Page 46 - 1RHA 2024

The 2023/24 Alpine season saw the arrival of a new Team Captain in Lt Johnson (CHTP) supported by her trusted 2IC, Bdr Cottrell (OHQ Bty). Of the team of six, Bdr Cottrell was the only member with previous racing experience, with four race seasons under her belt. The rest of the team was made up by Bdr Gallimore (OHQ Bty), LBdr Rowe (E Bty), Gnr Brison (OHQ Bty) and Gnr Gleed (OHQ Bty).
Not only was this the first year of racing for most, but it was also Bdr Gallimore and Gnr Gleed’s first time on skis. 1RHA has a strong history of success at the Gunner Championships so the team knew it was important to get some good training in to pre- pare them for some tough and experienced competition this year.
The Gunners returned to the home of Royal Artillery Alpine in Les Deux Alpes having spent the previous season in Alp D’Huez. After the standard 15-hour journey from Larkhill with stops in Dover and Calais and having collected 2 trolleys worth of food shopping in Grenoble, the team made it to their accommodation. The next morning, the team eagerly arrived at the Jandri Express lift with an intense 3-week training period lying ahead of them, led by instructors from the Ecole de Ski Francais (ESF). The train- ing block consisted of preparation for Slalom, Giant Slalom (GS) and Super G, covering both technical skills, mental resilience, and teaching of race rules.
The weeks were challenging with conditions ranging from blue- bird champagne snow days to whiteouts and sheet ice slalom courses. The team saw vast improvements in their skiing abil- ity and their confidence continued to build. LBdr Rowe’s crash rate halved and Lt Johnson’s tendency to scream while racing increased.
Unfortunately for Gnr Gleed her enthusiasm and dedication were outweighed by her lack of ability to stay on skis as she took a tumble whilst with her group, two weeks into training. Convinced she had broken a bone and was therefore unable to ski to the bot- tom, she put the insurance to good use and was swiftly evacuated from the mountain. Upon arrival at the local hospital, it was con- firmed that her wrist was fractured and just like that, 6 became 5. The team were sad to see this rapid end to her alpine season but hopefully she returns to fulfil her potential in the future.
The training culminated in a Giant Slalom (GS) seeding race which would see the individual results (combined with previous seed points from Army competitions for some) form the start- ing order for the Gunner Championships post-Christmas. Lt Van- beck, recently posted into The Chestnut Troop, 1RHA showed his copious talent as the forerunner, comfortably setting the fastest time for the course. Sadly, he was unable to compete as a racer
1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Alpine Skiing Lieutenant K Johnson RHA
Bdr Cottrell on her way to a silver medal in the Super G Event
1RHA Alpine Team after completing the GS Event
A morning of GS
44