While the Olympic Games was thrilling the world in China, the Joint Services Parachute Centre at Netheravon on Salisbury Plain was having its own share of thrills and spills with the Armed Forces Parachute Championships which took place between 15 - 22 August.

Royal Signals Parachuting

During seven days of competition the 36 teams had to contend with high winds, low cloud and rain, and much of the jumping had to start at 0600 hrs to make the most of scant ‘blue sky'. The Championships were open to both serving and reserve members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force, and with plenty of friendly rivalry the competitors participated in various skydiving events covering numerous event disciplines. These included:

Formation Skydiving (four man and eight man teams):  A team of jumpers with a cameraman exit the aircraft at 13500ft and immediately start a 35-second routine where the team have to carry out a predetermined sequence of formations and synchronised moves involving individual and pairs turning independently.

Free Flying (two man teams): Two 'flyers' exit at 13500ft and have to carry out a sequence of positions including a sitting, standing, head down and back flying.

Accuracy (individual and team events) Competitors jump from 3500ft and aim to land as close to the centre of a 5-metre landing zone as possible, the centre of which is the size of a 10p piece.

Canopy Flying (two man teams):  Once under canopy a pair of jumpers fly in close proximity and carry out synchronised turns.

Among the successful teams were The Royal Signals Formation Skydiving team, consisting of Maj Simon Bristow (substituted for final jumps by Staff Sgt Ian Shaw), Cpl Adele Murray, Cpl Ian Lyons and the team leader, WO1 (Foreman of Signals) Rob Campbell. They won the Senior 4-Way Team Event (Triple A) and were the Highest Placed Corps Team. Between them all they have made over 5,000 jumps.

The prize winning Royal Signals Formation Skydiving team, left right: Major Simon Bristow, Cpl Ian Lyons, Cpl Adele Murray and WO1 FofS) Rob Campbell

WO1 Campbell won the Joe Reddick Cup as the individual who had made an outstanding contribution to the Army Parachuting Association. "It is our first season competing together and I am really delighted at how we have done," he said "I was very pleased, but surprised to get the cup. My main job was to put a team together with people who are available, who have the necessary experience and have the mentality to be team players."

Team member, Cpl Adele Murray, a former Red Devil, said, "The Army gives you fantastic opportunities to take up sports you would not think about normally. Once you have got past the initial adrenaline rushes, it is much more about wanting to progress and improve at lots of parachuting disciplines."

The competition was hailed as a great success despite the weather by the Commandant of the Joint Services Parachute Centre, Major Jeremy Denning. "This is one of the major events in the Services sporting calendar," he said. "We have had rookies taking part in a competition for the first time right through to experienced teams going on to the national championships. There has been a very good turnout, and for the first time we have introduced a Free Fly competition. I am delighted with the way the week has gone."