OUR military ski teams have returned from France, where they were taking part in Exercise Spartan Hike, the Land Forces skiing competition.

There were mixed results, this having been a year when most of our units have been deployed on operations, but some good starts have been made in identifying new talent and building teams.

On the Alpine front, the King’s Royal Hussars team came second overall and first in Southern Command, followed by 1 RHA is sixth place overall and second in the Southern Division.

In the Downhill, Captain J Williamson of KRH was third with Sergeant Cucksey of 1 RHA eleventh.

In the final seedings, Captain Williamson came seventh overall and Corporal Rix and Staff Sergeant Stewart of Perham Down-based 26 Engineer Regiment were twelfth and thirteenth respectively.

Lance Bombardier Kieran Allport of Larkhill-based 32 Regt RA summed up the spirit of the Alpine: “I started off seeded 148th, but I have managed to get that down to 98th. It has been a great competition and I have learned a lot.”

In the Nordic disciplines, 17 Port & Maritime Regiment RLC from Marchwood Military Port (near Southampton) continued to dominate in all events, but the Royal Welsh put up an excellent showing, coming fourth in the Men’s Classic Cross Country Relay and also in the Men’s Biathlon, with Colour Sergeant Clemens coming in as the second individual .

Gunner Kelly of Tidworth-based 1 RHA came eighth in the Ladies Individual Cross Country.

In the Blue Ribbon event, the Military Patrol Race, Royal Welsh came seventh, with 2 RTR from Tidworth eighth and 4 RIFLES fifteenth.

Lance Corporal Dan Fuller from the Royal Tank Regiment said: “I really enjoy it. It is the best sport that I have ever done. I am glad to have got as far as I have. I came sixth in the classic, which was great.”