Royal Navy Winter Sports Association 2017 by Anthony Thornley

2017 YEARBOOK

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MASTERING THE SEAS MBDA are proud to be associated with the Royal Navy Winter Sports Association

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WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION

YEARBOOK EDITOR Cdr Chris Bland

Writing this foreword and pulling together the various articles from within the confines of the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the middle of June brought home just how much I missed being on the slopes this season, and how much I’m looking forward to returning to the Champs in 2018. Reading the accounts of those just starting out in winter sports, through to those pushing themselves to the limit competing

for our service, is sterling stuff – not to mention those who’ve organised and run the various competitions and activities.

possible, the migration from DII to MoDNet, and inevitable appointing changes, might catch one or two out.

Hopefully they’ll inspire the next generation of athletes, and those seeking to test themselves in a new sport just to give it a go – you could end up starring in next years’ edition!

If you’re struggling to get in touch with one of us, then please let either myself or our Secretary know and we’ll hook you up.

Finally, whilst every effort has been made to keep the contact list below as up to date as

s i r h C

Contact List CONTACT DETAILS

NAME

E-MAIL

President

VAdm Jonathan Woodcock

Navy-2SL

Vice President Ice

Cdre Jerry Kyd

Navy MBS-CSG COMCSG

Vice President Nordic & Telemark

Maj Gen Rob Magowan

Navy CAF-CGRM

Chairman

Cdre Jon Pentreath

Navy Yeo-CO

Vice Chairman Ice

Cdre Peter Coulson

Navy Ships-ACOS

Vice Chairman Alpine/Sponsorship Director

Capt Kieran O’Brien

DES Merlin-TL

Secretary

Debra Vout

Navy Pers-Temeraire RNSO6

Alpine Championships Director

Cdr Nick Howard

Nick.Howard313@mod.gov.uk

Treasurer

Lt Gary Turner

Treasurer@RNWSA.co.uk

Membership

Lt Cdr Paddy McWilliams

Paddy.McWilliams780@mod.uk

Yearbook Editor

Cdr Chris Bland

Chris@Bland.im

Bobsleigh

Sgt Ash Morris

Ashley.Morris799@mod.uk

Cresta

Surg Lt Cdr Dave Potter

DavidPotter1@nhs.net

Luge

Lt Martin McArdle

SHY-SAOC Instr 18

Skeleton Bobsleigh

PO(D) Sid Lawrence

Timothy.Lawrence449@mod.uk

Nordic

Lt Col Jonathan Dowd

Jonathan.Dowd714@mod.uk

Telemark

Lt Col Chris Haw

NAVY TRG CTCRM-CW CO

Lead Ski Instructor

WO Gary Perriton

NAVYMR-Eaglet019@mod.uk

Lead Snowboard Instructor

Lt Cdr Rich Stevenson

RichStephenson@hotmail.co.uk

Ski Team

Lt Chris Sharrott

RNSkiTeam@gmail.com

Snowboard Team

SLt Lucy Ingram

NAVY INM-XO

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WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT

VAdm Jonathan Woodcock OBE – President of the RNWSA and Second Sea Lord

Welcome to the latest Royal Navy Winter Sports Association Yearbook – yet again a triumph!

brilliance, and help from sponsors that we achieve this, and I am hugely impressed and grateful to you all.

It is, however, with some sadness that I write this, my last introduction, as I will be handing over the reins as your President to Rear Admiral Keith Blount, ACNS Aviation and Carriers, during next year’s Alpine Championships. Being President of the RNWSA has been a blast. Joanna and I have met and got to know a wide range of amazing athletes from across the Naval Service, all of whom have competed with a zest and spirit that is second to none.

At the grass roots level we continue to attract large numbers of newcomers to winter sports. This year’s Alpine Championships were once again a resounding success, with more than 1,000 personnel attending – making it the largest participatory sporting event in the Armed Forces calendar. Blessed with perfect (if cold) conditions, more than 500 lessons were run and the competition was top class – whether on skis or boards.

The 2017 season was particularly successful in this respect – we now have no less than five Inter-Service Individual Champions across the eight disciplines of winter sports, and the Telemark team won all the races in their competition to be crowned the Inter-Service Champions.

We have decided to remain in Tignes for the next three years, working with our partner The Event Travel Company (ETC), and the move from Val Claret to Le Lac was largely successful, with just a few tweaks for next year.

We also have GB Champions, with Aaby Aldridge, the GB Boardcross Champion, and Sandy Sanderson, the GB Masters Slopestyle Champion. Add to this Brett Wild guiding one of the UK’s strongest Paralympic skiing hopefuls ever – Millie Knight, who won downhill gold in the World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in January – and you can see why I am so excited. These are remarkable achievements, made especially impressive considering the size of the Royal Navy, and how busy we are across the globe. It is through individual determination, organisational

We continue to build strong relationships with all our sponsors. They are clearly vital for the continued financial well-being of the association – without their support we simply could not fund the championships nor compete across the disciplines with meaningful teams. So I thank them all. Finally, none of the winter’s events would happen were it not for the dedicated committee members, discipline managers and other volunteers who willingly give up significant amounts of their time. I have been enormously impressed by all they do, and offer them my heartfelt thanks. It has been a privilege to be your President. Thank you for your friendship, and best of luck for the future.

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WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION

THOUGHTS FROM THE CHAIRMAN Cdre Jon Pentreath OBE - Chairman of the RNWSA

Another winter behind us, a new Yearbook, and already – as I write this in May – the planning for next winter is in full swing. I have now completed two fantastic years as your Chairman and, with the exception of Nordic, have visited all the various disciplines and Inter-Service Championships. But I would like to begin my introduction this year by echoing 2SL’s words and paying tribute to the volunteers who give up so much of their time to make the Royal Navy Winter Sports Association tick – it could not be done without them and they are the true heroes in all of this. I am pleased to say 2017 was our most successful season for many years in terms of results at the Inter-Services Championships. After the disappointments of 2016, when the Army wiped the board at the Snow Championships and the RAF did the same at the Ice Championships, this year saw a much better spread of prizes across all three Services. I am incredibly proud that the RN has five Inter-Service Champions (Men’s Alpine, Telemark, Men’s and Women’s Bobsleigh, and Cresta) and that the Telemark team were crowned the Inter-Services Champions. We were a close second in a number of other team events, pushing the eventual winners all the way to the line. We also have a number of our athletes who did incredibly well in the GB Championships, not least Mid James French, who is the GB Telemark Champion, and the two snowboarders mentioned by 2SL winning events at the Brit Championships. Last, but by no means least on the competitive front, AB Brett Wild continues to achieve extraordinary results in guiding partially-sighted skier Millie Knight – they won gold at the World Championships this year and are in great shape to compete for a medal at the next Winter Paralympic Games in 2018. At the Alpine Championships, the move from Val Claret to Tignes Le Lac was a success, despite some small teething troubles, and importantly saved the association some £15,000.

However, we’re not resting on our laurels, and Nick Howard and his team are working hard to improve year on year. We are desperately keen to encourage more ships and units to enter teams to compete in a Navy Cup-style competition, and are looking at novel ways of scoring so that a team can be made up across both alpine and snowboarding. We would also like to reduce costs to individuals, particularly junior rates, by reimbursing race entry and instructional fees if they complete the activity. We will continue to nudge the championships away from ‘a week’s holiday in the Alps care of Pusser’ to our desire to lay on competitive sport at all levels in an arduous environment, while still retaining the strong element of fun that we all enjoy so much. None of this would happen without the generous financial support of our sponsors, and I somewhat loosely include the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity within this category. They are our single largest contributor by some way, and are deserving of special thanks and your support in return – anything and everything we can do as an organisation, and as individuals, to fundraise for the RNRMC is important. But to all our sponsors, thank you for your continued support. I would like to finish with an enormous thank you to our outgoing President, Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock, and equally his wife Joanna. They have both been huge supporters of all our sportsmen and women, spending an extraordinary amount of time at the finishing gates in all weather conditions – many of you will have enjoyed their mini Mars Bars at the finish! His successor as President, Rear Admiral Keith Blount, is no stranger to winter sports – he will be known to many of you from regularly attending the championships. Indeed, he captained the victorious team at this winter’s sponsors’ and senior officers’ race. I know he looks forward to picking up the baton and continuing the support that we have enjoyed from the Woodcocks. With all best wishes,

After looking at various options, we have decided to remain in Le Lac for another three years, and will work hard over the next 18 months to identify a suitable replacement resort for the 2021 season should the costs at Tignes continue to rise. We had good numbers again this year over the two weeks, and were blessed by great snow and cloudless skies in the second week, leading to lots of statements that they were the best championships for some time. RNWSA.CO.UK

