Page 63 - The Bugle 2018

Nordic Skiing Team
For the third consecutive year, a Rifles battalion claimed the Infantry Nordic Championships in Bessans, France. This year was the turn of the Third Battalion as the Team fought off strong compe- tition from 4 SCOTS to claim the title. The activity continued to consist of cross country skiing and biathlon with a combination of races making up the various meets. Covering harsh terrain followed by precision shooting whilst tired tests Riflemen of all ranks in unfamiliar conditions.
The Infantry undertook a five-week training camp in Idre Fjall, Sweden capitalising on International Biathlon Union quality training facilities to hone already seasoned skiers and rapidly develop novices. The nine-strong squad was whittled down to six for deployment to France in late December as the race seasons started up. Strong performances from LCpl Wiseman saw him come Infantry Nordic Combined Runner-Up and Rfn Boulton secure the accolade of Infantry Cross Country Champion. In Novice categories it was Rfn O’Neill who starred, emerging as the overall Infantry Novice Combined Champion. This feat was complemented by Rfn Hobury who took away the Infantry Junior Combined trophy.
Safe passage through the Divisional meet to the Army Championships in Ruhpolding, Germany was secured and the Team battled the World Cup tracks of the Bavarian town to claim 8th in the Army; the Infantry’s highest placement in the last ten years. Amongst exceptionally tough compe- tition LCpl Wiseman concluded the season ranked 16th in British Biathlon Union Club standings and Rfn O’Neill finished the racing programme as the 8th Novice in the Army 2018.
3 RIFLES delivered an incredibly strong set of results throughout the season to finish proceedings with the Army Championship Best Infantry Team trophy. In what is a sport close to the core of Infan-
teering The Rifles have continued to assert their dominance over other Infantry units and the future looks promising.
Andrew Miller
Nordic Team Captain 3 RIFLES
THE RIFLES
THIRD BATTALION 69
A 3 RIFLES Skier battles through the snow on route to the range
Alpine Skiing Team
3 RIFLES Alpine team returned to Val d’Isere for the Infantry Championships with something of a regain to make. A run of bad luck and navigational errors during the 2016-17 season saw them disqualified. The team this year was made up of four returning skiers and four novices. Unfortunately Cpl Smith of B Company, who had won gold in the downhill at the Army Semi-Finals was unable to return due to injury. The team pressed on despite missing its star player.
The Alps had had an extraordinary season with the resort closed for three days due to the avalanche risk. However, this did not stop the would-be Herman Mayers and after a month of race training, interspersed with a few days of powder skiing the racing started. The main lesson taken forward from last season was that skiing consistently paid off big time and in this respect the team nailed it, 6th in Slalom 5th in Giant Slalom and 4th in Super G meant the team came 4th overall out of the 27 teams on the hill. Up to this point Lt Brash had been leading the 3 RIFLES pack, however this was all about to change.
With the Infantry Championships finished the team packed up the show and headed off to Serre Chevalier for the Army Semi-Finals at Exercise SPARTAN HIKE. The standard increased and Rfn Jones and LCpl Harding rose to the challenge both pulling off some blinding performances. Much to the rest of the teams delight Lt Brash began to flounder under the pressure and failed to qualify for the Army Finals leaving LCpl Harding to wave the Rifles banner and represent the regiment as part of the Infantry team.
With operational commitments on the horizon it may not be until the 2019-20 season that the 3 RIFLES Alpine team gets back in the start hut. With the firm foundations set this year you can guarantee when they do return it will be worth a watch!
Lt Brash, Alpine Team Captain 3 RIFLES