Royal Navy Paragliders defend their crown

After five days of racing the Royal Navy rein victorious at the Inter-Service Paragliding Championships, retaining the trophy for the third year running.

Racing hard against the Army and the Royal Air Force in the fight to be crowned champions of the Services.

Each team comprised of the top six pilots from the RAF, Army, and Navy, with the best three scores of each task adding up to find the overall winners. 

The event was hosted as part of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale CAT 2 Paragliding Competition, the Naviter Open. An international level competition, hosted in the Soça Valley of Slovenia.

The skies are filled with over 130 other pilots all racing along the same line, making use of thermals and mountains to gain height quickly and travel along the course line up to 100km away. More points can be earned for leading the way ahead of the pack and those brave enough to go it alone on the lowest routes can be rewarded with big points. But only if the risk pays off.

The 2024 team consisted of:

Csgt Grant Oseland - 1^st UKAF (5^th overall)

Cpl Aaron Hall - 6^th UKAF ( 32^nd overall)

Cpo Steph Cahill - 12^th UKAF (55^th Overall)

SurgCDR Andrew Brown - 13^th UKAF (58^th Overall)

Maj Richard Mackie - 15^th UKAF (68^th Overall)

Lt Cdr Barney Pollock 20^th UKAF (116^th Overall)