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WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION

RESULTS Royal Navy Alpine Championships

Inter-Services Championships

SKIING

WINNER

RUNNER UP

CATEGORY

RESULT

Men’s Champion

Mid French

L/Cpl Downie RM

Mid French

Women’s Champion

Lt Taylor RN

Mid Lewis

Men’s Non-Expert Champion

Mid French

Mne Hollis

Alpine & Telemark Individual Combined Champion & Best Newcomer (Male)

Women’s Non-Expert Champion

Mid Lewis

Lt Sharrott RN

Masters Champion

Cdre Kings

Lt Cdr Greaves

Outstanding Achievement Delany Trophy) Snowboard Individual Slopestyle (Male) - Raytheon Trophy

LAET Taylor - Winner

SNOWBOARDING

WINNER

RUNNER UP

POPT Ingram - Winner

Men’s Champion

LAET Taylor

Mne Cameron

Snowboard Individual Slopestyle (Female) - Molyneaux Trophy

Women’s Champion

POPT Ingram

Lt Cdr Ingram

Men’s Border Cross Champion

LAET Taylor

Mne Cameron

Snowboard Team Slopestyle (Male) – CSWSA Glass Trophy

Women’s Border Cross Champion

POPT Ingram

NA Aldridge

Snowboard Team Slopestyle (Female) – CSWSA Glass Trophy

Men’s Slopestyle Champion

LAET Taylor

Diver Sanderson

Snowboard Champion (Male)

Runner Up – LAET Taylor

Women’s Slopestyle Champion

POPT Ingram

Lt Cdr Ingram

Telemark Team Champions

Men’s PGS Champion

LAET Taylor

Telemark Combined Champions

Women’s PGS Champion

Lt Cdr Ingram

NA Aldridge

Bobsleigh Male Champion

Sgt Jackson RM & Cpl Dalrymple RM

TELEMARK

WINNER

RUNNER UP

Bobsleigh Female Champion

LAET Robertson & Lt Kelly RN

Men’s Champion

Mid French

Lt McCrae RMR

Cresta Champion

Surg Lt Cdr Potter

The RNWSA’s Official Travel Partner Annual Update This year we saw another fantastic attendance at the Alpine Championships following a successful move down to Tignes Le Lac and we hope that with your support we can not only replicate but further increase our successes for 2018. Here at the Event Travel Company we are excited about continuing our work with the RNWSA and would like to take this opportunity to thank the committee for placing their trust in us for the next three years. The annual excursion to the French Alps proves its worth year on year as we facilitate the involvement, development and progression of more passionate and driven people. The opportunities to expand skill sets, experience new terrains and forge bonds that reach far beyond their time on the slopes. Once again, we’re looking for individuals to act as Group Leaders for 2018. We need a key person in each unit who will act as our main point of contact for their group and help raise awareness and promote involvement in the event. We can offer bespoke accommodation and transport options for larger groups to make sure every

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angle is covered and you can focus on the RN/RM admin There is an incentive scheme in place to encourage group leaders for their added input and support accordingly. We also offer a bespoke service for all the Sponsors & VIPs.

For the bigger groups looking for self-catered apartments we have a selection of options in the Village Montana complex, we feel this is better located and has more variety than CGH Le Telemark, we also had some great feedback from last year’s residents.

After a great event last year, we are once again looking forward to spending some time with Serge & his team in the Hotel Gentiana. We’ve taken additional rooms for 2018 and would encourage everyone to book as early as possible.

Please do get in touch with us as early as possible to discuss options. CONTACTS Via Email - RNWSA@wastelandski.com Web - www.wastelandski.com/RNWSA

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Capt Kieran O’Brien RN - Vice Chairman Alpine and Sponsorship Director It has been another fantastic year across the RNWSA, and yet again the amazing successes of all the disciplines and individual athletes has been enabled by the excellent support from the sponsors

Across the Alpine disciplines, we continue to progress the development of an Alpine Navy Cup competition, having proven its feasibility during the 2017 season. The Alpine Championships team will continue to progress this in the forthcoming season, with our next challenge being how we change the rules to enable ship, unit and squadron teams to compete fairly as ‘one team’ across the spectrum of skills, disciplines and gender. This is proving to be a complicated challenge but one that has much support, and the prize

will be a more exciting competition that encompasses broader team engagement, the opportunity to link sponsorship to units, and the ability to win more silverware. We

The association’s sponsorship continues to grow, and while we have had to say farewell to MooD, it’s an immense pleasure to welcome our new sponsors, PA Consulting,

will continue to progress this in the 2018 championships, and I welcome your thoughts and ideas on how we can make this a success.

Saab Defence, Airbus and CAE, to the RNWSA family.

We have had our most successful year to date for sponsorship support, and I’d like to highlight the ongoing excellent contributions from Thales, Deloitte, Lockheed Martin, MBDA and all of our sponsors in helping us to achieve great things in all of our snow and ice disciplines.

The RNWSA has again been fortunate to receive a significant level of support from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, and it was a real pleasure to host Beckie Saunders from the charity at the 2017 Alpine Championships so she could see how we put their broad contributions to great effect.

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WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION

SPONSORS The RNWSA would like to thank the following organisations for their continued support RNRMC Thales Deloitte MBDA The association has built a strong relationship with the RNRMC and we are jointly developing several exciting new opportunities. I look forward to seeing more of the RNRMC team at the 2018 Alpine Championships and I’d like to offer my personal thanks to the team for their continuing excellent support. Last season, while it was a small geographical shift from Val Claret, the move to Tignes Le Lac presented some challenges from a sponsorship perspective, and I think those of us who climbed up the hill from Le Telemark apartments on a regular basis will not wish to repeat that experience (I know that Rear Admiral Simon Charlier shared that pain!). The resounding success has been the facilities of the Hotel Gentiana, which have proven to be a great centrepiece for our domestic arrangements and social activities, and we will strengthen our relationship and increase our room allocation with the hotel for next season. Seeking a fresh look for 2017, we took a different tack for our sponsors’ race this year and introduced, for the first time, a team parallel slalom race. Rear Admirals Stokes and Blount headed up the teams, and – true to expectations – they both set the competitive spirit and, I think it’s fair to say, a significant amount of tribal rivalry. This was epitomised in the showmanship of their lead racers, Rick Drury and Jock Alexander, who both set high expectations for their fellow racers. It was a great competition and we have now firmly placed this fun-to-compete and fun-towatch event on the Alpine Championships’ race card. RNWSA.CO.UK

The great decision to keep the Alpine Championships in Tignes for the next few years enables us to build on the competitive aspects of the Alpine disciplines, and allows us to develop the Navy Cup competition in a familiar and snow-sure environment. However, the decision will require us to grow our income in order to maintain the level of outputs expected, and to increase the participation of our sailors and marines both at grassroots and in growing our elite athletes of the future – and I will be looking to all our sponsors to help us deliver this aim as we approach the 2018 season.

Lockheed Martin PA Consulting Leonardo Helicopters CAE Juniper SAAB Airbus MSI Defence Systems

While the weather outside, as I write this, is in the soaring 20s, I am already getting excited about the winter sports season and getting back on the snow, and I thank again all of our sponsors for their engagement, energy, enthusiasm and financial support.

Safran Prism TLM Ethos

I look forward to seeing you all on the slopes.

And the following individual sponsors Nick Daukes Rick Drury Rob and Lynne James

INNOVATION MATTERS On the waves or on the slopes, high performance requires more than exceptional skills, it demands innovation. PA Consulting Group is proud to support the Royal Navy Winter SportsÂ Association.

PA Consulting Group 3-8-47826

paconsulting.com

WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION

EVOLVING TIMES Cdr Nick Howard – Championships Director

What a year it has been, both on and off the slopes.

