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Navy rules the slopes – again
Volume 50, No. 18, October 04, 2007 |
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| WINNERS ARE GRINNERS: The 2007 Navy Nordic Skiing and Biathlon team — back row: Kerryn Rim (coach), LEUT Chris Cole, CMDR Sean O’Dwyer, ABBM Michael Evans, POET Peter Sutton, LCDR Wendy Hughes, CAPT (Army) Daryl Johnson (Chief of Race) and RADM Peter Purcell (coach). Front row: ABCSO David Jensen, CMDR Martin Linsley, LSCSO Craig O’Callaghan and CPOET Ian Waller. |
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Members of the Navy Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Team won back the Interservice Kos Tour Trophy from Army in the Kosciusko Tour Race on Sunday, September 2.
The Navy team, comprising CPOET Ian Waller, LCDR Wendy Hughes and LEUT Chris Cole, competed against about 40 competitors.
The Kosciusko Tour is an annual Australian point-to-point cross-country ski race from Thredbo to Perisher.
It has been contested since 1977 and is organised by the Canberra Cross-Country Ski Club.
The Interservice trophy has been hotly contested since the very first race, with Navy winning it 13 times, Army nine times and RAAF three times. The tour attracts social skiers as well as elite Australian Olympic representatives and defence competitors.
This year’s race began in marginal conditions but finished sunny and warm.
The tour started above the village of Thredbo behind the Top Station of the Kosciusko Express Chairlift.
Competitors were subjected to an 88km headwind combined with a wind chill factor of -18 degrees C and sheet ice while traversing the first 2km climb almost to the summit of Kosciusko.
Then followed a predominately downhill traverse in beautiful sunshine and a light tailwind along the Kosciusko Summit Road through to Charlottes Pass to finish at Perisher; a distance of 18km.
The friendly atmosphere of the tour continued through to the presentation at Blue Cow’s “Top Spot” after the race, which provided an opportunity for skiers to catch up with old friends.
Notable Navy competitors results were; LCDR Wendy Hughes with a time of 1.37.50 and as the third-fastest female overall and first in her age group; LEUT Chris Cole with 2.0.27 and second in his age group and CPOET Ian Waller with 1.44.07 and fifth in his age group.
The Navy Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Team competes every year in the annual interservice competition as well as a number of civilian races, notably the Kangaroo Hoppet and the Kosciusko Tour. For further information go to http://www.navy.gov.au/sport/nordic.html or email CPOET Ian Waller at navysport.nordic@defence.gov.au |
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