Lieutenant-General Andrew Ridgway is a keen bobsleigher and a former director of the sport’s army association, and he believes that Jersey’s strong sporting tradition and sense of adventure make it the ideal place to get a team together to represent Great Britain.
And he already has the backing of Jersey’s only summer and winter Olympian, Colin Campbell, who ran for Great Britain in the 400 and 800 metres and then made the bob team at the 1976 Winter Games in Innsbruck.
He has promised to give Gen Ridgway his full support.
Gen Ridgway, the former commanding officer of the Desert Rats, says the lack of a mountain and snow is no barrier to his ambition, as he can arrange the training.
He has already reserved a few places for any Jersey people interested in attending the annual armed forces training camp in Calgary in Canada in late October and early November.
Complete newcomers to the sport are welcome and by the end of the week they should be ready to race in novice championships.
‘It struck me that an Island like Jersey which does so well in a wide range of sporting activities would have some people who could take this on,’ he said.
‘Really, all you need are the right physical attributes.
We can organise the rest.’