A large part of this year’s off-season has been taken up with running a competition to look at different options for a service provider and resort to host the Alpine Championships. The last championships benefitted from a small but significant change of location and the post-season has been busy with bid reviews, writing up reports and planning for the 2018 championships. Although the championships themselves only last for two weeks, the organisation really is an all-yearround effort. Firstly, the competition for service provider and resort. I am happy to report that the RNWSA has decided to award a new three-year contract to our existing delivery partner, the Event Travel Company (ETC) and we will be staying in Tignes Le Lac for those three years. ETC has a proven track record and a deep understanding of our specific needs and provided a very competitive bid. So, congratulations to them and I look forward to working with them over the next three years.

made racing extremely testing, so well done to all who took part. It was really pleasing to see a few more ships’ teams competing this year and well done to HMS Prince of Wales, who won the ‘best dressed’ award, and to FS Chevalier Paul for very nearly cleaning up (come on the RN, we can’t let ‘Les Bleus’ take it all next year). Among the very strong numbers, we were fortunate to have both the snowboard and ski squads with us in Tignes for both weeks, which I hope will be repeated next year. As ever, we were supported by a large contingent of senior officers and sponsors, and this year we managed to squeeze in a very competitive relay race for them which seemed to go well and which we plan to repeat next year. The move to Tignes Le Lac was done to take advantage of some cheaper accommodation options and to use the facilities in the Tignespace arena, as well as for its proximity to the beginners’ slopes. This proved successful and the resort will now be our home for the next three seasons. As ever,

though, we won’t sit on our laurels, and we have some changes in the pipeline for next year. We are looking at small changes to the programme to make more space for growing events, and we are looking into ways of allowing mixed ability/discipline teams to compete in order to encourage more ships teams to enter. We are also looking at the booking system and hope to introduce a smart phone app using a new technology similar to a VR code. Finally, I am aware that winter sports are expensive, and I am looking very hard at reducing costs for lessons and racing to try and encourage more of you to come out and compete. So, to sum it all up, 2017 was a good year and in 2018 we will be back in Tignes Le Lac – but keep your eyes peeled on Facebook page and Sports Announcements, and make sure you read the DIN and the BR carefully, as there will be some changes next year. See you all in 2018!

Regarding resorts, we did examine other options during the competition and although many of them offered an interesting package, the committee felt that the facilities for racing and lessons, combined with the altitude, accommodation and travel options and the wider Espace Killy ski area, meant that Tignes proved impossible to beat. This year’s championships saw very strong attendance, particularly among the beginner and novice cadre, which is always good to see. The conditions proved excellent after a worrying lack of snow early on, and that, combined with beautiful clear skies and sunshine, though with very cold temperatures, meant that conditions were fantastic. Although please spare a thought for everyone who turned out for the Beginners’ Race in Week One, as the blizzard conditions RNWSA.CO.UK

SNOWBOARD DIARIES Mne Anthony White

The tale of one man’s journey from trying out for the RN Snowboard Team at a summer training session in Milton Keynes, to taking part in the Royal Navy Alpine Championships in Méribel

Personally, the annual Royal Navy Alpine Championships is a huge highlight of the year, and definitely one of the best opportunities available to all Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel. I’d been to the champs for the last two years and I knew I wanted to go again, but this time I thought I’d try for the team. I’d spent several weeks in Europe since I was a teenager and lived in Canada for six months, however I had little experience when it came to competition. Still, I thought it would be worth a go. The RN Snowboard Team carry out indoor training sessions throughout the summer months to keep their skill set up, but more importantly to scope potential new talent to embed within the squad.

My first taste of this was at Xscape, the indoor snow centre at Milton Keynes, where I had the chance to meet a few team members and Keith, one of the coaches. Instantly I felt at ease, with a ‘no pressure’ feel to the introductions. We rode and practised during the morning, with video feedback and analysis during lunch. The main objective of the session was firstly to enjoy ourselves and build our confidence, but also to learn the basics when it comes to freestyle snowboarding (hitting jumps and boxes) – and attempting to do that with some degree of finesse. It also gave us the ideal opportunity to get to know each other, and I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of this fun, easy going, but highly motivated community.

SLt Lucy Ingram, the RNSB Team Manager, called me a few days afterwards. She told me I had the right attitude and possessed the potential to really excel within the team. She wanted to bring me along as a development rider for the champs I jumped at the chance – going to Tignes in France with the squad was a privilege, and an ideal opportunity to improve my own riding with the potential of representing the RN in the future. Our journey out to the Alps was long, but what became apparent early on was every single team member was brimming with excitement about the month ahead, and knowing that most of these guys were regulars to the team it was a good sign that I was about to be part of something special.

Give us a sign

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The accommodation at the resort’s Dragon Lodge was superb – great views, extremely accommodating staff, and a big communal space for us all to socialise and eat together during the evenings. Our coaches spent the next three weeks helping us develop our skills on the mountain, including riding confidently at high speeds on our race boards, learning how to navigate around race gates, and nearly everyone’s favourite aspect of training, perfecting our tricks in the parks.

slalom piste, and an awesome park. We couldn’t wait to finally put into practice the three weeks of hard work and training to get us here. The inter-services event, although taken seriously, was a friendly affair between all three services. When it comes to the snowboarding community, there is a seriousness and drive to be successful and win, but also it is never without good sporting spirit and you’ll be sure to see team members from each service congratulating

each other with hugs and fist pumps after a good performance. My time away with the RNSB Team was incredible – full of amazing and memorable moments that I will treasure forever. Both men’s and women’s teams came away with gold, along with the men’s and women’s individual gold medals. I was so fortunate to experience all of this, and all because I took a chance with an afternoon training session at Milton Keynes.

Tignes is such a fantastic resort and, in my opinion, provides the team with some of the best training facilities available in Europe. With friendly locals, excellent facilities, and probably one of the only resorts to be snowsure during the early season, we simply couldn’t ask for more. The three weeks we had there were unbelievably productive, and I was over the moon to learn I’d been selected to stay for a further two weeks to compete in the inter-services competition being held in Méribel. For the final week, we travelled in convoy to Méribel, nervous, but enormously excited at the prospect of competing as a team against the other two services. The place was amazing, with a huge boardercross track, a floodlit night-time RNWSA.CO.UK

The team

SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTION Lt Cdr Rich Stephenson

‘Time for a new era of snowboard instruction? - Err, well not exactly!’

largest indoor ski resorts). This has meant I have been able to snowboard as often as I like, and give a lesson or two to my colleagues and their children. I am also involved with the UK Armed Forces Snowboard Hill Team and have acted as a Slopestyle judge and start referee for Boarder X. I am always on the lookout for new instructors, and can offer advice on booking courses and potential monetary grants towards the cost. If interested, please feel free to contact me by emailing: richstephenson@hotmail.co.uk Farewell to Mike Purcell

When PO Kathy Hodges handed over the reins to me as the new Lead Snowboard Instructor, I knew I had big shoes to fill (although, in literal terms, small in Kathy’s case). All the instructors turn up, the trainees turn up, and everything runs like clockwork, yes? Wrong! It’s not quite as simple as that. Firstly, you have to find nine instructors that can be spared to attend. Then you need reserve instructors for when your original ones get assigned to career courses, deploy on operations, or simply break their collarbones playing hockey. So, after finally sorting the instructors out, how many punters are there for lessons? It’s easy, they book online, sort out their lessons, they turn up and we instruct. Wrong again! Some don’t book online, so all the lessons have to arranged on the first day of week one. At last, all sorted. As to the instruction itself, there have been no significant changes this year. As 14

always, it can be challenging – the lack of snow, weather conditions, rubbish equipment from the hire shops, or simply the one beginner who is insistent that snowboarding is impossible and will refuse to get up!

Finally, I want wish Mike ‘Percy’ Purcell the best of luck as he leaves the Royal Navy for pastures new. Percy has been an excellent instructor over the past three years and he will be missed by us all – both on and off the slopes.

It was lucky for me that I have such an experienced team. All of them are topnotch snowboarders and instructors with plenty of patience. Kathy (now in the Maritime Reserves) has done a marvelous job as Senior Snowboard Instructor over the past eight years, and I was fortunate to have her back in the team as an instructor. All the team were excellent, and I received much praise for their coaching and instruction. I can only hope I get the same bunch back next year. I have been teaching snowboarding with the Royal Navy since 2010, and am fortunate to have been based in the Netherlands for the past three years – ideally located just 15 minutes from Snowworld Landgraaf (one of the world’s

Mike Purcell in action

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WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION

SKI INSTRUCTION WO Gary Perriton

As the Lead Ski Instructor, I am always keen to encourage good skiers to train as instructors in this superb and hugely gratifying sport. If becoming a ski leader is something you would like to aspire to, I have outlined the best routes to achieving this below

SKI LEADER PATHWAY Ski Foundation 1

Ski Foundation 2

Ski Foundation 3

5 Day, 75% piste 25% variables

5 Day, 75% piste 50% off-piste

5 Day, 25% piste 75% off-piste

The pathway to Ski Leader 1 [SL1] is shown here and is without doubt one of the most rewarding and enjoyable courses in the RN. Foundation courses can be conducted at the Naval Outdoor Centre Germany [NOCG] Bavaria, with the SL1 taking place at the Alpine Training Centre Bavaria. The Joint Service Ski Scheme is designed to build your skill level gradually through the foundation courses, increasing your time off-piste, with the onus on ski touring. Once you have successfully completed SL1 you will be able to deliver SF1 courses to

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your shipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s company or, following a short induction, have the opportunity to instruct at NOCG.

