Page 62 - The Light Dragoon 2024

LDs patrol race team Army Championships
Cpl Appleton assesses the altitude at the Col de Lautaret
The Light Dragoons Nordic Ski Team has once again showcased their expert skill through the loipes of Norway, France and Germany. Donning their streamlined race suits and fast glasses, the team has represented the regiment at the Royal Armoured Corps, Divisional and Army Championships. When training first began in November 2023 in the tranquil fells of Bietostolen, the team quickly settled into a comfortable routine. This included mobility work before breakfast led by our resident PTIs Cpl Biggins and Cpl Appleton, a distance ski of around two and half hours in the morning, followed by a two-hour strength/technique or biathlon combination session in the afternoon led by our expert coaches.
From complete novices at the start of the week to skiing 15km loops around the hills of Bietostolen, the team was seen to pick up the basics of classic and skate technique and how to fire the .22 biathlon rifle very well. All coaches commented on the exceptionally positive attitudes of our skiers as well as their willingness to learn. Other lessons being quickly learnt were the quality of the local spa facilities and which Scandinavian ales would aid the recovery of tired limbs after a long week of skiing. You’d be mistaken to think that we’d rather be in Verbier, and it wouldn’t take long to convert any alpine skier to the Nordic way of life after our time in the snowy hills of Norway. The distances covered within our sessions increased daily, whilst the temper- ature followed suit by dropping severely to -22 degrees. Each member of the team would have to adapt to the weather and learn how to compete to their best ability despite the extremes of our training environment.
The determination of our team carried us from one successful race to the next, and by the end of our time in Norway our energy was spent but our excitement for RAC and Divisional Championships in Serre Chevalier only doubled. Our time in Serre Chevalier saw the team finish 3rd overall at the RAC championships, with
our Team Captain, Capt. Fraser Ellis taking an impressive 2nd place in Best male Skier. Though equally commendable was Tpr Fowlie’s award for outstanding effort and attitude throughout the season, awarded by the coaching staff who had followed us from Norway. With no time to indulge in evenings filled with fondue and red wine just yet, the Divisional Championships left us with no time to waste. The team partici- pated in events which included a 10km individual XC, a 10km individual skate, two team relay events in either discipline and a final 20km patrol race through the valley of Serre Chevalier. By the end of the ten days of racing the team sat down together for a well-deserved fondue after finishing 8th out of 32 two teams and quali- fying for the British Army Championships in Ruhpolding, Germany.
In Ruhpolding the conditions proved challenging, with warm and wet condi- tions reducing the snow footprint to a 3km slush loop in the stadium by day 5. All too soon we longed for the hills of Norway and the sub-zero conditions. However, the thought of high level of competition, finishing the season strongly and a free local spa-pass allowed us to push on to the finish line. In the competition’s ‘blue- ribbon event’, the Patrol Race, we finished 9th overall. Our very own Captain Fraser Ellis took away 3rd place across the entire competition in the British Biathlon Union category, whilst also being invited to train and compete as part of the British Army Nordic Performance Team.
All in all, the Light Dragoons finished 17th overall at the Army Championships. A ranking which represented the hard work, grit and determination that had been displayed by our athletes before our deployment to Norway, during all of our training and on race days. The team looks forwards now to biathlon training during the summer months and conditioning themselves for the 24/25 Ski season, all to ensure the further success within this fantastic sport.
F Lennon
Nordic Skiing
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Capt Ellis reflects on his shooting performance
Lt Lennon steadies his aim
Team LDs post RAC Championships prizegiving