BFG’s elite winter sportsmen and women were among over 120 of the Army’s top skiers recently at Ex LION’S CHALLENGE 2009, the British Army Alpine Skiing Championships, which took place at Serre Chevalier, in the French Alps
Concluding in fine style with the dramatic Downhill, Gütersloh -based 1LSR dominated from beginning to end, with many other BFG teams hard on their heels.  
‘Matt was man of the match” without a doubt, in the shape of Lt Matt Shepherd, 1LSR team skipper, who came first in every race, being named Army Champion 2009, with Cpl Mike Atkinson, 7 AA Bn REME the runner up.

1LSR took the Team Champions Trophy, with 7 AA Bn REME in second place.
On the Ladies side, Capt Rachel Cooper, 19 Regt RA and Cpl Annabelle Franey took first and second places.

Head down in the Super G is Cpl Annabelle Franey, 3 Bn REME and Army Ladies Team

The Championships are run under the auspices of the Army Winter Sports Association (AWSA), with over 120 skiers taking part, sponsored by Norwich Union and BAE SYSTEMS.

Competitors vied for the numerous trophies in the Slalom, Giant Slalom, Super Giant Slalom and Downhill.

Eminent visitors included HRH The Duke of Kent, AWSA Patron, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, CGS and outgoing Association President, Maj Gen Lamont Kirkland, GOC 4 Div and recently-appointed Chairman AWSA, and Maj Gen (Retd) John Russell-Jones, Army Advisor to BAE Systems.

The mixed weather ensured no races were a foregone conclusion, and kept team skippers on their toes as they adopted optimum tactics to get the best out of their mostly very young skiers.

As ever, the Championships ended in the most dramatic event of all – the ‘Downhill’ – staged on the Olympic ‘Luc Alphand’ course named after a local Olympic hero. The run drops 650m over a 2 km descent, reaching speeds of 80 mph and ending at Chantemerle village, watched by hundreds of impressed holidaymakers of all nationalities, putting the very best of the British Army firmly on public show.

Lt Matt Shepherd won the Downhill with Maj Mel Hilton, HQ 52 Bde, first woman skier. Astonishingly, Capt Cooper and Cpl Franey 3 Bn REME were joint third with an identical time to 1/00 th of a second.

Maj Nikki Porter, of Herford Dental Centre, Army Ladies Team skipper, took 1st Ladies in the Individual Giant Slalom.

The Combined Services Disabled Ski Team also made their mark, skiing every race except the Downhill and acquitting themselves well. Highly ambitious, they have the Russia Paralympics in 2014 firmly in their sights.

CS Disabled Skier Tpr Steve Shine, 2RTR makes light work of a slalom.

Proving that it was not all drama, even the senior visitors showed what they could do, staging a Fun Race to break the tension. Sportingly, HRH The Duke of Kent also took part.

CS Disabled Ski Team pictured with their team mate for the Fun Race, (centre) Lt Gen Richard Shirreff, COMARRC:  left to right: Team Coach SSgt Mark Scorgie, Tpr Steve Shine, Sgt Mick Brennan, Capt Martin Hewett.

On a whistle stop tour of Army winter sports activity, Maj Gen Kirkland was determined to do all he can to support all the disciplines as the new AWSA Chairman: “AWSA has encouraged generations of young soldiers to compete on snow and ice, and my task as Chair is to encourage All Ranks to strive for the highest achievement in winter sports.  AWSA is instrumental in fostering in organising competitions from novice to the highest level across all eight disciplines. And I intend to try them all out myself”.

Summing up LION’s CHALLENGE 2009, CGS said: “Well done to all those taking part for your fantastic spirit. This is all part of the variety and opportunity the Army offers – sports and adventurous training give people a break from operations as well as helping them prepare for ops. It is vital that we continue with it.  And it takes real ‘bottle’ to face the Downhill, especially when you are only 18 and in your first year on skis. I applaud the disabled ski team – it is wonderful that you have shown the courage to take on Lion’s Challenge. We are also very grateful to the generous sponsors who make it all possible. The best of luck to our Army Mens and Ladies teams at the Inter-Services.”

Gen Dannatt also thanked HRH The Duke of Kent for his support, as well as the ever-loyal Serre Chevalier community, especially the Ecole de Ski Francais who help run the races.

Going all out in the Team Slalom is Capt Roddy Christie, SCOTS DG

RESULTS

Alpine Champion: Lt Shepherd, 1LSR,  2nd: Cpl Atkinson, 7 AA Bn REME

Team Champions: 1LSR, Runners Up:, 7 AA Bn REME

Ladies Champion: Capt Cooper, 19 Regt RA, 2nd: Cpl Franey, 3 Bn REME

Downhill Top 3:

(L to R): Lt Nick Poett, SCOTS DG (3rd place),
winner Lt Matt Shepherd, 1LSR (holding trophy),
Runner Up Cpl Mike Atkinson, 7 AA Bn REME.

Individual Giant Slalom
1st Mens: Lt Shepherd, 1LSR, 2nd: Sgt MacPherson, 1LSR, LCpl McCourt, 1LSR 
1st Ladies, Maj Porter, Herford Dental Centre, 2nd: Cpl Franey, 3 Bn REME, 3rd: Capt Cooper,19 Regt RA
Best Novice: Tpr Bond, HCR, Best Junior: A.Tpr Graham, 9 Regt AAC

Team Giant Slalom
1st: 1LSR, 2nd: 28 Engr Regt, 3rd: 8 Regt RLC

Individual Slalom
Mens: 1ST, Lt Shepherd 1LSR, 2nd, Capt Carrick, 19 Regt RA, 3RD, Cpl Atkinson, 7AA Bn  REME
Ladies:1st, Cpl Franey, 3 Bn REME, 2nd Maj Hilton, HQ 52 Bde, 3rd: Capt Cooper,19 Regt RA

Team Slalom (25 Jan)
1st: 1LSR, 2nd: 7AABn REME, 3rd: 28 Eng Regt

Individual and Team Super G (26 Jan)
Mens
1ST  Lt Shepherd 1 LSR, 2nd   Cpl Atkinson 7AA Bn REME, 3rd   Capt Poett SCOTS DG
Ladies
1ST Capt Cooper19 Regt RA, 2nd Maj Hilton, HQ 52 Bde, 3rd Cpl Franey, 3 Bn REME
Teams
1st 1LSR, 2nd , 2nd 7 AA Bn REME, 3rd  8  Regt RLC

Downhill
1st: Lt Shepherd, 1LSR, 1st Lady: Maj Hilton, 52 Bde

Equal place:  Capt Cooper, 19 Regt RA and Cpl Franey, 3 Bn REME

Maj Mel Hilton, HQ 52 Bde, airborne in Downhill heats