Ski Leader 1 10 Day

Navy Reserve instructors. If you are SL1/BASI qualified and would like to assist at the 2018 Alpine Championships, please contact me at the email address below.

Students who successfully complete SL1 can register with the British Association of Snowsport Instructors [BASI] and fulfil the relevant prerequisites, making them eligible to attend BASI Alpine Level 2.

Further information regarding the Alpine pathway can be found at the following:

All the information can be found in JSP 419 on the Defence Intranet or by contacting your regional ATI.

Army ATG website JSP 419 BRd 51

The 2017 Ski Instruction Team consisted of 15 Royal Navy, Royal Marine and Royal

Gary Perriton NAVYMR-Eaglet019@mod.uk

ALPINE SKI TEAM REPORT 2017 Lt Chris Sharrott RN

The RN Alpine Ski Team has been building steadily over the past five years, in both strength and depth, and most importantly in results. Preparation for this season started at the Naval Outdoor Centre Germany in December using the glacier at Stubai, Austria, to give an early opportunity for both established and new members to the squad to gain some early practise prior to heading out to France in January. The early training gives us the prospect of assessing new talent. This enables us to fully harness their potential during the following five weeks in readiness for the RN and InterService Championships. For the individual, it offers a fantastic opportunity to get expert

A5 advert frame Team Ethos.indd 1

tuition in both technique and racing, which will improve their overall skiing ability and push them well beyond their current limits and expectations.

Mne Elliot Underwood with 2SL

The main season consisted of five weeks of both intensive training and competition. The aim is simple: To come away having won the Inter-Service Championships in MĂŠribel, France.

For those of you who like going fast, the thrill of flying down two miles of a black run at speeds of up to 90mph in nothing but a lightly padded lycra suit is hard to beat!

We train all of our squad in all four of the disciplines associated with alpine ski racing: Slalom, giant slalom, super-G and downhill.

We have some incredibly experienced instructors who take skiers with no racing experience and turn them into national

24/07/2017 13:36:23

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WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION

Tignes for the first time. The snow conditions at a much higher altitude were significantly better, which meant both the ladies and men’s competitions were closely contested. The overall winners were Lt Helen Taylor and S/Lt James French, who both performed consistently well during all three events of slalom, giant slalom and super-G.

If you can ski and are in the Royal Navy full-time, or even as a reserve, we want to hear from you. Demands on the service mean fewer people doing more, and our aim is to create as large a pool of racers as possible to be able to pick from in order to create the most competitive teams possible each year. You can find contact details on page 3 of this magazine.

The RN Champs also gives management the opportunity to select the teams which will represent the RN at the Inters. This year it was extremely difficult to select a squad of nine men and seven women due to the close standard of all the team members. This meant delaying squad selection until the end of week four, and another training week.

level competitors. We train in a small French resort called Valloire which normally offers us a great base for building technique and confidence prior to heading to Tignes for the RN Champs. Unfortunately, snow has been in short supply over the past few years early in the season, and this year was the worst in 10 years. Only those pistes with snow cannons were accessible and, more importantly, the depth of snow meant gate training was challenging.

At the Inter-Service Championships, the competition between the three services was intense. RN success followed, with Holly Henderson coming third in the downhill and Chris Sharrott gaining third in the giant slalom, and in the overall individual. It was James French, however, who took the plaudits this year, podiuming in all four events and taking the overall individual title. This was on top of him also competing in the Telemark events, winning all three of their competitions, and also winning the overall individual. Quite a feat! In the team overall results, the men came second to the Army and the ladies third overall. 

The thrill of flying down two miles of a black run at speeds of up to 90mph in nothing but a lightly padded lycra suit is hard to beat!

Luckily, this year we’d made the early decision to attend both weeks of the RN Champs in

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This year’s competition standard has again increased with the introduction of GB-level racers. This quality only goes to challenge the squad to improve even more for next year, in order to maintain their competiveness. Finally, we say goodbye to Lt Cdr Holly Henderson this year. Holly has been a fantastic captain over the past few years. She has worked tirelessly in the off season getting new females into the squad and leaves the ladies’ team in a significantly better state than she found it. Principally, with some great young talent for the future. A consistent performer at Inter-Service level, she has podiumed many times, winning the RN Champs on a number of occasions and representing the UK Armed Forces Alpine Team at the 2016 British National Championships, where she won the Field Challenge Cup for the fastest Non-GB athlete in the women’s downhill. We wish her all the best for the future, and her experience with the RN squad will no doubt be put to great use as she moves into the RN Champs Committee for the coming years.

LADIE’S TEAM

MEN’S TEAM

Lt Cdr Holly Henderson (Capt)

Lt Chris Sharrott (Capt)

LNN Laura Martin

Lt Tom Constable

Lt Marian Taylor

S/Lt James French

Lt Helen Taylor

Lt Rob Clarke

LNN Laura Davis

Mne Ben Hollis

AB Sian Lewis

L/Cpl Stuart Downey

Mid Tini Davies

Mne Fraser Rawlinson Lt Bobby Ranscombe AB Brett Wild

RN Squad (and mascot) at ISSSC 17

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TELEMARK Lt Ramsay Shaw RN

The Telemark Team had an outstanding year culminating in a Royal Navy clean sweep of all four events at the 2017 Inter-Services Ski and Snow Sports Championships – the only RN wintersports discipline to win their ICSSS title. Now there are plans for a ladies’ competition too… The success of the 2016/2017 RN Telemark season is clear evidence of the strength in depth within the Telemark Squad and the consistent performance enhancements over the last few years. This season followed the same format as previous years, with separate training camps held at the Stubai Glacier, Austria, for Novices and the Telemark Development Squad in November and December 2016.

January snowfalls eventually produced good race conditions with a competitive squad ensuring the selection committee had a tough job determining the team to represent the RN, and competition between the RN and Army was very close, predicting a tight competition at the subsequent ISSSC.

This prepared less experienced skiers for the RN Championships and provided dedicated instruction and race preparation for the RN Team Skiers. The RN Telemark Ski Championships had a second change of venue in two years, and were held for the first time at Pralognan-la-Vanoise, France, again in parallel with the Army and British Open Telemark Ski Championships. Despite limited snow cover, the resort worked tirelessly to produce artificial snow, and five days of tuition and race training ensured the RN skiers were ready for the development and championship races.

The 2016/2017 season concluded with the ISSSC at Méribel, France, where the Telemark Team were the only RN wintersports discipline to win their InterServices title.

They took the competition by storm and won all four events, ensuring a series whitewash over Army and RAF competition and the first Inter-Services Telemark win since 2011. As well as the conventional downhill events, the RN dominated the mountain race, with Capt Jon Phelps RM, Lt Ramsay Shaw RN and CSgt Simon Willey RM winning the team event, and Lt Ramsay Shaw RN coming third in the individual competition. This was the third year running that the RN Team has won the mountain race. Special recognition is awarded to Mid James French RN, who also won every event in the individual competition and was Best Newcomer in his first year at the ISSSC, and to Capt Sam Moreton RM, who came fourth in the individual competition in his first year to represent the RN at ISSSC.

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The strength within the squad was further demonstrated by a powerful performance from WO1 Frankie Vaughan RM, who came fifth overall in his final year in the RM. UK Armed Forces Colours were also presented to Sgt Steve Farrant RM, Cpl Will Gingell RM and Lt Col Chris Haw RM.

The RN Telemark competitors are looking forward to defending their titles in the forthcoming 2017/2018 season, and aim to maximise the strength within the Telemark Development Squad to produce even better results â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and introduce a ladiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; competition in parallel with the Army and RAF.

OVERALL ISSSC RESULTS After three downhill events, the final results were: 1. Mid James French RN 2. Lt Gordie McCrae RMR 3. Capt Sam Moreton RM The seven skiers selected for the InterServices Team were: Lt Gordie McCrae RMR (Team Captain); Sgt Steve Farrant RM; Cpl Will Gingell RM; Capt Sam Moreton RM; Lt Ramsay Shaw RN; WO1 Frankie Vaughan RM; CSgt Simon Willey RM.

