Page 27 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

of pushing themselves much further than they hunting. When we got back to our skiing exploits,
thought they were. Looking forward, the Platoon has an exciting Live Fire Tactical Training package in the coming weeks and Final Exercise thereafter, which will be an excellent two week culmination to their training.
Capt Chris Cathcart, Ri es 6 Platoon Commander
The Ri es Of cers’ Skiing
The week before Christmas saw eight platoon commanders from Infantry Training Centre (ITC), current and alumni, travel to St Anton in Austria for a memorable ski trip. The group included Rob Baggott la Velle (self-designated OC of the trip and our natural leader), Aaron Dishman (Weather), Ian Cullen (Wine and Social), Rhys Evans (OC’s Signaller), Hugh Hemsley (Sports), Kenji Ara (Tourist), Calum Ashurst (Our man in the eld) and Andrew Jenkinson (Organic Instruction/Navigation). The group stayed at Chalet Rossana in the centre village and as the rst guests of the season we were treated fabulously by the staff.
After picking up our skis and passes we were on the rst lift The conditions on the slopes meant that we were restricted to the Pistes and you would often nd yourself carving past a green alpine pasture as you descended on to the lower runs. However the snow had been manicured very well. Despite this, the poor off-piste skiing gave us time to grab a beer and discuss the pros and cons of crocodile
Hugh Hemsley, our sports secretary, would spend the majority of his time practising his spear tackle on other members of the group, something the RFU is discussing banning in winter sports as a result.
After a long day on the slopes après ski would be spent in either Basecamp or the team favourite Krazy Kanguruh. During our rst night in Basecamp Andrew Jenkinson, our organic ski instructor and guide, used his local knowledge and charm to befriend members of the Dutch Hockey Team who were still months later drowning their sorrows after being beaten by Great Britain in the Olympic Final. This friendship that was fuelled by our love of the local beer secured more than a few good drinking competitions between Olympians and Ri eman. However the Hockey team and Ri es Of cers were not the only highly toned athletes who had chosen to test their metal against the steep slopes and deep steins of St Anton; the Saracens Rugby Team had also chosen the resort in order to rehearse their set piece before continuing their premiership dominance.
After a great week that involved multi-sport activ- ities, table dancing Olympians, high speed crashes and drinks with British and Irish Lions, the wounded group returned for Christmas with just our memories to get us through painful conversations with distant relatives.
Lt Rhys Evans, PTC 7 Platoon Commander
A GREAT WEEK THAT INVOLVED MULTI-SPORT ACTIVITIES, TABLE DANCING OLYMPIANS, HIGH SPEED CRASHES AND DRINKS WITH BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS
THE RIFLES
TRAINING 25