This winter, the King’s Troop RHA deployed a team of four women to compete in Nordic Skiing and biathlon as part of a regimental strategy to boost retention and provide soldiers with personal development opportunities off season. This was the first time that the Troop had competed in the sport in recent years. Thanks to generous funding from the Foundation, the team were able to deploy to Norway in November fully equipped with the quality skis, poles and race suits required to set them up for success.
Team members, led by Captain Yolande Rowson (RSC), had their work cut out learning to cross country ski from scratch on Ex NORDIC GUNNER, the RA pre-season training programme in Norway. Having sufficiently impressed in training, they were allowed to progress to Ex PIPEDOWN, the inter-unit championships held in Les Contamines, France. Here the team went from strength to strength, scooping up the best novice team prize in both relay races and coming 3rd in the gruelling Patrol Race which saw them skiing 20km carrying 10kg with an SA80, completing command tasks en route. The exercise culminated in the qualification of two team members, Gnr Charlie Owen-Sanders and Captain Yolande Rowson, qualifying as part of the RA Womens’ Team for the Army Championships held in Ruhpolding, Germany. Here the team achieved several notable successes including coming second in the 30km Patrol Race and out-shooting the male teams to win best shot overall with Gnr Owen-Sanders being selected for the Army Development squad.