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VICE CHAIRMAN - ICE Cdre Peter Coulson

There have been some fantastic individual performances, great team results and an unofficial track world record

Once again, it’s been a year in which it was a privilege and pleasure to be the Vice Chairman (Ice) of the RNWSA. As ‘Vice-Ice’, I support the Royal Navy Cresta, Luge, Bobsleigh and Skeleton Bobsleigh teams, and if you don’t know the difference between these high-speed, adrenalinefuelled sports, read the reports on them on the following pages – because one of them might just be for you! It’s been a good year on and off the track, with a cracking Ice Champs in Lillehammer and Cresta in St Moritz, alongside plenty of UK-based training and conditioning, and capital purchases of new equipment, kindly supported by the RNRMC.

I’ll leave it to Discipline Managers to detail the results in their individual reports, but there have been some fantastic individual performances, great team results, and an unofficial track world record – all of which show us to be on a trajectory of increasing competitiveness against very stiff competition that includes full-time athletes in the other two services. I am extremely grateful to the Discipline Managers and their band of supporting staff that make this possible. We also benefit from excellent support from our coaches, both from the services and civilian, who give generously of their time and without whom we simply couldn’t function as safe or competitive teams.

We are always on the lookout for new athletes to join our teams, so if you think you’ve got what it takes to hurtle down a tube of ice at 80+ mph, pulling up to 5G in some hair-raising bends, contact the Discipline Managers, whose details follow below. It’s your chance to be coached by our very own Olympians and compete with and against the best in their field. Finally, a word for our sponsors – my heartfelt thanks for all you do to enable these sports for our dedicated athletes. Each of these sports embody the RN/RM core values of courage, discipline, respect, integrity, loyalty, self-discipline and teamwork; and through your support we exercise these values every day at the track and carry them back to our units, reinvigorated and ready for the challenges of service. I look forward to welcoming you trackside in the future, to see how the service benefits from your generosity – and to experience the excitement for yourselves.

DISCIPLINE MANAGERS Bobsleigh Sgt Ash Morris: Ashley.Morris799@mod.uk Cresta Surg Lt Cdr Dave Potter: DavidPotter1@nhs.net Luge Lt Martin McArdle: SHY-SAOC Instr 18

This could be you on a skeleton

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Skeleton Bobsleigh PO(D) Sid Lawrence: Timothy.Lawrence449@mod.uk 23

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CRESTA Lt Col Jamie Summers

On a crisp January morning, the Royal Navy beginners started their journey into the unknown – on the world famous Cresta Run in the Swiss resort of St Moritz. There followed a thrilling dice with the ice as Navy racers broke records

The Cresta is the original ice sport, dating back to 1885, and the sport from which the now Olympic-level events of bobsleigh, luge and skeleton evolved. The Cresta Run in St Moritz has changed massively since those early days. Modern technology is as much at play here as any other top-level sport, but the St Moritz Tobogganing Club, founded in 1887, prides itself on its history and traditions, much as the Royal Navy and Royal Marines do. One of those many traditions is the design of the run, which is made from fresh snow and ice each year – no refrigeration here. Craig Birkby

Each year the run is made subtly different, but with one constant – if you get any of the turns wrong you are very likely to fly out of the track. This is especially so at the infamous Shuttlecock turn, where they have even built a wooden stand for spectators to watch unwitting riders exit the run.

The Royal Navy beginners attended the club’s one-day Beginner School and then began to develop their skills under the expert guidance of the senior riders. The aim for beginners, who start riding

from the Junction entrance just above the run’s halfway mark, is to qualify to ride the Cresta from the top of the run, which earns them the coveted Royal Navy Team Jumper, and is what the Cresta is all about. As the days passed, the beginners’ times began to close on the elusive ‘Top’ qualifying, but frequent falls at Shuttlecock then began to prove a challenge. Meanwhile, the Top riders in the team began to set consistent and fast times from the off – it looked like this was going to be record-breaking season. With a week to go before the InterService race, it was clear that the Army and RN would be going toe-to-toe in the big event. Every time an Army rider set a fastest ever time, so, too, would a Navy rider.

Surg Lt Cdr Dave Potter at the start

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However, not everything was plain sailing (or rather, tobogganing), There were a number of injuries from the unforgiving  25

track, which meant both the RN and Army would be missing some key people. All week, the weather was perfect for Cresta riding, with overnight temperatures below -10°C making the run hard, glassy and speedy. Taking full advantage of these conditions, all the riders began to post fast times. Then, two days before the race, three riders broke into a new league, becoming the three fastest ever service riders – and I am very pleased to say that Surg Lt Cdr Dave Potter became the fastest ever, with a time of 52.34 seconds. When dawn broke on race day – 26 January – nerves were fraught as the culmination of everyone’s efforts drew near. The Royal Navy team of six strode confidently, and in full RN/RM colours, to the Top. They were Surg Lt Cdr Dave Potter, Col Kev Oliver, WO1 Craig Birkby, Cpl Mike Franey-Starling, Mne Ed Hill and Lt Cdr Andy Mills. 210 x 148,5 mm_Mise en page 1 Pub Focus 4 visages

The team and their supporters

Then it was race time… The first Army rider set a strong time, as did the first RAF rider, but Dave Potter smashed out a 53.3 seconds to set the pace. The Army’s best rider posted a 52.80, and was quickly followed by their number two, who rode a 53.09.15:55 Page1 05/09/16

The Navy had to go for it! Ed Hill rode like a man possessed, and shaved over a second off his best ever time with a 54.81. Mike Franey-Starling tried his best, but just wasn’t up to Shuttlecock at that speed, and flew hard and fast out of the track. His race was over.

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and Inter-Service individual honours went to the outstanding RN team captain, Dave Potter, who won the Lord Trenchard Trophy with the combined three fastest times in service history. Our excellent beginner, Lt Rob Minns, qualified for Top and rode in the Harland Trophy, and we were delighted to have Cdre Jonathan Pentreath and RAdm Matt Parr riding in the Junction Handicap. The RN team owes a huge thanks to the RNWSA and all of our generous sponsors and supporters, of which there are simply too many to list here.

Trying to hold on

At the end of the first course of riding, the Army led the RN by 3.5 seconds with the RAF a distant third. Kev Oliver and Craig Birkby went on to set their fastest ever times in the race, while rode three excellent low 56s – but

it wasn’t enough to beat a rampant Army team who set the lowest ever aggregate team time. They were the deserved winners of the Prince Philip Trophy and Inter-Service Team Champions. However, Royal Navy pride was retained

We are always looking for new riders, so if you are keen to try and crack the Cresta Run, please get in touch with: The Team Captain, Surg Lt Cdr Potter: DavidPotter1@nhs.net Or myself, Lt Col Jamie Summers: Jamie. Summers643@mod.uk

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SKELETON BOBSLEIGH PO(D) Sid Lawrence

2017 brought an intense but hugely enjoyable programme of training and events for the hardworking Skeleton Bobsleigh team. new recruits, both male and female, are needed for this amazing high-speed sport. If you thrive on fast thinking, fast moving adrenaline, it could be for you!

The 2016/17 season was spread over four separate events held on HMS Temeraire, Portsmouth, at Bath University and on the Skeleton, Bobsleigh and Luge track at Lillehammer, Norway. The first week of the deployment saw the RN Ice Training Camp take place. This was followed by a week’s Official Training prior to the RN Championships, with the third week being that of Inter-Service Official Training, which in turn led up to the Inter-Service Championships. All in all, an immensely busy programme for the team throughout the season.

SUMMER/AUTUMN TRAINING The summer training schedule utilised the facilities at HMS Temeraire and also included a Sled Workshop at HMS Sultan and Push Training at Bath University. Training also consisted of guidance on psychology, nutrition, self-massage, sprint training and warm-up/sprint drills. The equipment also underwent a mid-period workshop with maintenance as required. Pre-deployment Kit Prep and Sprint Training were carried out at the start of February, with team equipment preparation and a day at Bath University’s Push Start Track. There was another push start training session in Bath a week prior to deployment to Norway. This gave the team an ideal opportunity to have a get together and social before the very intense period of training and racing that was to follow.

ICE TRAINING CAMP The RN Ice Training Camp was undertaken at Lillehammer, Norway, and was firmly aimed at the safety of our completely new beginners and last year’s novices, with experienced team members helping and also gaining some track time. The Ice Camp training routine is both vigorous and tiring, made up of 0530 starts 28

In the track

preps, warm up and warm down exercises, sprint training and sled maintenance, etc. This training leads up to the RN Champs qualification week prior to the RN Championships.

