Navy kings of Kosciusko Tour

Navy team member LEUT Shona Muir in action during the recent inter-Service cross country titles.

Another of the Navy team members, CPOET Ralph Loeding, pushing through the snow.

For the first time in five years, Navy has won the inter-Service trophy for cross-country skiing in the classic Kosciusko Tour race.

The result was determined by the aggregate time of each team’s three competitors.

The Navy ‘Guns’ team consisting of Ralph Loeding, Garry Lewis and Tim Baird triumphed over the other Navy, military and civilian service teams.

The Kosciusko Tour race has been run since 1977 and attracts social as well as elite Australian Olympian and Defence competitors.

This year’s race was held in sunny, windy and soft conditions. It started above the village of Thredbo with a two-kilometre climb almost to the summit of Kosciusko.

Then followed a predominantly downhill traverse and across Charlottes Pass to finish at Spencers Creek (some four kilometres short of the normal finish at Perisher - due to limited snow cover).

Notable Navy competitors were Tim Baird, who won the male 20-30 age group (despite breaking a binding), Zoe Rose (first in female 20-30 age group) and Shona Muir (third in female 20-30 age group).

The day before the tour, the Navy Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Team competed at the Laser Biathlon Championships at Perisher.

Two team members, Tim Baird and Garry Lewis, finished in the top ten.

The Navy Nordic Ski and Biathlon Association would like to thank the ADF Sports Council, RAN Central Canteens Board, RAN Ski Club, and HMAS Harman and Kuttabul for supporting this activity.

.