BFG’s Alpine aces were among the top prize-winners at the Inter-Services Ski and Snowboard Championships (ISSSC), which were successfully staged recently in the French Alps, with the Army taking most of the prizes.
In perfect weather conditions, the packed programme including Downhill, Slalom, Giant Slalom and Super G on the Alpine side and Parallel Giant Slalom, Border Cross and Slope style on the Snowboard side was generously sponsored by Qinetiq, Augusta Westland, BT, EADS, Accenture and other top companies.
The Championships were back in the scenic resort of Méribel for the third year running in perfect weather and snow conditions. Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, AVM Kevin Leeson, President Combined Services Winter Sports Association, thanked the sponsors and the local hill team for the preparations of the runs and wished the competitors exciting and safe racing.
The Forces top Downhill skiers and Boarders had travelled on to Meribel to vie for an array of trophies, following their separate Single Service championships elsewhere and selection of the Alpine and Snowboard squads. As well as the seasoned veterans, there were ‘new kids on the block’, facing the challenge of competing at top Service level.
As ever, several guest teams joined the British Service skiers: the English Development Team and the French Armeé de l’Air.
The Championships were also joined by 3 members of the British Disabled Ski Team. Skippered by Captain Martin Hewitt, who took the title Best Disabled Skier, the team put in some breathtaking runs at Meribel. The team was delighted to learn that at their meeting at Headley Court on 1 Dec 08, the Combined Services Sports Board (CSSB) agreed to set up a new sports association to be titled the Combined Services Adaptive Sports Association (CSASA) to enable wounded Service personnel to continue to play sport and to facilitate the opportunity to aspire to Paralympics level. The charter for the CSASA is now being drafted and officers have been appointed to fill the key slots to lead and manage the association which initially will be categorized as an excepted charity. Non public funds are being put in place from the three Service Sports Lotteries and offers of civilian sponsorship have already been made.
Additionally, Meribel saw a demonstration of the up-and-coming winter sport of Telemark. With more flexible boots and a different turning technique, it now has an enthusiastic and growing following in the Services.
Alpine
In the traditional opener and blue ribbon, the Agusta Westland downhill race, the Army men and women took all the honours on one of the toughest downhill tracks with a 660 m vertical drop and 41 gates. The competitors had to complete two runs in order to make a complete course.
In the men’s race, which saw a lot of bad falls, Flt Lt Roger Cruickshank was in sensational form, achieving 1st place. Bradley Morgan from the England Development team was close behind him to claim second place followed by his team mate Benn Hall.
The Navy’s top men Cpl Mike Gent RM had high hopes of repeating his trail blazing times in final practise. Sadly Mike crashed out in the first run and was injured.
In the women’s race, Paderborn based Cpl Annabelle Franey and Flt Lt Caitlin Wroe were outstanding, Annabelle just getting the nod by 0.38 seconds, both of them inside 1:51,89. The Army can thank Capt Rachel Cooper for an excellent third with Maj Nikki Porter and Cpl Angie Fewster, both of the Army, wrapping up fourth and fifth. Nikki, who won this race in the previous three years, had a fall at the third gate but still managed to finish fourth with only half a second behind.
However, Nikki Porter had a triumphant return in the Lockheed Martin women’s Super G. Pulling out all the stops winning in 1:31,38. Capt Rachel Cooper produced a tremendous performance to finish second and Maj Mel Hilton came third and made the Army the overall winner.
In the men’s competition, Roger Cruickshank was as strong, as one would expect, scoring 1st place. The Army were top placed with Lt Matt Shepherd coming second and Bradley Morgan and Benn Hall from the England Development team both in third place!.
This year, a new type of race was introduced: the IBM Alpine Super Combined Slalom. Only those competitors who finished the Super G took part, starting in reverse order. It was a great day for the Navy with Lt Kate Hopkins securing the 1st place, followed by Mel Hilton from the Army and CPOPT Carol Strong from the Navy in 3rd place. It came as no surprise that the men’s was won by Roger Cruickshank, followed in second place by Matt Shepherd and Thomas White from the England Development team.
