Towergate Wilsons help make it happen!

The Army Alpine Championships in Serre Chevalier, France followed near record attendance at the two Divisional ski meetings and produced a field of some 121 competitors including 18 unit teams, 9 women and 4 disabled skiers, and this is at a time when the army is heavily committed. This is testament to the value the chain of command puts on such activities to provide that welcome break from operational duty and help with decompression and maintain essential morale and esprit de corps. There were also many soldiers that were either novices (not been on snow before this season) or juniors and it is always inspiring to see the courage it takes to attack the course on the speed events on what is an extremely challenging, world cup level piste.

The event was very well supported by sponsors and VIPs alike with them all having their chance to pit their wits and skills against each other in the KBR sponsored President’s Race held on the Wednesday afternoon. Whilst many might suspect some imaginative judging and scoring might have played a part, it was the CinC, Gen Sir Peter Wall and his six man team, the “CinC’s Select” that beat the other 9 teams and took top spot in this fun race!

As for the main prizes it was the Logistic Regiments from the RLC that again showed their dominance with Capt Matt Shepherd taking the overall individual crown and Maj Mel Hilton being the women's champion. Following the Army Championships the Army men's and women's teams competed at Maribel in the Inter Services' event where both  looked likely to come out overall champions just ahead of the RAF. It was indeed an extremely close competition with the men just pulling through but the women finishing runner up to the RAF.

Whilst this was the Alpine races, there have been 7 other disciplines providing the opportunity for many soldiers to hurl down snow or ice tracks or test their sheer stamina and shooting skills in the Nordic events. The majority of the racers and teams have now taken out their insurance cover with Towergate Wilsons who, amongst the other Prime AWSA sponsors, have been pivotal to underpinning the financial position of the AWSA and its ability to stage 8, professionally run winter sports championship events ranging from Luge to snowboard to Nordic and alpine. It is well recognised by competitors and official alike, without such generous sponsorship such opportunities could not continue on the same scale or manner as today. So it is with a huge thank you from the uniformed fraternity for the moral and financial support to enable it to happen.

Tim Wakefield
Lt Col
SO1 Customer Liaison DE Ops (S)