Bobsleigh 2025

This year, the UKAF WSA Ice Championships returned to Norway and the Olympic Bobsleigh Track just outside Lillehammer. The Championships were held here in 2023, but for most of the Service athletes, this was their first experience of the thrills of the track. The track is located 15 km north of Lillehammer and was completed in 1992, hosting the Winter Olympic Games in 1994 and the Youth Olympic Games in 2016. It measures 1,710 m in length with 16 corners, and bobsleighs can reach speeds of up to 128 km/h. Every bobsleigh track has its challenges, and corner 13 at Lillehammer is the one most talked about—and respected.

The Championships followed two weeks on ice for RN Bobsleigh (Ice Camp) and a week on ice for the Army and RAF teams. Temperatures varied greatly between the first and third weeks of sliding. During the first week, temperatures dropped to -12 degrees Celsius, while in the third week—the UKAF WSA Championships week—afternoon training sessions saw temperatures rise to +12 degrees Celsius. This had the effect of slowing down the track, and the experienced track team worked hard to maintain ice quality to ensure a successful two days of racing. One highlight of pre-race training was Lt Col Karl Johnston RM (Vice President Ice RNWSA) dusting off his ice spikes, coming out of brakeman retirement to push his nephew, AB Harry Johnston, who was competing in his first year as a driver for the RN. It truly was a family affair as the RN/RM bobsleigh team was coached by Lee Johnston—Harry’s dad and Karl’s brother.

The format for Ice Championship week remained the same as previous years, with training from Monday to Wednesday. All three Services had plenty of opportunity for additional runs as the track was block-booked each afternoon for bobsleigh training. This enabled novice drivers to gain valuable experience on the track. The race draw took place after sliding on Wednesday, where the start list for the first run was drawn. The start list for the second day of sliding (third run) was a reverse of the first run’s race draw. The second run and final run started with the slowest bob to the fastest, always making for a nail-biting conclusion to any Championships. The Championships follow the World Championships format with four race runs over two days. One difference is that on day two, start order is based on old World Championship rules (reverse of day one draw) to ensure no team gains an unfair advantage with better ice conditions.

In the women’s race, the RN had one team while both the Army and RAF fielded two teams each. This meant all teams competed for the Individual trophy but only Army and RAF contested the Team trophy. The rules allow three sleds from each Service to race, with the fastest two counting towards team results. In the men’s race, all three Services entered four bobsleighs each; to qualify for the team trophy, four sleds must slide with the fastest three counting. An incredible amount of pre-race preparation took place with hours spent polishing runners and ensuring all sleds were in optimal condition ahead of race day. We welcomed several senior military visitors from all three Services and were supported by a BFBS crew (thank you Simon and Craig), who provided regular race reports over both days. It was fantastic to see Brig Steff Crossfield attending his final UKAFWSA Ice Championships after handing over responsibility as AWSA Director Ice Sports.

As always, race days delivered thrilling, edge-of-your-seat excitement where every single run was crucial. Competitors vied not only for the coveted Team and Individual Trophies but also battled fiercely for the fastest brakeman and brakewoman titles, as well as the best Novice male and female driver awards (first Inter Services in the front seat). The contests were fiercely contested and, true to form, absolutely mesmerising to watch. The unwavering determination and resilience demonstrated by all crews continue to inspire. Bobsleigh is an intensely demanding sport, and earning a place on the respective Service teams is a remarkable accomplishment.

The prize-giving ceremony took place at the track shortly after the races concluded, utilising the outdoor podiums. This scenic setting provided a fitting backdrop for the awards while also allowing athletes and staff ample time to pack up the bobsleighs and runners in preparation for the journey back to the UK. Post-race activities for the bobsleigh teams are always time-consuming, with considerable effort required to store the bobsleighs, runners, and all the equipment essential for sliding. Another successful Inter Services event concluded, with planning for next year already underway.

