SKELETON BOBSLEIGH
SKELETON BOB Major Belinda Robson R SIGNALS Another bumpy year for Army Skeleton Bobsleigh with attendance on the Ex RACING ICE’s fluctuating throughout the season. Ex RACING ICE I, the Ice Sports camp, was sadly poorly attended. This year the camp was held in Winterberg, Germany between the 12to 26 November 2011. Participants headed across by coach and in true military style left in the early hours of the morning. On arrival in Winterberg they were briefed on the equipment, kitted out with helmets and padding and then introduced to the track. A daunting sight if you have not seen one before. The only injuries were sustained by the coaches, Maj Pete McClellan and Mrs Donna Leslie. Donna slipped on the ice and broke her wrist and Maj McClellan nearly took his eye out on the bobsleigh crane. It was safer to get down the mountain head first on a tea tray! Despite low numbers, those that attended were promising sliders and will help form a competitive Army team in future years. In contrast, Ex RACING ICE II the Novice, Junior and Senior Army Championships, had an excellent attendance. Fourteen competitors raced at Igls, Austria to fight for the title of Army
Champion. The championship was held over the period 29 January to 5 February 2012. Unusually this year sliding was cancelled on the first day as a huge hole had appeared in the track due to an ammonia leak. With the championship in doubt, the track workers worked overnight to ensure we could slide the following day. After a couple of runs from Damen start, to dust off the cobwebs, the competitors made their way to the top of the track. Every training run would now count to knock off those vital seconds. Times were not the only thing to drop over the week as temperatures fell as low as -20°C. Down times varied throughout training leaving the race open to anyone; anything can happen on race day! After the first lauf Capt Howard Chaganis and Maj Taff Edwards were neck and neck for first place and Sgt Dave Manning was third. However, Capt Chaganis had a fantastic run on the second lauf, crossing the line with a PB time and taking the title. Sgt Manning retained his composure and crept back into the runner up position. The women’s competition wasn’t as nail biting but still had some surprises. Sgt Nicki Moxon produced some fantastic results, becoming Army
Champion with a three second lead. However, Pte Robin Ellis, the runner up, slid exceptionally well considering the race laufs were only her fifth and sixth runs from the top. Operational and work commitments were against us this year when trying to select an Army team. Despite contacting over twenty Army sliders we had to field a men’s team with two complete novices and a women’s team with only two sliders. Feeling the pressure from day one, especially after the Navy and RAF teams had been on the track for a week already, the team had a lot of catching up to do. The men’s and women’s team continued to improve their times throughout the week but were not as competitive as the other services and placed third. However, in the Combined Race, the Army were victorious and Sgt Nicki Moxon R SIGNALS and Capt James Nightingale 2 RTR won Gold medals. Ex RACING ICE I, the Novice Ice Sports camp, will be held in October/November 2012. Interested participants should contact Maj Belinda Robson, email skeleton@awsa.org.uk
‘Operational and work commitments were against us this year when trying to select an Army team’
Contact Skeleton Bobsleigh Chairman Maj PA McClellan RE Secretary Maj BNK Robson R SIGNALS e: skeleton@awsa.org.uk 32