The EADS Giant Slalom with a 350 m vertical drop offered yet more challenges for the Apline skiers. The Army’s top skier, Nikki Porter followed up her remarkable Super G win with another victory, just under 5 seconds faster than over the two legs than her team mate, Annabelle Franey. Caitlin Wroe secured a third place for the RAF, with Sqn Ldr Sophie Paul and Fl Off Aly Phippen coming 4th and 5th. CPOPT Carol Strong of the Navy producing an excellent performance to push into 6th place.
The men’s competition showed the same results as the Super G: Roger Cruickshank on 1st place, Matt Shepherd on 2nd and Bradley Morgan on 3rd place. LCpl Chris McCourt, Annabelle’s fiancé from Gütersloh, secured a 6th place.
The BT Slalom concluded the alpine championships with Caitlin Wroe from the RAF winning convincingly. She was closely followed by Nikki Porter and Annabelle Franey.
On the men’s side, Benn Hall from the England Development team put Roger Cruickshank in second place and Matt Shepherd in third.
Even though the closing ceremony and prize giving was dominated by the Army, the RAF’s Roger Cruickshank and snowboarder Mick Arrowsmith who was awarded the Most Outstanding Achievement Prize, received a standing ovations.
Snowboard
While the Alpine events finished at the village, the Snowboard teams were being put through their paces much higher up the mountain. However, the competition got under way with a Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom on the floodlight run into Méribel in the presence of many sponsors and high ranking supporters. In clear weather and compact snow, the first two places went to the Army (LCpl Kev Clarke and WO2 Andy Moore) with the RAF scoring third place (Cpl Ritchie Page). Almost identical was the scoring of the ladies in the same event: the first two places were taken by the Army (Cpl Sarah Marriot in 1st place and Capt Dani Stone in 2nd) and Flt Lt Tamsin Evans achieved the 3rd place.
The championships continued with the Snowboardcross, sponsored by SSVC. .RAF snowboard skipper Flt Lt Jim Smith (RAF), the 2007 Snowboard Champion, who was unable to compete in last year’s RAF Championships due to operational commitments, caught up extremely well by winning the Snowboardcross finals with Lt Si Nicholson (Army) in second and Cpl Ritchie Page (RAF) in third place. On the ladies side, it was Army rider Capt Dani Stone who beat Flt Lt Tamsin Evans (RAF) by only 00:00:04.05 in the 2nd run of the Snowboardcross, followed by Gnr Gemma Cooper (Army) in third place. Sadly, the snowboard teams took a severe blow by losing six members through injuries at the qualifying races for the Bordercross competition: SAC Kay Bingham, Sqn Ldr Nicky Wood, Flt Lt Neil Crouchman – all RAF – as well as team captain LS SR Susie Cook, Lt Will Alexander and CPO Mick Arrowsmith from the Royal Navy who injured himself at the Parallel Giant Slalom.
The Slopestyle – a new addition to the Championships which was introduced last year, attracted many spectators. Scoring is based on tricks and turns – the more complicated, the better. What a fantastic performances by all involved. The first two places went to the Army borders Sgt Ben Shropshire and Lt Si Nicholson and a member of the French Air Force, Lieutenant Jeremie Thimbaud came third – closely followed by LCpl Kev Clarke (Army). And it was a race that belonged to the Army women snowboarders who took the first three places on a challenging course: Capt Dani Stone taking the top place, just pipping Maj Pip Tatterhall to second place and Cpl Sarah Marriot in third.
The overall Snowboard Championships were won by the Army Ladies Snowboard Team and the Army Men’s Snowboard team.
The Chairman snowboard organiser Lt Col Jonny Lowe said: “I am delighted about the results and the many newcomers. The snowboarding is growing very quickly with almost as many boarders taking part in the championships this year than alpine skiers. As we are seeing the standards rise every year, there is still a gap between the very good riders and those with less experience. ”
Pictures Are available in the Media & Comms Gallery. |