This year, our Service athletes competing on the international circuit were unable to join us at the Inter Services event, as they were representing Team GB at the World Championships in Lake Placid. While it’s always disappointing when championship schedules clash, track availability limits our options. Despite this, our athletes delivered outstanding performances on the global stage. LCpl Taylor Lawrence (RM) was a key member of the bronze medal-winning 4-man crew at the World Championships and also helped Brad Hall secure an impressive third-place finish overall on the World Cup Circuit in the 2-man bob. Additionally, he contributed to a third-place podium finish in the 4-man event on the World Cup Circuit. Sgt Adam Baird (RM) and Pte Olly Butterworth (Army) competed valiantly in the 2-man race before withdrawing due to a crash on day one. All told, it has been a remarkably successful season for Team GB and our Service athletes, showcasing their talent, dedication, and resilience.

UKAF WSA BOBSLEIGH RESULTS – LILLEHAMMER 2025

Male Team:
1st – ARMY
2nd – RAF
3rd – RN

Female Team:
1st – RAF
2nd – ARMY

Male Champions – LCpl Nick Gleeson/Rfn Tom Harris ARMY
2nd – Cpl Shanwayne Stephens/AS1 Levi Wiffen RAF
3rd – AB Harry Johnston/AB Shakeel John RN

Female Champions – Pte Kelsea Montgomery/Cpl Kewe King ARMY
2nd – AS1 Ashya Colvin/Flt Lt Joanna Hatter RAF
3rd – Fg Offr Lucy Tickell/Cpl Hayley Gilbert

Best Male Novice Driver – AB Harry Johnston RN
Best Female Novice Driver – Fg Offr Lucy Tickell RAF

Fastest Brakeman – Rfn Tom Harris ARMY
Fastest Brakewoman – Cpl Kewe King ARMY

This year, the UKAF WSA Ice Championships returned to Norway and the Olympic Bobsleigh Track just outside Lillehammer. The Championships were held here in 2023, but for most of the Service athletes, this was their first experience of the thrills of the track. The track is located 15 km north of Lillehammer and was completed in 1992, hosting the Winter Olympic Games in 1994 and the Youth Olympic Games in 2016. It measures 1,710 m in length with 16 corners, and bobsleighs can reach speeds of up to 128 km/h. Every bobsleigh track has its challenges, and corner 13 at Lillehammer is the one most talked about—and respected.

The Championships followed two weeks on ice for RN Bobsleigh (Ice Camp) and a week on ice for the Army and RAF teams. Temperatures varied greatly between the first and third weeks of sliding. During the first week, temperatures dropped to -12 degrees Celsius, while in the third week—the UKAF WSA Championships week—afternoon training sessions saw temperatures rise to +12 degrees Celsius. This had the effect of slowing down the track, and the experienced track team worked hard to maintain ice quality to ensure a successful two days of racing. One highlight of pre-race training was Lt Col Karl Johnston RM (Vice President Ice RNWSA) dusting off his ice spikes, coming out of brakeman retirement to push his nephew, AB Harry Johnston, who was competing in his first year as a driver for the RN. It truly was a family affair as the RN/RM bobsleigh team was coached by Lee Johnston—Harry’s dad and Karl’s brother.

The format for Ice Championship week remained the same as previous years, with training from Monday to Wednesday. All three Services had plenty of opportunity for additional runs as the track was block-booked each afternoon for bobsleigh training. This enabled novice drivers to gain valuable experience on the track. The race draw took place after sliding on Wednesday, where the start list for the first run was drawn. The start list for the second day of sliding (third run) was a reverse of the first run’s race draw. The second run and final run started with the slowest bob to the fastest, always making for a nail-biting conclusion to any Championships. The Championships follow the World Championships format with four race runs over two days. One difference is that on day two, start order is based on old World Championship rules (reverse of day one draw) to ensure no team gains an unfair advantage with better ice conditions.

