Patron: HRH The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO ADC
CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD Major General Lamont Kirkland A huge welcome to Snow and Ice – your annual Army Winter Sports Magazine. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Maj Gen Mungo Melvin and Brig John Wolsey, past Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively for their hard work and dedication during their tenure. I was most pleased to have been asked to take over as Chairman in early November 08 and can look back over the past 6 months and the 2008/09 Season with huge satisfaction; your Association is in good order. Despite the continuing high levels of operational commitments, we have had a very successful season with very healthy levels of participation and some excellent individual performances. As last year, there was plenty of snow almost everywhere; too much in some cases. As always it has been a mixed bag of results from the Disciplines; individual reports can be found later in this magazine, but I would like to highlight a few areas. Telemark has gone from strength to strength with some 75 racers taking part in the Army Championships in Rauris in early January 09. A case is currently being staffed to seek“Recognised Status” for the sport, which will enable the public funding of equipment, coaching, CILOR and travel, thus reducing the cost to competitors. Both Exercises SPARTAN HIKE and PIPEDOWN went extremely well being virtually full to capacity and the redeployment of 2 Div and Northern Ireland teams to EX PIPEDOWN was a success. Exercise RUCKSACK took part in Obertilliach (Austria) and was well hosted there; it returns to Ruhpolding in 2010. The Ice Camp was in Igls, Austria in early January 09 with some 80 competitors taking up sliding on ice in the 3 pursuits for the first time over the 2 weeks; the event is planned to take place in Calgary in late October 09. The Army Female Bobsleigh team had another victory in the Inter Service Bobsleigh Championship, with Cpl Paula Walker beating her old partner Cpl Jackie Davies into second place. Once again the strength of the Army Male and Female Snowboard Teams was aptly demonstrated as both took the honours in the Inter Service Championship at Meribel in France, with Capt Dani Stone RE winning the individual female and LCpl Clarke REME winning the individual male titles. Finally there was also much success in the Alpine events with both the Mens and Ladies taking the Team titles and Maj Nikki Porter RADC winning the individual title. Capt Matt Shepherd RLC was second in Men’s individual event narrowly beaten in first place by Flt Lt Roger Cruickshank RAF.
You will be well aware, that staging high quality winter sports events continues to be expensive and my Committee is striving to get the best possible value for money from our funds. My intent for the 09/10 Season is to ensure that all events continue to be well run and organised, challenging, technically compliant and within budget, with maximum participation. Sponsorship is crucial and I have been taking an active role in attempting to secure sponsorship for the 09/10 season. BAE Systems and SELEX GALLILEO remain on board, but I am hopeful that there will be a number of new sponsors with us next season. We can look forward to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver from 12 to 28 February and hope that there will be a number of our athletes taking part. As ever, I am extremely grateful to all the Chairmen, Secretaries and Officials involved in running the AWSA and the 8 Disciplines, who give up their free time to ensure that the Association and competitions are well run and of the highest quality. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best of fortune for next season and I hope to see most of you either at the AGM on 20 October 09 or on either the slopes or the ice.
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