Australian Government, Department of Defence

Navy put in a determined effort at the Interservice Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Championship at Victoria’s Mount Hotham in August.

Women’s team captain LCDR Wendy Hughes said the team included people who had never skiied or fired a sports rifle before.

“We had a lot of fun in the process of teaching the group to the point where we could compete against the other Services,” LCDR Hughes said.

“Because the competition catered for beginners by having novice races, the novices contributed as much as more experienced skiers.”

Combining cross-country skiing with sports shooting, biathlon may be tough but provides competitors with the chance to have fun while exploring Australia’s alpine winter wonderland.

Weather conditions for this year’s championship were significantly better than last year, with good snowfall coupled with sunny days.

The three Services fought hard during the various events, with Army taking the Overall Trophy.

“Everyone tried hard and consistently put in a good effort,” LCDR Hughes said.

One of the more interesting events was the Patrol, involving teams of four.

“The patrol is a unique race, based on military patrols in the snow in the northern hemisphere,” LCDR Hughes said. “It has become a navigation and observation exercise, there’s shooting involved and some fitness but all of that comes together only if you have strong teamwork.”

Although most of the events centred on Australia’s only biathlon range at Whiskey Flats, the relay race was held at the Mt Hotham village.

“It’s a relatively short race where you can see the competitors almost the whole way through so it makes it much more exciting,” LCDR Hughes said.

“There was a lot of enthusiastic cheering and it gets the mountain community into it.”

One of Hotham’s visitors enjoying the race, Stephanie Giffard of Yarra Valley, described the event as “great entertainment”.

“It makes you realise how fit they are,” Ms Giffard said.

Although it was very much a team effort in the relay, newcomer AB Michael Evans stood out.

“He showed determined effort,” LCDR Hughes said.

“He fell and crawled across the finish line.”

Interested in having fun, trying something different and meeting new people? For more information go to www.navy.gov.au/sport/nordic.html or http://intranet.defence.gov.au/RaafWeb/sites/ADFNBA/ or email wendy.hughes@defence.gov.au

Awards — Track Trophy: Air Force men, Air Force women. Biathlon: Army men, Air Force women. Novice: Army men, Army women.Patrol: Army men, Air Force women. Overall: Army, Air Force, Navy.