RN SKELETON CHAMPIONSHIPS The 2017 RN Championships took Place at Lillehammer. For the new athletes, this was their first racing venture – with some very surprising results! and late-night finishes, during which the athletes have to work hard to achieve the standard required to be selected for further training at the end of this week. The Ice Camp included all track safety requirements, understanding and learning principles of Skeleton, track knowledge and etiquette, how the sled works, and how to prepare and set up the sled for training and racing. Lessons on how to steer the sled are coupled with the necessary steers to negotiate the track safely. Track walks take place daily in order to ensure that athletes learn every corner and see lumps and bumps on the ice that can throw them from the sled or alter the steering. Starting from halfway up the track on the first day, the beginners, if safe, move to the Top start by the third day. This year, three beginners stayed on following the Ice Camp to further their training for the RN Champs and two were further selected to represent the RN at Inter-Service level. This was a very successful Ice Camp and, as always, proved to be an essential factor for the safety of the athletes, yet at the same time allowed a gradual increase in knowledge. Lessons are given in psychology, which greatly helps with athlete’s nerves and race

The lead-up to this race is official training week, where coaching intensifies, from beginner to race training, and athletes are pushed slightly harder by the coaching staff. This allows a more focused but slightly less tiring and intense build-up during InterService official training week. An extremely competitive race for both men and women took place with a new female beginner, Wtr Louise Dorsett, achieving an outstanding second place following her successful Ice Camp. She went on to be awarded the 2017 Best Novice Award for her outstanding results and attitude towards the sport and within the team. Positions in this race are hard fought for, with the very competitive Fastest Start Trophy coming second only to winning. It’s one of the main focuses of the team, with lots of training and banter taking place throughout the season – especially between members of the men’s team. The competition also included the guest class that allows both the Army and RAF teams to compete. This has made the RN Champs one of the main Inter-Service events, and all service athletes past and present are invited to take part in this class. As in every year, this event once again proved very popular and is now a regular part of the Inter-Service weeks. RNWSA.CO.UK

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RESULTS. Ladies 1 LAET Bianca Di Resta 2 Wtr Louise Dorsett 3 DN Sally Hayes Men 1 Lt Cdr Gregory Powell 2 PO(HM)(M) Rob Pritchard-Jones 3 LD Josh Spibey Fastest Start Trophy – Sponsored By Snugpak Ladies LReg Iliana Veneti Men LD Josh Spibey Fastest Single Time Ladies LAET Bianca Di Resta Men PO(HM)(M) Rob Pritchard Jones

Athletes warm up and carry out visualisation – a routine practised time and time again, running every move, steer and entry and exit of the bends through their heads, as once you start there is no stopping or time to think. This has to become instinctive, and it’s vitally important that you know where you are and what your next move is within fractions of a second. Sleds are set up and ready to go under the watchful eyes of the race officials. Wellrehearsed start routines are checked with coaches, ice temperatures are noted and allowed for, and then competitors try to relax, waiting for their call to the start. Each athlete knows what’s in store, and how it can hurt when it goes wrong, and the limits they have to push in order to win. And, regreattably, the lead gained by the international athletes had started to open quite a wide gap between us and the other teams.

Fastest Speed Award – Sponsored By Coronet Engravers Ladies LAET Bianca Di Resta Men PO(HM)(M) Rob Pritchard-Jones

The Inter-Service Championships and main event took place at the end of week three in Norway, resulting in another very competitive championship race. The RAF and Army both had International athletes, male and female, and this, coupled with extra time training on the ice, meant the other services proved very hard for us to beat. The Inter-Service race this year was based on the results over two days – a total of four runs, using only the five fastest male riders of each team with the fastest four to count, and the four fastest female riders with three to count. Race Day 1 The day was, as always, charged with tension and nerves. As if sliding down the track headfirst at up 80mph wasn’t enough, throw into the mix a race that the team had been training hard for throughout the year and you get a taught and electric atmosphere that is indescribable. RNWSA.CO.UK

Starts were again outstanding, with LD Josh Spibey narrowly losing out on the Fastest Start Trophy to an international athlete. Unfortunately, neither team could improve on their position, though most definitely not through lack of effort. RESULTS. Men 1 Royal Air Force 2 Army 3 Royal Navy Men 1 Army 2 Royal Navy 3 Royal Air Force

RN INTER-SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS Ladies LAET Bianca Di Resta (Captain), RNAS Yeovilton; LReg Iliana Veneti, RN Police HQ Portsmouth; DN Sally Hayes, CTC RM Lympstone ; Wtr Louise Dorsett, HMS Nelson; LPT Meg Meyer, HMS Raleigh

2017 Best Novice Award Wtr Louise Dorsett

INTER-SERVICE SKELETON CHAMPIONSHIPS

laying in second and our men in third. The RN Ladies’ Team were in a better position, lying in second place behind the Army. Once again, the pressure was on each RN athlete, resulting in a lot of nervous tension.

The RN Skeleton Ladies championship

The Ladies’ Team started perfectly, with great times that put them into a winning position, however the RN Team Captain was unfortunately disqualified, mainly due to the inadequate and incorrect control over athlete start procedure by the track, and an appeal by the Team Management for a rerun was turned down. This disqualification dropped the Ladies’ Team into second place. The men, although matching professional athlete start times and with the best start times in RN Skeleton history, could not match the on-track experience of the international athletes and their extra training time on ice. The men finished in a very close third place, and this was the closest finish for all three teams in many years. Race Day 2 The day started with the RAF men in the expected first place, with the Army team

Men PO(HM)(M) Robert Pritchard-Jones (Captain), Fleet HM Unit; Lt Cdr Gregg Powell, Defence Diving School; LD Ed Maddy, Defence EOD Trng Regiment; LD Josh Spibey, Fleet Diving Group; PO(D James Harvey, Fleet Diving Group; AB(D) Tommy Long, Southern Diving Unit 1(Plymouth). Ladies PO(D) Sid Lawrence – Manager/Coach & UKAF WSA Vice Chairman (Skeleton); Mr Anthony Sawyer – Assistant Coach and Technical Advisor.

CONCLUSION TO THE SEASON Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people that are in the background of our team, but without whom we would not be able to compete at our full potential. We are grateful for the continuing support from the RNWSA, as well as the commanding officers, divisional officers and senior rates who have helped with the sparing of personnel – especially difficult with so many operations taking place around the world.  29

It is hoped that the inclusion of female competitors will allow the sport of Cresta to be further integrated into UKAFWSA as a recognised sport. Anyone interested in further information please get in touch! Beyond that, planning for 2019 RN Team is now fully underway.

2018 INTER-SERVICE CHAMPIONSHIPS – INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA

The RN Skeleton Team in Lillehammer

We also thank the RNRMC for their support, enabling us to purchase equipment without which we would not be able to compete.

the training facilities at Bath University, including the newly improved and reopened sprint start that replicates the top of a skeleton track.

Snugpak has yet again kept the team warm and smart with the provision of Softie Shirts and the new and extremely popular gillets. These are worth their weight in gold and are worn by the team both abroad and in the UK, and are highly recommended for anyone working in low to sub-zero temperatures. Snugpak also kindly donated two prizes for the winners of the RN Champs Fastest Start. Exton Park provided English fine sparkling wines to accompany each prize.

All athletes are now training hard for the season, working on individually-tailored strength and conditioning and their sprint training programmes.

Coronet Engravers sponsored the Fastest Speed Shield and provided trophies and engraving. Jim, the owner of Need a Tyre, Plymouth, helped with essential funding towards team clothing, and, as always, Mike and the team at Fitness for Sport supported us with help and the supply/ printing of team clothing and training equipment. The kind sponsorship of the team by RM Information Professionals and Trademark Eagle also allowed us to purchase team equipment and clothing. Again, many thanks from the RN Skeleton Team go to all of the above for helping us throughout the season and towards our goal of achieving safe and competitive results in all of our competitions. Without the help of our supporters, many of our goals and future team development, and the team pride we have in working together with our sponsors, would not be achieved.

2017/18 SUMMER/AUTUMN TRAINING Plans are already underway for forthcoming season. This year, prior to the championships, we will be utilising 30

With support from the RNRMC, it is hoped we will be in a position to purchase some very much needed new sleds. Our racing sleds and runners are finely engineered pieces of equipment, very complex, and have to be of world class manufacture in order to attain competitive results. New RN sleds will be provided by Bromley Sports’ Olympic medal-winning sleds, and three new helmets, courtesy of the Nuffield equipment grant. Organised training events have been planned for the Summer/Autumn. These include first-time novices and present athletes, who will be involved in some coaching and mentoring as well as training novices. The team are also continuing to fully support the Navyfit Campaign, and will have a stand at the 2017 events.

