RAOC Gazette - page 207
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1983 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1983 |
| Late date | 1983 |
| Transcription |
THE RHINE ARMY PARACHUTE CHAMPIONSHIPS IT is with pride that we report that the RAOC Free Fall Parachute Team ' The Canonballs' won all but one of the trophies in the 1983 BAOR Parachute Championships. The impressive list of achievements are:—Winners of the Chiswell Cup for BAOR Team Acccuracy, runners-up BAOR four man Relative Work. Winner in Individual Accuracy—Sergeant Slater, runner-up In- dividual Accuracy—Lance Corporal Hutchinson. Winner in the Style event—Sergeant Slater, runner-up Individual Style—Lance Corporal Hutchinson. Overall BAOR Champion—Sergeant Slater. The team started training during the end of May and early June with a total of one hundred and thirty seven training jumps completed, the majority from twelve thousand feet practicing both relative team work and accuracy. Final selection was narrowed down to Captain Hawthorne, Sergeant Slater, Corporal Ziverts and Lance Corporal Hutchinson with Sergeant Frew as the alternative. Captain Ough took part in the training but was unable to compete in the Championships because of work com- mitments. Sergeant Slater was selected for the Army Accuracy Team to attend the Spanish Army Competition in June gaining his Spanish Parachute Wings which we believe is a first for the Corps. It must also be added that due to his hard work and dedication the team reached an extremely high standard during the training and were at peak performance for the BAOR Competition. Two competitions are run concurrently during the RAPA Championships, Open and BAOR. A total of forty seven teams participated in the Open (World Class) event with six Army teams from UK and BAOR, four teams from the United Arab Emerates, three Dutch teams, two Belgian teams, one from Denmark and the remainder from Germany and UK. The RAOC team was seventh in the Open relative work event and eleventh in the Open accuracy event which against world class teams is highly commendable. The only service team above them in the Open event was the Army Team ' Blue Moves.' The competition consists of ten accuracy jumps from three thousand two hundred feet flying the parachute onto an electronic pad with a five centimetre disc at dead centre, ten relative work jumps consisting of four men falling from nine thousand feet and joining into five set formations, during free fall and the style event which is three jumps from seven thousand feet with a single jumper completing right turns, left turns and back loops twice in succession in the fastest possible time. The Air- craft used in the competition were the JSPC Turbine Islander, the Cessua 206 from JSPC Netheravon and a gigantic CH53 provided by the German Army. Brigadier Paviour and Mrs Paviour visited the team during the competition, a jumpsuit was found for Mrs Paviour plus a pair of regulation green wellies, three parachutes were also provided, and the Brigadier, Mrs Paviour plus staff car driver were taken to watch seven teams jump a round of accuracy from the CH53 at three thousand two hundred feet. They now know why the saying was coined ' only skydivers know why birds sing.' The team is very grateful for the support from the Corps Central fund for the donation of £2,515 for new parachutes of advanced design, manufactured in the Corps colours of red blue and red to both enhance the displays given to the public of which ten have already been completed this year and also bring the equipment up to the same standard as those teams they compete against in competition. The Cannonballs are currently planning to travel to Cyprus to compete in the CCSPC Championships and eventually The RAOC Parachute Team with Trophies won at the Rhine Army Parachute Championships: Sergeant Frew, Captain Hawthorne, Lance Corporal Hutchinson, Sergeant Slater and Corporal Ziverts. train during the winter and spring to enter the Army Champion- ships in 1984. The display team is available for displays in BAOR at open days fetes and sports days, details of costs and available dates can be obtained from Captain G. Hawthorne at 2 Aircraft Support Unit, Detmold 439. ' Cannon- ball ' teeshirts are also available from the same addreses at DM20 or £5 incl postage. ORDER NOW FOR CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CARD THE Corps Christmas Card is available now from the RAOC Secretariat and from the BAOR Supply Secretariat for sale at 20 pence (add UK postage charges:—10 cards 27p; 20 cards 51p, 30 cards 78p). Cheques payable to THE RAOC GAZETTE. Units may place orders for supply on credit and collect post free. All profits go to the RAOC Aid Society. BROOCHES RAOC Cypher Brooches should be ordered now by Officers' Club Members who wish to give a truly memorable Christmas gift. Brooches are made up individually so eight weeks should be allowed from date of order. Prices are at present:— Hall marked silver £39.85 Hall marked silver and coloured enamels £55.60 Silver Gilt and coloured enamels £63.10 9 carat gold £83.75 9 carat gold and coloured enamels £110.00 . A safety chain can be fitted at a moderate extra charge if included in the order. Allow 15% for VAT (UK addresses) and £2.00 post and packing. Please send your order, no money at this stage, to the RAOC Secretariat, Blackdown Barracks, Deepcut, Camberiey, Surrey GUI6 6RW. — 172 — |
| Book number | R0406 |