BLESMA Skibob Rehabilitation 2006
Ray Holland OBE, BEM - February 2006  		 

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BLESMA 2006 GALLERY
This year’s event was a memorable occasion in a number of ways. It was the 15th year that the group had assembled at Soelden where BLESMA has become almost a part of the local community in Zwiesselstein and Soelden. The group celebrated the wedding of Chris Livett, our Chief Instructor, to Alison Garland both of whom have made a major contribution to ski bobbing over many years. The wedding took place in the local Registry Office on 17th February with Ray Holland and Henry Wuga as witnesses.



Chris and Alison outside the Gigijoch Chapel

Henry and Ingrid, who had been in Austria for the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, had made a wedding cake which they had transported half way around Europe before being consumed at the wedding party given by Chris. Markus and Elisabeth Streither, owners of the Neue Post, prepared a special meal for the occasion. We also held a birthday celebration for Henry (an annual event when he is present) for his 82nd birthday combined with that of David Reeves. Henry was also pressed into service as the independent assessor for the award of a gold badge to Phil Watkins who had been unable to gain the award the previous year due to injury arising from a ski bob failure.

By courtesy of Wg Cdr Graham Ware, OC RAF Kirton in Lindsey, the RAF provided administrative support from the RAF Regiment. The contingent, led by Flt Lt Will Smyth consisted of C/Tech Steve Stainthorpe, Cpls Gaz Potts and Des O’Connor. The RAF also provided a minibus. All were experienced skiers and remarkably fit.


The RAF Contingent

Notwithstanding a full days work assisting amputees on the mountain, they persisted in early morning or evening runs! They made a major contribution to the event and endeared themselves to instructors and students alike. Their dedication and fine blend of humour made them ideally suited for the SAGB Silver award.


Will Smyth

 

  

Although there was plenty of snow, conditions initially saw low cloud cover and dense mist which gave an insight into the need for care and safety on the mountain.


Dave Eynon

The last three days provided superb weather leading up to the final assessments. David Eynon, David (John) Reeves, Gerrard (Joe) Murdock and Charley Streather were awarded Bronze badges with Ray Barry receiving a ‘Certificate of Attendance’. The award for the most impressive student was shared by David Eynon and Joe Murdock. The “Wipe Out” shield was awarded to Charley
Streather.


Charley and Colin exit Chairlift

Once again, we extend our grateful thanks to Mr Chris Laming of P&O Ferries for providing sea crossings; to the Soelden Cable Car Company and in particular, Herrn Gilbert Pult, Helmut Kuprian and Thomas Scheiber for their continuing support; to the Streiter family for their welcome and hospitality and to Jon Porter from the Veterans Agency for his assistance. Jon also successfully obtained a Bronze badge. Additionally, we much appreciated the loan of a people carrier provided by the Red Devils Display Team.


My personal thanks go out to the Livetts and the BLESMA instructors for their tuition and to Henry and Ingrid Wuga for their assistance in many ways. Many
thanks too, to our prosthetist Jon Wright. Last by not least, we are much indebted to Will Smyth and his men who before joining us, organized a series of fund raising events which produced a sum of some £1,800 to provide replacement Ski Bob equipment. These events took place when they were committed to a heavy operational and training programme. Their efforts reflect highly on the RAF Regiment and perhaps in future, we shall see bobs in Air Force blue on the slopes of the Austrian Tyrol.

Ray Holland OBE, BEM