RN LADIES’ CRESTA – A FIRST EVER! This season will see the formation of the first ever RN Ladies’ Cresta Team to race at the famous track at St Moritz, Switzerland. The Ladies’ Team will be taken under the wing of the Navy Skeleton Team and training will run alongside RN Skeleton Training. The first ladies will accompany the Skeleton Team to Innsbruck 2018 for training, and the first ladies’ event is hoped to be held in 2019. This is a historical and ground-breaking move, as currently ladies are only allowed to race on the track by invitation from club members as guests on one single day of the season.

Innsbruck, the location of the1976 Winter Olympics and 2012 Winter Youth Olympics, is the venue for the 2018 RN Championships, Inter-Service Championships and the RN Ice Training Camp. Organisation and plans are now fully underway for this event, with team selections taking place throughout the next few months. RN Skeleton has now developed and grown into a team that can match many of the European and North American Clubs, and allows individuals to demonstrate all of our core values. We currently have a sizeable number of male and female personnel showing that they are keen to take part in the sport and represent the Royal Navy. This is healthy and good for the teams, and we now have a solid background in the sport that ensures good up and coming young athletes are available to take over as our more experienced athletes reach the end of their time and move to other roles within the team. Overall, the future of our team is looking very promising. We have the inspiration and motivation to continue to meet the challenge required in a competitive, winning and serious athletic environment. The requirements of a very dedicated, determined and ambitious team come from each individual – and from the coaches to the athletes we continue to strive to become the outright winners of the Inter-Service Championships while retaining our envious team cohesion.

SO, ARE YOU INTERESTED? Anyone, male or female, who feels they have what it takes to compete in this extremely fast, adrenaline-fuelled sport and who has the nerves and professional attitude required to represent the RN Skeleton Team AND win, or ladies interested in the Cresta Team, should get in touch with me via the contact details on page 3 of the Yearbook. RNWSA.CO.UK

WINTER SPORTS ASSOCIATION

BOBSLEIGH Sgt Ash Morris

2017 was yet another huge success for RNRM Bobsleigh, this time on a new track to the team in Norway. Alongside several personal bests, a track record was broken, and we were treated to the rare sight of both the men’s and women’s individual titles being won at the same time

RNRM Bobsleigh performance has gone from strength to strength, and continues our mission to build the foundations for the next 10 years of competing. The team arrived in Lillehammer, Norway, to a snowstorm and a colossal drop in temperature to a leisurely 15 degrees! The early days of the first week followed the usual routine when we get to a track we haven’t been to before. This involves our Winter Olympian coach Sgt John ‘Jacko’ Jackson teaching us every aspect of every corner on the track. The pilots at this point are fully focused, taking notes and studying videos to ensure the corners are fully imprinted in their memory. Each day of the first week we managed two laufs (runs) per sled, a total of 10 laufs per week on average. AB Bex Andrews, Major Roly Brading, and LD Ian Crofts had the extra weight on their shoulders of learning to drive a bobsleigh on top of learning the course. This is indeed an extra-hard challenge, and all three were fantastic, with only a few spills.

RNWSA.CO.UK

By the end of the week it was apparent we would be strong contenders not only for the Individual titles, but for both team titles, too. Week two was more of the same, but with a focus on improving our start and overall finish times. Former Royal Marine and GB pilot Lee Johnston took over as head coach, allowing Jacko to concentrate on his driving. This was a huge success, and Sgt Jackson, along with Cpl Sam Dalrymple, broke the track record – a record that had stood for some 18 years.

now, which continues to improve as our experience develops. A point to note is that this year is the first year the RNRM team has won both the men’s and women’s individual titles simultaneously – something that has not been done for a very, very long time. A huge well done to all the athletes. And now we need to concentrate on keeping you all for next year!

Other team members, taking Jacko’s lead, also hit PB after PB – whether it was a push start, maximum speeds or downtimes.

RESULTS. Male Individual Winners Sgt John Jackson and Cpl Sam Dalrymple

Race day was soon upon us. This is what we all worked so hard for. The team was at peak performance, giving everything at the track and leaving nothing behind.

Male Team Runners-Up RNRM Bobsleigh

=The driving was of a high calibre, showing the other services that we are not only building strong foundations for the future, but that we also have a strong team right

Female Individual Winners LAET Rachel Robertson and Lt Alex Kelley RN Female Team Runners-Up RNRM Bobsleigh

NORDIC Capt Rory Wells RM

The RNRM Nordic Ski Team have had another strong season, achieving their best result in the Inter-Services since their reformation five years ago

Senior Novice RN Ladies’ team member AB Nicola Roder commented: “The Biathlon was a new trial, once again needing patience and skill as well as strength and speed under the pressure of race conditions. “The excellent preparation of the RNRM team was by now showing, and by the end of Ex SPARTAN HIKE we had produced fantastic results – ready to move upward on the results tables at the world-class course at Rupholding for the Inter-Services.”

With the construction of a biathlon range on RM Condor, the home of 45 Commando, members of the RNRM Nordic Ski Team were able to dust their rifles off and get a head start with their marksmanship before deploying to Norway for the winter training camp. LCpl Niall Russell and Mne Brett Stevens returned as seniors from last season and a year as part of the National Development Squad. They worked hard alongside team coach WO2 Billy Rogers to whip the men and ladies team members into shape in the short period of time we had to train.

to come second overall. Of note, LCpl Niall Russell won the 15km senior men’s title despite it being only his second season – an exceptional achievement. The RN ladies went no holds barred and caused a bit of an upset by coming second during the 4x5km relay classic. The races returned to the base of the valley for the Biathlon, where the sun showed some compassion after the climatic onslaught up on the Col.

On completion of the Army Divisional Championships, we travelled across to Ruhpolding, Germany for Ex RUCKSACK (the combined British National, Inter-Service and Army Championships). Here, the Nordic teams were able to experience skiing and shooting within the Chiemgau Arena. The facilities were of World Cup standard and a huge step up from those at Serre Chevalier. Only the top Army teams from the Divisional Champs qualify for Ex

Towards the end of the camp, Mr Rogers ensured we conducted practice races to prepare the team (in particular the novice men and ladies) for the stresses of competition. With the training camp completed, the team undertook the long drive south from Norway to Serre Chevalier in France for the Army Divisional Championships, Exercise SPARTAN HIKE. Poor snow conditions in the valley meant the Classic ski races took place on the Col du Lautaret at 2057m. The conditions were relatively arduous with temperatures well below -10°C, and wind chill bringing that below -20°C. This played to the strengths of the men’s team, who ‘grizzed’ out the grueling 15km 32

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Warming temperatures and slushy snow made for some difficult and technical races, certainly for the novices like myself RUCKSACK, which meant the competition was a lot stiffer than in France. The team got to work and produced some excellent results in the early stages.

AB Nicola Roder produced some excellent results, including achieving second overall in the British Biathlon Union Club Champion Novice Woman category.

Mne Ads Peacock, who is a member of the Senior Novice RNRM Men’s Team, said: “It was an extremely well-organised couple of weeks of racing with some tough competition. Warming temperatures and slushy snow made for some difficult and technical races, certainly for the novices like myself.”

Ex RUCSACK culminated in the Military Patrol Race, a strenuous 30km time-trial race carrying patrol packs and SA80s. The team looked strong from the start, having overtaken several teams who had set off before them by the time they came into their first shoot. They continued in this vein for the entire race, finishing second – the RNRM NST’s first team podium finish.

Despite the conditions, Mne Ads Peacock continued his winning streak as a Senior Novice, leaving the Army Senior Novices in his wake. LCpl Niall Russel led the way for the Men’s Team in the Men’s 15km Classic, coming third individually, with the team coming second in the Inter-Services.

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LCpl Niall Russell and Mne Brett Stevens were once again chosen for the National Development Squad, as was Mne Ads Peacock. The more members gaining this level of exposure and training, the greater the experience across the team, which accelerates the progress of the novices. The team very much appreciates the support received from the RNRMC, and in particular from SAAB and Nick Daukes. Now training for the 2017/18 season is underway – and the team is already looking for new members.

Overall, the team came second in the Inter-Services. Within the Army Regimental Championship (the SAS Cup), a finer measure of performance, the RNRM Men’s Team came fifth overall – their best result in recent years.

