Lincolnshire soldiers compete in bobsleigh championships
When serving Queen and country in the military, the perceived wisdom is never to volunteer for anything.
Thankfully, for two part-time Lincolnshire soldiers who did step forward, their task was not latrine duty.
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Instead, they found themselves hurtling down a bobsleigh run at 70mph in the British Army championships in Austria.
Complete novices Michael Morris, 20, from Sleaford, and Sam Pemberton, 19, from Cranwell, finished seventh out of nine teams with less than a second between first and eighth place.
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Brakeman Mr Morris, who is about to join the Royal Engineers regulars, said: “Getting involved just happened randomly.
“We were on parade when the sergeant major asked if
anyone wanted to go bobsleighing.
“We volunteered and, after a week at ice camp, we were invited back for the championships at the end of February for a further week.
“We are the first Royal Anglians to bobsleigh in 20 years.
“You race for less than a minute but you’re going 70mph.
“It’s so addictive that you can’t wait to go again.
“We were invited back next year and I’m hoping to get into the British Army bobsleigh team.”
The Territorial Army privates from B (Lincolnshire) Company of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, were up against crack sportsmen from the Parachute Regiment and Royal Tank Regiment.
Their combined weight of 157kg meant additional 30kg weight bars had to be fixed to their bobsleigh so it could run properly on the ice.
Bobsleigh driver Mr Pemberton, who has signed up to join the Royal Engineers regulars, said: “Before you set off you worry a bit but once you start you don’t really think about the danger – the adrenalin rush is massive.
“We had a couple of crashes at the ice camp but then got the hang of it.”
2 Comments
by Menshy
Saturday, March 23 2013, 8:43PM
“Pru_Freda. As an aside, you're wrong. Philosophically duty must be accepted in order to exist therefore it is voluntary in that you have choice. As Britain's armed forces are not conscripted they all accept military duties voluntarily. It is common practice in the army that participation in sports is mostly voluntary - once you've volunteered you are duty bound to attend training and competetive events.
As a mild pedant myself I find taking the time to check you're on firm ground before wading in helps prevent your sinking in the mire looking imbecilic.”
by Pru_Freda
Saturday, March 23 2013, 12:41PM
“"Thankfully, for two part-time Lincolnshire soldiers who did step forward, their task was not latrine duty."
"We were on parade when the sergeant major asked if anyone wanted to go bobsleighing."
Imbecilic journalism at its best.
Oh, and as an aside, nobody is asked to volunteer for duty. It is a duty, as the name suggests.”