Soldier scoops double gold months after learning to ski

10:18pm Tuesday 12th February 2008

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A SOLDIER has won two gold medals in a top Army skiing competition - despite only taking up the sport in September.

Private Stacey McGoogan, of 29 Movement Control Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, based in Gloucestershire, took a break from military duties to enter the Army's UK divisional Nordic ski championships in France.

The postal and courier operator took part in a 10-day competition against more than 250 other soldiers at the Serre Chevalier ski resort.

Stacey, of Foulridge, and three members of her team won a gold medal in a military patrol race.

They had to carry 40 kilos of kit over a 20-kilometre course while completing both mental and physical agility tests and rifle target shooting.

They were also judged on their turn-out and having the correct supplies with them such as maps, field dressings and compasses.

She also took gold as a team member in the ladies' champ-ionship.

Stacey, who went to West Craven School, Barnoldswick, and joined the army in 2006, also took part in a biathlon sprint where competitors have to ski and shoot twice at targets on a firing range.

Stacey, 21, said: "I started Nordic skiing in Sept-ember. My team captain came and told us how good it was, so I did it.

"We trained in Austria. It was good but very hard. I enjoy sport but this is the hardest thing that I've done. I enjoy biathlon as you ski and shoot, and I'm quite good at shooting.

"The atmosphere is good, the other teams follow you around cheering you on. It's fun.

"I hope that we have done well enough to go on to the Army championships."

Soldiers are encouraged by the Army to take up cross-country skiing as a sport because it teaches them to test their limits and work in a difficult and often extreme environment.

Stacey's parents, Kevin and Cheryl McGoogan, still live at Foulridge.

Cheryl said: "I wasn't surprised when she wanted to join the Army because most of her family are in the forces. Her brother is a soldier and so are her three uncles.

"I'm very proud of her getting the medals - the Army sent me some lovely photos."