5/ 21/ 2013

9:07:14 33 AM

LUGE

Lt Martin McArdle RN

Luge riders can reach speeds of 87mph lying face upwards on a slender sled – so it perhaps isn’t surprising that the team suffered a few physical bumps this season

This year’s Inter-Service event took place at Lillehammer, Norway. The afternoon flight from Heathrow to Oslo made the journey out there a lot more civilised than previous years. After the short hop, we arrived in a snowstorm and freezing temperatures. Then, after locating the rest of the team and finding the minibus, we set off on a twohour drive. A stop at a service station gave us a first insight into the extortionate prices we were to experience during our stay. Our accommodation, located within walking distance of the track, was a chalet hotel-style set up, and the best way to get around the hotel estate was by using the free sleigh.

Lt Matt Bone discovers that this is not how you enter this curve…

The track itself was welcoming and, after getting kitted up, we went about learning its different aspects. From starting at curve 10, we had a day to master the complex

lower part before moving up to turn seven to master it again – with more speed. The six of us began to get to grips with the track, and while the majority of the team managed to get down safely on most

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With another move up the track to the race day start point, we had a few days to perfect our skill. Our aim was to achieve some competitive times in an effort to reign in the ever-present Army and Royal Air Force. Before the big race day, the RN had their own service races, consisting of the Men’s and Novice race. The Men’s race saw Lt Martin McArdle crowned champion, with LWtr Topsy Turner placing second. After much deliberation with the race committee, Lt Llyr Garner was crowned Novice Champion.

…and crashes out

occasions, Lt Matt Bone found the going tough. Despite being from an engineering background, he failed to realise that when gravity outweighs centripetal force, you fall off the curve with great force – and write yourself off for the rest of the first week, and all of the second week.

experienced on the way down appeared to help it reseat itself in the final corner. He wanted to continue, but the medical team advised against it, which left us with just four fit sliders for race day.

Despite this crash, Matt continued to support the team, and was present every day to offer advice and make the wets! Lt Ted Nicholls unfortunately also had a little accident. Although he didn’t fall off the sled, he managed to dislocate his shoulder – but the G-forces he

The day before the Inter-Service race, the team went to watch the X Games further up the valley – a chance to spend some time together and relax before the final push. Already facing an uphill struggle after losing two sliders to injury, and racing

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against a better-funded RAF and Army, the challenge was on. All four RN sliders completed the two runs that they were required to do to register a team time. In spite of all the team’s best efforts, we were left languishing in third place, with the Army taking home the winner’s silverware. With the Inter-Service Champs now complete, there was one last race – the GB Race. Here we could test our nerve against ex-Olympic competitors and future Olympic hopefuls. As was to be expected, the former Olympian AJ ‘Frozen’ Rosen took first place in style, which left the rest fighting for the other places up for grabs. Lt Martin McArdle managed an impressive top 10 finish, after falling out of the top 10 last season when he crashed out. The two weeks away in Norway took their toll on the team. There were lots of knocks and niggles to contend with, but overall no major injuries. All that was left was to pack up the chalet and catch the train to the airport. This is Norway, and therefore we expected everything to run smoothly on the rails.

Lt Llyr Garner was awarded the title of Novice Champion

Lt Martin McArdle receives his winner’s trophy from Cdre Coulson

But after getting the 6am train, we only managed to get to the next station before being told that the train had been cancelled due to a track incident. So, with time against us, and an 11am flight to catch, we were forced to get a taxi from Lillehammer to Oslo.

breakfast, and regroup– ready to go again next season.

The two-hour taxi ride cost the grand sum of £700, but luckily the Norwegian Rail Company picked up the bill for us. All that was left for us to do was check in, buy

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If you are interested in trying Olympic Luge, then please get in touch by emailing: RNLuge@gmail.com

or on the Facebook RN Luge Association page: @RNLuge

Team Photo (l-r): Lt Matt Bone RN; Cpl Rob Woods RM; LWtr Alastair Turner, Lt Martin McArdle RN; Lt Llyr Garner RN, Lt Ted Nicholls RN

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RNWSA ACCOUNTS RNSWA MAIN FUND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS STATEMENT FY 2016-17 RECEIPTS

FY2016-17

FY2015-16

Sponsorship

£121,600.00

£70,000.00

£9.55

£7.76

£-

Interest Loan from Membership Fund Unnderspend from DMs CSWSA / UKAFWSA Piste Hire Grant

PAYMENTS Alpine Championships Sponsorship / grant

FY2015-16

£20,800.00

£21,300.00

Alpine Team Sponsorship / grant

£12,675.00

£6,000.00

£20,000.00

Snowboard team sponsorship / grant

£10,604.84

£13,000.00

£13,992.72

£10,663.40

Bobsleigh team sponsorship / grant

£5,560.00

£2,100.00

£1,000.00

£10,000.00

Skeleton Bobsleigh sponsorship / grant

£13,964.10

£1,500.00

£-

£5,000.00

Cresta sponsorship / grant

£20,575.00

£5,000.00

Luge sponsorship / grant

£5,829.07

£4,700.00

Telemark sponsorship / grant

£3,754.22

£5,000.00

£18,840.00

£4,800.00

Nordic Sponsorship / grant Meeting / cocktail party Expenses Misc Membership fund repayments Total Income

FY2016-17

£136,602.27

£115,671.16

Monies received as agent

Equipment (rifles, ski suits, laptops) Total Expenditure

£1,300.29

£2,115.18

£612.75

£4,076.89

£-

£20,000.00

£15,507.98 £130,023.25

£24,107.18 £113,699.25

Monies paid as agent

Sports Lottery Grant

£18,000.00

Sports Lottery

£18,000.00

RNRMC / NSSC Grants

£18,000.00

£21,140.00

Sports Fund Grant / NSSC*

£8,000.00

Coaching Grants

£6,300.00

£16,430.00

CSWSA / UKAFWSA Grant

£9,000.00

£9,437.50

Naval Sports Service Charity grants

£6,000.00

£9,200.00

CSWSA / UKAFWSA Grant - Cresta

£3,000.00

£2,000.00

£-

£10,000.00

Coaching / Training Camp - Snowboarding

£6,300.00

£8,600.00

£5,920.00

£6,712.48

Insurance

£8,622.04

£7,500.00

£18,000.00

£13,500.00

£8,774.06

£-

£79,696.10

£67,037.50

£209,719.35

£180,736.75

Grant for Nordic Rifles SEG

RNRMC Grant- Championships misc Payments (not previously recorded) Total Income

£54,220.00

£81,482.48

£190,822.27

£197,153.64

Reconciliation - Bank Statement

FY2016-17

FY2015-16

Opening balance 1 June 16

£59,924.47

£43,507.58

Receipts exceed Payments

£6,579.02

£1,971.91

-£25,476.10 £41,027.39

Agents Receipts exceed Payments Closing Balance 31 May 17

Total Expenditure

Debtors -

£14,000.00

Creditors -

£19,446.93

£14,444.98

Closing Balance by books 31 May 17

£59,924.47

Bank at 31 May Spending power @ FY balance o/c of creditors / debtors

£41,027.39 £41,027.39 £35,580.46

*Earthport FX was used to get better Euro rates against GBP for accomm and Euro payments

RNWSA MEMBERSHIP FUND INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FY 15/16 INCOME

EXPENDITURE FY 2016/17

FY 2015/16

£10,525.14

£20,450.14

Interest

£0.03

£0.19

Loan repayment from RNWSA Main Acc

£0.00

£20,000.00

Loan repayment from Champs Acc

£0.00

£1,912.13

£0.00

£3,300.00

£7,000.00

£0.00

Fees

Loan repayments from Luge Loan repayment from RN Ski Team

FY 2016/17

FY 2015/16

Yearbook

£3,500.00

£0.00

Allpay DD Bureau Service

£1,620.52

£1,570.47

HSBC Banking Charges

£128.28

£180.04

£60.00

£100.00

RN Ski Team Loan

£7,000.00

£0.00

RN Bob Team Loan

£15,000.00

£0.00

RNWSA Champs Acc Loan

£0.00

£13,000.00

Fees Reimburse

£0.00

£15.00

HSBC Supplementary List

Total Income

£17,525.17

£45,662.46

Total Expenditure

£27,308.80

£14,865.51

Expenditure exceeds income

£9,783.63

£30,796.95

Income exceeds expenditure

-£9,783.63

£30,796.95

Excess Income over Expenditure Bank Accounts

HSBC Community

HSBC Business

Opening Balance 1 Jun 16

£49,907.52

£54.59

£122.18

Closing Balance 31 May 16

£34,903.72

£54.59

£122.18

Total Difference between Closing and Opening Balances:

Barclays Community

Barclays Business £71.07 £71.10 -£15,003.77

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