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27 March 2007
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Papakura Military Camp personnel, including their Freefall Team “Pilgrims 6”, attended the 2007 New Zealand National Skydiving Championships in early March at the Matamata Airfield.
Pilgrims 6 competed in senior accuracy, open freefly and intermediate formation skydiving disciplines, with their main effort being afforded to the latter.
Unfortunately, due to bad weather, only five of the eight rounds in the formation category could be completed. That said, Pilgrims 6 turned 54 points in five rounds (2 mins, 5 secs in judgeable freefall time), securing them the gold in the formation skydiving. Whilst the accuracy didn't go quite as well, one of the team came fifth in the freefly, ensuring Pilgrims 6 left the competition with the all-important medallic recognition!
Pilgrims 6 are now focussing their efforts on having skydiving officially recognised as an Army sport. Unfortunately, because there are insufficient Army skydivers across the country that can compete at regional and national level, there is not the critical mass to have the sport accredited.
Skydiving is an excellent public relations tool for putting Army in the public eye. If you are a skydiver who would like to join us, or are just keen to get involved, then please contact Captain Rob Hamilton at Papakura.
Jump-starting teenagers
Before the competition began in earnest, Pilgrims 6 were invited by the New Zealand Parachute Federation (NZPF) to participate in the “Jump Start” programme, an NZPF/ RNZAF initiative to give Project K and CanTeen teenagers a tandem skydive experience.
Jump Start allows less fortunate children to face fear, place trust in others, develop self-confidence, and enjoy the experience of accomplishment and elation. Through the determined efforts of both parties, the RNZAF provided a C-130 for one day, which completed five sorties and disgorged 75 tandems and cameramen, along with a large number of skydivers.
Those children too ill to skydive (particularly from CanTeen) were given the opportunity to be harnessed short of the ramp and watch the skydiving exits. Pilgrims 6 provided both tandem masters and cameramen for this activity. They also ensured that all those children that visited the NZ Army marquee (kindly loaned by Northern Region Recruiting) and went away plastered in Army stickers, having had an experience they will never forget!
This page was last reviewed on 02 April 2007 and is current.
