Page 185 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Skydiving

By Captain Sean Sapsford association, one of the toughest and most
exciting disciplines in the sport. Freefly

involves flying at higher speeds in body
Despite the team having members committed to positions other than the normal belly to
Operation Shader, Operation Tosca, Operation earth orientation. Colonel Mark Lindsay-
Trenton and Loan Service to Oman, this has been Smith put his skills to the test learning to sit

fly, while Captain Laura Wealsby, Warrant

the most successful year for the Corps Skydiving to Officer Class 2 Joey Hancock and Corporal
date. Iain Grant tried to master some artistic

moves while also learning to fly head down.
The event was a great success. Thanks to
Jimmy McCarthy (JST Coaching Ltd) for his
excellent mentoring and the Hurricane

Championships Factory staff for looking after the team so

well – the 2019 Freefly competition season
looks promising.
The year started with team selection following a
successful 2017, where the Corps ran Exercise Deland Awards

Descent which qualified ten new skydivers into the
sport. A team of the newly qualified ‘Rookies’ stood The season saw SkydiveAGC secure gold AGC Blue about to board

up with the aim to compete at the Armed Forces and silver across a number of disciplines the plane before the last
Championships; with a second team comprising of more competition jump of the Armed
experienced jumpers, aiming to compete in the United and competition; setting the foundation Forces Championships
for every success in 2019.
Kingdom National Championships following our team
Bronze in the 2015 United Kingdom Skydiving League.
Individual and work commitments quickly saw the Armed Forces Parachute Colonel Mark
teams amalgamate to form AGC Blue ahead of the first Championships – Gold Lindsay-

training weekend, led by Corporal Mike Veevers. Smith and
Colonel Mark Lindsay-Smith, Captain Sean Captain Sean

Excelling Sapsford, Staff Sergeant Kelly-Ann O’Donnell, Sapsford
Corporal Mike Veevers, Corporal Gemma after the last
Our Skydivers have further excelled this year with Summers, Corporal Stacey Briggs, Corporal accuracy
jump of the
Corporal Stacey Briggs and Corporal Gemma Gemma Perkins and Corporal Iain Grant. competition
Perkins competing as part of the Army Four-Way
Formation Skydiving Development Team ‘Volt4ge’. Armed Forces Parachute
The AGC Sports Lance Corporal Kerrie McGeown, sought out every Championships – Silver
Parachute opportunity to train with our sister skydive association
Association on the SapperSkydive. Sergeant Liz Warner continued as both Colonel Mark Lindsay-Smith, Major Steve
winner’s podium at a British Parachute Association and Army Parachute Marsh, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joey Hancock,

the Armed Forces Association judge. Corporal Iain Grant and Warrant Staff Sergeant Kelly-Ann O’Donnell, Corporal

Championships

Officer Class 2 Joey Hancock were trying their hand at Mike Veevers, Corporal Gemma Summers,

arguably the sport’s toughest discipline, Freefly. Their Corporal Iain Grant and Lance Corporal
success accelerated beyond even their own expectations, Kerrie McGeown.
quickly identifying them – and the discipline – for
representation at the Armed Forces Championships as UK Skydiving League – Bronze
AGC Black. Major Steve Marsh, one of the longest serving
members of the team continued his involvement in Corporal Stacey Briggs and Corporal Gemma
Wingsuiting, gaining a Silver Medal at the Armed Forces Perkins.
Wingsuit Championships before any of the junior teams
took to the sky. Individual Achievements
Not everyone in the team had to battle personal and Colonel Mark Lindsay-Smith has been
work commitments to go jumping. Sergeant Colin appointed Vice Chairman of the Army
Jenkins is currently employed as the Wing Senior Non Parachute Association.

Commissioned Officer at the Joint Service Parachute
Wing in Netheravon, delivering training and progression Sergeant Colin Jenkins gained his
to members of the armed forces under the Joint Service Accelerated Freefall instructor rating,
Adventure Training scheme. This residential posting tracking coach qualification, 1,300th jump,

has enabled him to become the most qualified Corps attended two overseas expeditions and

Skydiver with many instructional qualifications that the has become the first Corps Official Army

Corps will be able to draw upon in the future for both Parachute Display Jumper since Corporal
expeditions and displays. Debbie Ingle.
Left to Right: – Kelly-
Ann O’Donnell, Exercise Flying Lion 2018 Michael Coleman (Team Cameraman)
Sean Sapsford, medalled with AGC Blue, filmed for teams

Mike Veevers Exercise Flying Lion was a progression camp held in at the National Championships and took
(Team Captain) and Slovakia from 16th to 20th October 2018. The focus of his skills to the European Skydiving League
Gemma Summers
the camp was to develop the Freefly skill set within the filming the winning team.

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