Sport

Infantry & Army Medical Services Take Inter-Corps Swimming Crowns

The Army Medical Services women's team has retained its crown at the Inter-Corps Swimming Championships, with the Infantry claiming the men's title.

Crucial to the success of the AMS team in Aldershot was Lance Corporal Kath Baker, who's been an important member of the set-up for a number of years.

One of the military's leading swimmers, she claimed gold at the World Masters Championships earlier in the year and finished on top of the podium at last month's English Masters competition, before powering the AMS to victory at the Inter-Corps.

It's been a sensational season for the Army women, whose achievements were recognised at the Army Sports Awards, where they were crowned Team of the Year, while they've also recently been named Armed Forces Sports Team of the Year 2017.

Blandford-based soldier LCpl Baker says she is delighted the team is starting to receive acknowledgement for its efforts:

"That evening we went to [at the Army Sports Awards] was one of the best nights I've had. I felt so privileged to get to go to it.

"We've won 20 years running so it's been a long time coming to get recognised. I'm proud to be part of the team."

In the men's competition, the Infantry's LCpl Luke Conder reignited his rivalry with Royal Engineer Second Lieutenant James Gibson in the 400m freestyle.

Neither could be separated at the halfway stage and such was their determination to succeed a new best competition time was produced.

LCpl Conder ultimately just pipped his rival, taking a second off the old record. He said:

"It was a lot closer race than I thought it would be. Literally just by the fingertips!"

2Lt Gibson swiftly recovered from the disappointment, however, to win the 200m, as the young officer looked to steer the sappers to the title.

There was no stopping the infantrymen, however, as they eclipsed their challengers for the men's Inter-Corps crown.

The Inter-Corps Swimming Championships, now approaching their 30th anniversary, are a firm favourite amongst the Army swimming fraternity, having played a crucial role in identifying soldiers who have what it takes to compete at Inter-Services level.

British Army Inter-Corps Swimming Championships 2017

One of those to come up through this route was Colonel Catherine Jardine, who still competes for the Army after making her debut in the competition 20 years ago as an officer cadet, and has raced for the women in red ever since.

With the Army having dominated the Royal Navy and RAF in the pool for the past two decades, she told Forces Network that the championships are the ideal arena to spot athletes who could bolster the Army's winning team:

"This is an absolute prime hunting ground for us to make sure that we pick up those talents."