Page 33 - QARANC Vol 14 No 6 2013

THE GAZETTE QARANC 31
Armed Forces Parachute Championships - Jul 2012 - Netheravon
Despite operational deployments, Op OLYMPICS, on- call commitments and the wettest July for years the AMS was still able to enter a team of eight into the 2012 Armed Forces Parachute Championships at Netheravon, under the organisational wing of AMSSPA competitions secretary, Maj Matt Campbell.
A rain-sodden start to the week saw the squad repeatedly rehearse by ‘dirt diving’ in the hangar, and maintained on a diet of spring rolls, strong tea and hope. The weather never fully lifted, but there were enough gaps to allow the competition to progress.
The largest team event at the Championships is four- way formation skydiving, which sees a team of four working through a series of formations within a set time, with a point awarded for each successful formation. AMS ‘Black’, experienced jumpers Maj Mel Dando, Capt Kate Blethyn, Capt Alex Hall and SSgt Paul Wilson, competed in the ‘A’ category and after the eight rounds had secured a bronze medal. AMS ‘Red’, the ‘Rookie’ team of Maj Matt Campbell, Capt George Vargha, Capt Faye Thompson, Capt Nick Dennison and wildcard sub Capt Kate Blethyn, jumping together for the first time, had some good jumps but eventually finished in the middle of their field, with useful competition experience gained for the future. Elsewhere, AMS jumper Maj Si Guest won gold in the blue riband ‘AAA’ event jumping with the Army team, ‘Nemesis’.
In addition to four-way, AMS entered two individuals into the accuracy competition, which involves landing as close as possible to a target. In the junior category, for
The AMSSPA team collect their silverware at the Armed Forces Parachute Championships
jumpers with less than 100 jumps, Nick Dennison put in a strong start but was unable to complete the event due to a combination of weather and night shifts. After 6 jumps Maj Campbell emerged as the winner of this event, 1 Metre closer in aggregate than the 2nd placed jumper.
The Championships concluded with a parachute display, prize giving and unveiling of a stone to mark 50 years of the Army Parachute Association.
AMSSPA compete at National level
With some carefully timed Op HERRICK R&R, AMSSPA fielded a team at the British Parachute Association National Championships in Linconshire in August 2012. Despite very limited training together the “Army Medchicks” team took the brave move of entering the Senior category. With a massive learning curve for most of the team, as they learnt many new moves for the first time in competition, the team finished a very good 20th out of 75 teams competing, and second placed all female team.
If you are interested in the annual exercise, or any other aspects of AMSSPA, please email AMSSPA chair Maj Anna Hicks on annajlea@hotmail. com for further information.
“Army MedChicks” team of Maj Dando, Maj Hicks, cameraman WO2 Hogg, Capt Blethyn and Maj Hall competing at the National Championships