Bugle Summer 2026 - Flipbook - Page 8
1 RIFLES
NORDIC SKIING
Nordic skiing is the most aerobically
demanding Olympic discipline and is
perfectly suited to our regimental ethos
of covering harsh terrain at speed and
precision marksmanship. With the support
of so many, the 1 RIFLES Nordic Ski team is
the Infantry, Division, Army, Inter Service
and National Nordic Team Champions 2026.
The racing calendar has been intense. At
the Army Championships the team won four
out of the five team races and along the way
secured clean sweeps of the Infantry and
Divisional competitions. The list of individual
achievements is almost endless and includes
multiple National titles. The Riflemen deserve
to have their names remembered: LCpl Nathan
Carter, LCpl Gerald Webber, Rfn Dan Jeal, Rfn
Harley Peach, and Rfn Jherome Camariosa.
It wasn’t all perfect, it didn’t always
go right, and we didn’t always get along.
That’s team sport and we’ve all learned an
enormous amount. I personally hope the
humbling, sometimes uncomfortable, lessons
I have learned stay with me.
The 4x7.5km Biathlon Relay is when this
team really clicked, and it started four hours
before the race began. The team diligently
tested skis, wax, powder, liquids and structure
tools because each have different properties,
and you test to find the fastest for the day’s
conditions. Riflemen then skied their hearts
8 RIFLES The Bugle
out creating a significant lead and even
managing to lap some of the field. The team’s
shooting was world class, and we registered
only four penalty loops while our competitors
were all in double figures. Our skiing and
preparation were the most significant margin,
resulting in an 11-minute victory.
The 10km Cross Country team race was
over some of the hilliest World Cup terrain we
had faced. LCpl Carter set an imposing time
early in the morning that was rewarded with
a third place overall, the highest ever placing
achieved by a Rifleman in that race. Rfn Jeal,
showcasing his incredible progress, finished
ninth overall, only two minutes behind LCpl
Carter.
The penultimate race of the season was
perhaps the most hotly anticipated, the
Military Patrol Race. Skiing as a team over
30km of mixed terrain with inspections,
command tasks and range visits it requires
more sustained effort and teamwork. Despite
our best efforts we were pipped by 17P&M by
two minutes and came second.
The final race was the 4x5Km Cross
Country relay, and as LCpl Carter crossed
the finish line in first place, everyone knew
we had produced the best RIFLES results
ever winning four wins out of five races and
securing back-to-back Army Championship
overall wins.
Military Patrol Race - Taken during Lt General Simon Hamilton’s
inspection prior to stepping off on the military patrol race
This year’s
team stood
昀椀rmly on the
shoulders of
those who
came before
us
It takes a regiment to build a winning ski
team and across the season the 1 RIFLES
team have benefited from support across The
Rifles, our thanks go out to all of them.
This year’s team stood firmly on the
shoulders of those who came before us and
made all this possible. We hope we have
done our bit and left the race suit in a better
place for the Riflemen who will follow our
tracks.
Swift & Bold,
Lt Ben Spence, LCpl Nathan Carter, LCpl
Gerald Webber, Rfn Dan Jeal, Rfn Harley
Peach and Rfn Jherome Camariosa
1 RIFLES Team - The team following
winning the final race of the season
