Page 15 - 2017 AMA Summer

Capt Tania Noakes (R) and Ursula Moore, British Women’s Ski Mountaineering The ascent of the Rosablanche couloir during the 2014 Patrouille des Glaciers Team, World Championships 2017
familiar to Army personnel as the home of the Army Ski Championships. In 2004 the second edition was held in Val d’Aran in Spain. During this event, our own Major Nigel Mockridge (RE) competed in the four man British team, which placed 17th out of 29 teams overall. Roll forwards to this winter, and Captain Tania Noakes (Oxford University OTC) competed at the 2017 world championships as part of the British women’s team. The championships were held in Alpago-Piancavallo Italy from 23 February to the 4th March, and involved athletes from 25 nations participating in 5 races: Individual, Team, Sprint, Vertical Sprint and Relay. This was Tania’s first foray into racing at the world championship level. The competition from the much larger squads from the Alpine nations was both daunting and inspiring at the same time! In the Individual Tania managed to place first GB female and then partnered with Ursula Moore in the Team Race to achieve 11th place.
Lt Col Pete Davis and Maj Nigel Mockridge at the Col de Riedmatten above Arolla, halfway around the 2014 Patrouille des Glaciers
The “Triple Crown” of races world-wide (collectively known as “La Grande Course”) are the Patrouille des Glaciers (PdG) held biennially in Switzerland, the Trofeo Mezzalama in Italy which alternates with the PdG, and the Pierra Menta which is held over four days annually in France. In the PdG, teams of 3 compete against each other on the 56 kilometre course across the Valais Alps from Zermatt to Verbier, at altitudes exceeding 3,500m. It is the premier sporting event in the Swiss Military calendar, and originated in 1943, when it was designed as a competition to test the readiness of Swiss mountain troops and their ability to reinforce border villages during World War II. Today the Swiss invite European neighbour nations to each send three representative military teams, and I have had the honour to lead teams from the British Army in both the 2014 and 2016 editions (sadly, the 2016 edition was cancelled due to adverse weather and snow conditions on the eve of the event).
Major Nigel Mockridge and Jon Morgan, British Ski Mountaineering Team, Val d’Aran, Spain 2002
Lt Col Pete Skinsley has been instrumental in establishing Sport Climbing within the Services. It has a foot in both camps: it is simultaneously sport and AT. Folk may be introduced to rock climbing through AT, but they can then choose to enjoy it as competition as well as in its most traditional form for its own sake. It is my hope that those of you who become hooked on ski mountaineering now have this option too, and that we will establish an Army Ski Mountaineering Team to compete on the UK and international circuits. To this end, if this excites you, please write to me and indicate your interest at: petedavis@ doctors.net.uk. I look forwards to hearing from you!
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to Col Nick Richardson, Commander ATG (A), to Col Paul Edwards, Chairman AMA and to Lt Col Fiona Gordon, CO Oxford University OTC for their support to Ski Mountaineering in recent events.
British Women’s Ski Mountaineering Team, World Championships Alpago-Piancavallo, Italy 2017
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