBE, Commander Royal Artillery, 1 (UK) Armd Div and Exercise Director said “…competition will be tough and will thoroughly test your physical stamina, shooting skills, courage, team work and leadership. It promises to be an exciting 10 days.” He summarised his ethos for the event and encouraged the athletes “…to confront challenge head on, be sporting and extend the hand of friendship…”; time and again our competitors would demonstrate that they had taken this to heart as they delivered performances worthy of truly professional military athletes.

In addition to the expectation of some nail biting competition, we planned some enhancements to the usual round of social events to celebrate our long association with Les Contamines; Monsieur Le Maire organised an Olympic style opening parade which saw our athletes being led through the streets by ESF and a rather quirky French brass band. We were privileged to invite not only a team from “Die Erste” AKA 1st German Panzer Division but also the Royal Marines who have not competed since the start of the Afghan campaign.

It seemed that the stars were in alignment this year as the 1 (UK) Armoured Division Offensive

Support Group delivered Exercise PIPEDOWN for the 20th year in Les Contamines, France. Our French partners were excited and supportive of the Rhino Ski Club’s largest championship ever and this would be the last year that the OSG would deliver PIPEDOWN so we were determined to pull out all the stops and deliver an outstanding and polished event for our athletes.

As a consequence of the GOC’s encouragement of units to participate, we ran the event at capacity on both the Nordic and Alpine side; one result of that was the significant increase in the proportion of novice teams, some of whom had only very limited exposure to snow. This didn’t detract at all from the quality of competition, particularly in the Nordic, and if anything there was more snot, grit and determination shown than in previous years. Under the fatherly wing of Lt Col JC McBride and Capt Andy Martin the Nordic novices went from strength to strength and I have no doubt that those not scarred by the experience will return emboldened next year.

2014 also marked a significant development on the Alpine hill as Les Contamines were able to provide FIS homologated Alpine pistes for all events for the first time. Our long standing hill team, lead by Maj Taff John braved some increasingly windblown and icy pistes to deliver some immensely professional racing.

Down at the Nordic arena, the warm weather had rather degraded the snow but some hard nocturnal graft by our French partners delivered some great tracks for the opening races; thankfully temperatures dropped through the week and snow conditions stabilised. The races opened with the mens 15km Classic and ladies 10km Classic which were taken by Cpl Gibson of 1 Bn REME and Lt Alex Wood of 26 RA respectively; the team winners were 1 LSR and 39 RA. As tradition dictates, the relay events were started by the GOC, armed with the

Maire’s shotgun and the 4 x 5km Classic relays were taken by 1 LSR (mens) and 39 RA (ladies).

Following a training day, the 10km Biathlon Sprint was taken by Cpl Gibson with Lt Mark Matthews of 1 LSR a close second (and 1 LSR taking 5 of the top 10 places). In the ladies 7.5km relay, Lt Alex Wood of 26 RA proved that composure and marksmanship is all as she took first place from SSgt Kelly Haniver of 39 RA who fought hard to recover from 10 penalty loops. In the team stakes, 1 LSR lead with 1 Bn REME close behind; in the ladies team event, 26 RA took first with 39 RA a close second.

As ever, the Military Patrol Race was a telling finale; this year brought the additional challenge

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Having survived a fantastic week of extreme physical and mental challenge, we needed to recognise the successes and endeavours and we were invited to hold our prizegiving in the town square with lashings of vin chaud laid on by the Maire. The evening was delivered (as ever) with a bit of Gunner polish but the stars were 1 LSR who took the overall first place led admirably by Lt Mark Matthews. DST Leconfield Ladies Nordic team were singled out by Brigadier Humphrey for his Endeavour prize for the immense character and fortitude shown, especially by Phase 2 Recruits.

As HQ OSG signs off after its long connection with Exercise PIPEDOWN, 20 Armd Bde take up the reins as they start planning PIPEDOWN 15 for the Adaptable Force Brigades.

of the .22 converted SA80A2 service rifle. The course, as ever, included some interesting climbs and even more interesting descents, interspersed with the military tasks and some finely balanced command decisions. Having led the field thus far, 1 LSR put in another sterling performance and took the day. 26 RA came second but very closely followed by 45 Cdo who shot well and proved that their exceptional fitness more than made up for their limited experience. Watch this space next year.

On the hill, the conditions started off more favourably and provided a great environment for the Novices to test their mettle and develop alongside some household names of Army Alpine. The Giant Slalom was taken by a clear three second margin by SSgt Dougie Macpherson of 1 LSR with Cpl Jacko Jackson and coming in second and ATpr Dave Anstey close behind him. Capt Lucy Kirkpatrick of 26 RA came first in the Ladies race (placing 18th overall) a clear minute ahead of the next female. This found 1 LSR, 3 CS Bn REME and 9 AAC on the podium at the end of the first day’s racing. In the individual Slalom, SSgt Dougie Macpherson took first place again but with a much reduced lead. LCpl Dan

Orton of 3 CS Bn REME came second with Lt Henry Edwards of 1 SG in third. Capt

Lucy Kirkpatrick led the ladies again coming 14th overall. In the team stakes, 1 LSR lead with 3 CS Bn REME and SCOTS DG following on.

As the competition moved onto the newly homologated piste for the speed events, the weather turned and conditions became icier and ever more challenging. Again, SSgt Dougie Macpherson took first on the Downhill with Cpl Dan Macdonald and Lt Alastair Odling of 3 CS Bn REME taking seconda and third places. Lucy Kirkpatrick again led the ladies placing 19th overall. At the end of a very testing days racing, 3 CS Bn REME took the team event with 1 LSR and 9AAC in second and third places. For the final day of racing the Super G had a good fast icy base and a dusting of fresh snow. The top three came in within 20 hundredths of a second of each other with Cpl Chris King of 1 LANCS taking first, narrowly followed by ATpr Dave Anstey of 9 AAC and Cpl Eddie Edris of 1 LSR. Capt Lucy Kirkpatrick was the only lady to start and she finished a highly creditable 11th overall. Of course what the medals table does not reflect is the outstanding courage and tenacity shown by the novices as they repeatedly commit themselves to the piste on the very limit of what their minds and bodies can deliver.

Contact Ex PIPEDOWN

Secretarye: [email protected]

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Documents

Snow and Ice 2014