Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

Capt Claire Baker, Defence Force School of Signals, retained her ADF Champion Female Skier trophy in the blizzard at Mt Buller.
Photos provided by Maj Murray Nelson, Army Wintersports Team

Snowball effect
Army women’s ski team retains ADF title

ARMY alpine snow sports teams experienced mixed success at the recent Manugistics ADF Championships, where the men’s team lost to a strong Navy contingent, but managed to defeat the RAAF entrants.

The Army women’s team retained their title and also defeated the RAAF men’s team.

The competition comprised three events – slalom, giant slalom (GS) and a faster long GS with two runs in each event.

Races were conducted by the Mt Buller Race Deptartment and in accordance with strict international racing regulations supervised by the ADF organising committee, AASA.

Captain of the men’s team, Maj Murray Nelson, said skiers were competing for the individual’s trophy as well as overall team scores.

“All team members did well to manage fast times and avoid falling, which can happen if ambition overtakes judgment,” he said.

“It was unfortunate to lose to Navy, but they turned up with some excellent skiers and raced well.

“Unfortunately some of our better skiers were unable to be released this year but that’s the nature of the beast.”

The Army Champion Male trophy was awarded to Maj Chris Harrison who managed to maintain a narrow lead over Cpl Damon Lynch and Capt Dean Munsie.

The women’s team was again led by Capt Claire Baker, with Cpl Tina Lippmann emerging as this year’s rising star.

Capt Baker was quicker than almost every male competitor and retained the ADF Champion Female Skier trophy.

The team was enhanced by Lt Emily Greenwood on exchange with Ex Long Look 03 and the team stalwart Lt-Col Bunny Carrigan.

In the snowboarding competition the Army team were denied a win despite the efforts of Musn Lincoln Quilliam (ADF Champion) and Lt Anna Russell.

The Army team had done well throughout the competition, but a couple of mishaps in the final race gave victory to the RAAF by a narrow margin.

A Boarder Cross event on a purpose built course was the feature of the competition and was dominated by Musn Quilliam and LCpl Shane Schofield.

With a cloud still hanging over the accreditation of snowsports by the ADF Sports Committee (ADFSC) competitors couldn’t be sure they would return next year.

“I have no doubt that they would be impressed by the standard of the racing, how professionally it was conducted and how seriously the ADF members approach their racing.

“If we can retain our accreditation and sponsors, Logistic Solutions Australasia and Kellogg, Brown and Root, then we’ll be back next year, and hopefully with a clean sweep to Army.”

The championship sponsor, Manugistics, was complimentary of the event and the profile it attracts at Mt Buller, indicating its willingness to sponsor the event again.