In the women’s race, the RN had one team while both the Army and RAF fielded two teams each. This meant all teams competed for the Individual trophy but only Army and RAF contested the Team trophy. The rules allow three sleds from each Service to race, with the fastest two counting towards team results. In the men’s race, all three Services entered four bobsleighs each; to qualify for the team trophy, four sleds must slide with the fastest three counting. An incredible amount of pre-race preparation took place with hours spent polishing runners and ensuring all sleds were in optimal condition ahead of race day. We welcomed several senior military visitors from all three Services and were supported by a BFBS crew (thank you Simon and Craig), who provided regular race reports over both days. It was fantastic to see Brig Steff Crossfield attending his final UKAFWSA Ice Championships after handing over responsibility as AWSA Director Ice Sports.

As always, race days delivered thrilling, edge-of-your-seat excitement where every single run was crucial. Competitors vied not only for the coveted Team and Individual Trophies but also battled fiercely for the fastest brakeman and brakewoman titles, as well as the best Novice male and female driver awards (first Inter Services in the front seat). The contests were fiercely contested and, true to form, absolutely mesmerising to watch. The unwavering determination and resilience demonstrated by all crews continue to inspire. Bobsleigh is an intensely demanding sport, and earning a place on the respective Service teams is a remarkable accomplishment.

The prize-giving ceremony took place at the track shortly after the races concluded, utilising the outdoor podiums. This scenic setting provided a fitting backdrop for the awards while also allowing athletes and staff ample time to pack up the bobsleighs and runners in preparation for the journey back to the UK. Post-race activities for the bobsleigh teams are always time-consuming, with considerable effort required to store the bobsleighs, runners, and all the equipment essential for sliding. Another successful Inter Services event concluded, with planning for next year already underway.

This year, our Service athletes competing on the international circuit were unable to join us at the Inter Services event, as they were representing Team GB at the World Championships in Lake Placid. While it’s always disappointing when championship schedules clash, track availability limits our options. Despite this, our athletes delivered outstanding performances on the global stage. LCpl Taylor Lawrence (RM) was a key member of the bronze medal-winning 4-man crew at the World Championships and also helped Brad Hall secure an impressive third-place finish overall on the World Cup Circuit in the 2-man bob. Additionally, he contributed to a third-place podium finish in the 4-man event on the World Cup Circuit. Sgt Adam Baird (RM) and Pte Olly Butterworth (Army) competed valiantly in the 2-man race before withdrawing due to a crash on day one. All told, it has been a remarkably successful season for Team GB and our Service athletes, showcasing their talent, dedication, and resilience.

This year, the UKAF WSA Ice Championships returned to Norway and the Olympic Bobsleigh Track just outside Lillehammer. The Championships were held here in 2023, but for most of the Service athletes, this was their first experience of the thrills of the track. The track is located 15 km north of Lillehammer and was completed in 1992, hosting the Winter Olympic Games in 1994 and the Youth Olympic Games in 2016. It measures 1,710 m in length with 16 corners, and bobsleighs can reach speeds of up to 128 km/h. Every bobsleigh track has its challenges, and corner 13 at Lillehammer is the one most talked about—and respected.

The Championships followed two weeks on ice for RN Bobsleigh (Ice Camp) and a week on ice for the Army and RAF teams. Temperatures varied greatly between the first and third weeks of sliding. During the first week, temperatures dropped to -12 degrees Celsius, while in the third week—the UKAF WSA Championships week—afternoon training sessions saw temperatures rise to +12 degrees Celsius. This had the effect of slowing down the track, and the experienced track team worked hard to maintain ice quality to ensure a successful two days of racing. One highlight of pre-race training was Lt Col Karl Johnston RM (Vice President Ice RNWSA) dusting off his ice spikes, coming out of brakeman retirement to push his nephew, AB Harry Johnston, who was competing in his first year as a driver for the RN. It truly was a family affair as the RN/RM bobsleigh team was coached by Lee Johnston—Harry’s dad and Karl’s brother.

