Minehead woman Army snowboarding success

7:33am Saturday 22nd December 2007

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A MILITARY woman from Minehead has just finished hurtling down a mountainside as part of the Army Snowboarding Championship on the Stubai Glacier in the Australian Alps.

Gunner Gemma Cooper, 21, who is serving with 1 Royal Horse Artillery as a signaller, said: "I started snowboarding last year, I wanted to give it a go because my boyfriend does it and said how great it is - he's right.

"I did the competition last year and was the Novice Female Snowboard Champion which impressed my boyfriend. Now I want to progress and improve my skills so I can compete at higher levels.

"We got a lot of support from our unit and the Army, sport and fitness is encouraged so we have time off for the championships plus help with costs for transport, my unit let me come back from Iraq early so I could take part in the championships.

"My aim now is to get in the Army Female Team and take part at the inter-services event."

Since the start in 1998 the event has grown in strength with support particularly from young soldiers. It is also the fastest growing competition in the Army.

Gemma attended West Somerset Community College and worked in the Co-Op before joining the army in 2005.

She has received the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Commendation for her driving skills in Iraq. Her mother Islay lives in Minehead.