Bobsleigh Competition
UKAFWSA Inter Service Ice Championships
Bobsleigh – Day One Race Report
The opening day of the Inter Service Bobsleigh Championships delivered exactly the sort of close, high-quality racing that has become synonymous with the UK Armed Forces Winter Sports Association’s ice events. With strong representation across all three Services and several athletes with international and Olympic pedigree on the start line, the competition in Lillehammer is shaping up to be one of the tightest in recent years.
Women’s Competition
The women’s race saw excellent participation, particularly from the Royal Navy, who fielded three sleds in a field of seven. Under the championship rules, each Service may enter up to three sleds, with the fastest two counting toward the team standings.
After two runs on day one, the Army’s sled piloted by Private Mika Moore, with Corporal Carrie King on brakes, sits in first place. Moore, an Olympian, brings top-level experience to the field, while King is no stranger to elite competition either, having previously competed on the international circuit as a brakeman for Simi Adeagbo’s Nigerian bobsleigh team. Their performance on the ice was matched by King’s explosive start, recording the fastest women’s push of the day with 5.65 seconds in both runs.
The RAF currently occupy second place through RAF 1, while Royal Navy 1 rounds out the top three after the opening day. With seven sleds ranked and none disqualified, the competition remains wide open heading into the second day of racing.
In the team standings after two runs, the Army lead the women’s competition with a combined time of 3:35.54. The RAF sit in second on 3:37.71, with the Royal Navy close behind on 3:38.13.
Men’s Competition
The men’s race is equally competitive, with 11 sleds entered and all ranked after day one. In the men’s event, each Service may field up to four sleds, with the fastest three counting towards the team result.
Leading the individual standings is Army 1, piloted by Nick Gleeson with Tom Harris on brakes. Gleeson is a highly experienced driver, a two-time Olympian currently competing on the Europa Cup circuit, and recently claimed victory in a four-man Europa Cup race in St Moritz. Harris produced the fastest push of the men’s competition so far, launching the sled with an impressive 5.03 second start.
In second place sits Royal Navy 1, featuring Shaquille John and Taylor Lawrence. This pairing brings an intriguing mix of experience and fresh dynamics to the race. John previously competed at the Olympic Games as a crewman for Trinidad and Tobago’s sled piloted by Axel Brown, but this marks his first outing in the driver’s seat. Behind him is Taylor Lawrence, fresh from the international circuit where he served as brakeman for Brad Hall in the GB1 programme. Having only just arrived from the Olympic Games earlier in the week, Lawrence has immediately immersed himself in the competition, providing both performance and inspiration to the younger athletes in the field.
Third place currently belongs to RAF 1, piloted by Ethan Green with Alex Cartagena on brakes. Cartagena was the travelling reserve for the GB1 Olympic team, adding further international experience to an already high-quality field.
Team Competition
If the individual races are competitive, the team competition is even tighter. After two runs in the men’s event, the RAF hold a narrow lead with a combined time of 5:13.08. The Army sit just three-tenths of a second behind on 5:13.38, with the Royal Navy close behind again on 5:13.49. With margins this small, every start and every line down the track will matter in the final runs.
The structure of the team event also adds a layer of strategic tension. The Army and Royal Navy each field four sleds in the men’s race, while the RAF have three. With three sleds required to count for a team score, any issues for one RAF sled could dramatically shift the standings.
Championship Atmosphere
Beyond the racing, the championships continue to showcase the collaborative spirit that sits at the heart of UKAFWSA events. Olympians and international competitors such as Gleeson, Moore, Lawrence and others have been actively supporting less experienced athletes, offering guidance and encouragement throughout the competition. Their presence has raised both the standard and the atmosphere of the event.
The championships are also hosting industry partners Babcock and Advalus during the week, with guests experiencing the thrill of the track in four-man taxi bobs and attending the President’s Dinner at the historic 100 Fosse Hotel.
With incredibly tight margins across both men’s and women’s competitions, the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion on the final day of racing. If day one is any indication, the Inter Service Bobsleigh Championships are heading for a thrilling finish.