The format for Ice Championship week remained the same as previous years, with training from Monday to Wednesday. All three Services had plenty of opportunity for additional runs as the track was block-booked each afternoon for bobsleigh training. This enabled novice drivers to gain valuable experience on the track. The race draw took place after sliding on Wednesday, where the start list for the first run was drawn. The start list for the second day of sliding (third run) was a reverse of the first run’s race draw. The second run and final run started with the slowest bob to the fastest, always making for a nail-biting conclusion to any Championships. The Championships follow the World Championships format with four race runs over two days. One difference is that on day two, start order is based on old World Championship rules (reverse of day one draw) to ensure no team gains an unfair advantage with better ice conditions.

In the women’s race, the RN had one team while both the Army and RAF fielded two teams each. This meant all teams competed for the Individual trophy but only Army and RAF contested the Team trophy. The rules allow three sleds from each Service to race, with the fastest two counting towards team results. In the men’s race, all three Services entered four bobsleighs each; to qualify for the team trophy, four sleds must slide with the fastest three counting. An incredible amount of pre-race preparation took place with hours spent polishing runners and ensuring all sleds were in optimal condition ahead of race day. We welcomed several senior military visitors from all three Services and were supported by a BFBS crew (thank you Simon and Craig), who provided regular race reports over both days. It was fantastic to see Brig Steff Crossfield attending his final UKAFWSA Ice Championships after handing over responsibility as AWSA Director Ice Sports.

As always, race days delivered thrilling, edge-of-your-seat excitement where every single run was crucial. Competitors vied not only for the coveted Team and Individual Trophies but also battled fiercely for the fastest brakeman and brakewoman titles, as well as the best Novice male and female driver awards (first Inter Services in the front seat). The contests were fiercely contested and, true to form, absolutely mesmerising to watch. The unwavering determination and resilience demonstrated by all crews continue to inspire. Bobsleigh is an intensely demanding sport, and earning a place on the respective Service teams is a remarkable accomplishment.

The prize-giving ceremony took place at the track shortly after the races concluded, utilising the outdoor podiums. This scenic setting provided a fitting backdrop for the awards while also allowing athletes and staff ample time to pack up the bobsleighs and runners in preparation for the journey back to the UK. Post-race activities for the bobsleigh teams are always time-consuming, with considerable effort required to store the bobsleighs, runners, and all the equipment essential for sliding. Another successful Inter Services event concluded, with planning for next year already underway.

This year, our Service athletes competing on the international circuit were unable to join us at the Inter Services event, as they were representing Team GB at the World Championships in Lake Placid. While it’s always disappointing when championship schedules clash, track availability limits our options. Despite this, our athletes delivered outstanding performances on the global stage. LCpl Taylor Lawrence (RM) was a key member of the bronze medal-winning 4-man crew at the World Championships and also helped Brad Hall secure an impressive third-place finish overall on the World Cup Circuit in the 2-man bob. Additionally, he contributed to a third-place podium finish in the 4-man event on the World Cup Circuit. Sgt Adam Baird (RM) and Pte Olly Butterworth (Army) competed valiantly in the 2-man race before withdrawing due to a crash on day one. All told, it has been a remarkably successful season for Team GB and our Service athletes, showcasing their talent, dedication, and resilience.

This year, the UKAF WSA Ice Championships returned to Norway and the Olympic Bobsleigh Track just outside Lillehammer. The Championships were held here in 2023, but for most of the Service athletes, this was their first experience of the thrills of the track. The track is located 15 km north of Lillehammer and was completed in 1992, hosting the Winter Olympic Games in 1994 and the Youth Olympic Games in 2016. It measures 1,710 m in length with 16 corners, and bobsleighs can reach speeds of up to 128 km/h. Every bobsleigh track has its challenges, and corner 13 at Lillehammer is the one most talked about—and respected.

The Championships followed two weeks on ice for RN Bobsleigh (Ice Camp) and a week on ice for the Army and RAF teams. Temperatures varied greatly between the first and third weeks of sliding. During the first week, temperatures dropped to -12 degrees Celsius, while in the third week—the UKAF WSA Championships week—afternoon training sessions saw temperatures rise to +12 degrees Celsius. This had the effect of slowing down the track, and the experienced track team worked hard to maintain ice quality to ensure a successful two days of racing. One highlight of pre-race training was Lt Col Karl Johnston RM (Vice President Ice RNWSA) dusting off his ice spikes, coming out of brakeman retirement to push his nephew, AB Harry Johnston, who was competing in his first year as a driver for the RN. It truly was a family affair as the RN/RM bobsleigh team was coached by Lee Johnston—Harry’s dad and Karl’s brother.

The format for Ice Championship week remained the same as previous years, with training from Monday to Wednesday. All three Services had plenty of opportunity for additional runs as the track was block-booked each afternoon for bobsleigh training. This enabled novice drivers to gain valuable experience on the track. The race draw took place after sliding on Wednesday, where the start list for the first run was drawn. The start list for the second day of sliding (third run) was a reverse of the first run’s race draw. The second run and final run started with the slowest bob to the fastest, always making for a nail-biting conclusion to any Championships. The Championships follow the World Championships format with four race runs over two days. One difference is that on day two, start order is based on old World Championship rules (reverse of day one draw) to ensure no team gains an unfair advantage with better ice conditions.

In the women’s race, the RN had one team while both the Army and RAF fielded two teams each. This meant all teams competed for the Individual trophy but only Army and RAF contested the Team trophy. The rules allow three sleds from each Service to race, with the fastest two counting towards team results. In the men’s race, all three Services entered four bobsleighs each; to qualify for the team trophy, four sleds must slide with the fastest three counting. An incredible amount of pre-race preparation took place with hours spent polishing runners and ensuring all sleds were in optimal condition ahead of race day. We welcomed several senior military visitors from all three Services and were supported by a BFBS crew (thank you Simon and Craig), who provided regular race reports over both days. It was fantastic to see Brig Steff Crossfield attending his final UKAFWSA Ice Championships after handing over responsibility as AWSA Director Ice Sports.

As always, race days delivered thrilling, edge-of-your-seat excitement where every single run was crucial. Competitors vied not only for the coveted Team and Individual Trophies but also battled fiercely for the fastest brakeman and brakewoman titles, as well as the best Novice male and female driver awards (first Inter Services in the front seat). The contests were fiercely contested and, true to form, absolutely mesmerising to watch. The unwavering determination and resilience demonstrated by all crews continue to inspire. Bobsleigh is an intensely demanding sport, and earning a place on the respective Service teams is a remarkable accomplishment.

The prize-giving ceremony took place at the track shortly after the races concluded, utilising the outdoor podiums. This scenic setting provided a fitting backdrop for the awards while also allowing athletes and staff ample time to pack up the bobsleighs and runners in preparation for the journey back to the UK. Post-race activities for the bobsleigh teams are always time-consuming, with considerable effort required to store the bobsleighs, runners, and all the equipment essential for sliding. Another successful Inter Services event concluded, with planning for next year already underway.

This year, our Service athletes competing on the international circuit were unable to join us at the Inter Services event, as they were representing Team GB at the World Championships in Lake Placid. While it’s always disappointing when championship schedules clash, track availability limits our options. Despite this, our athletes delivered outstanding performances on the global stage. LCpl Taylor Lawrence (RM) was a key member of the bronze medal-winning 4-man crew at the World Championships and also helped Brad Hall secure an impressive third-place finish overall on the World Cup Circuit in the 2-man bob. Additionally, he contributed to a third-place podium finish in the 4-man event on the World Cup Circuit. Sgt Adam Baird (RM) and Pte Olly Butterworth (Army) competed valiantly in the 2-man race before withdrawing due to a crash on day one. All told, it has been a remarkably successful season for Team GB and our Service athletes, showcasing their talent, dedication, and resilience.