Page 5 - issue05.04.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, April 5, 2019 P5

News

Sochi sleigh star Stu

enters the Bronze age

Airman grabs Olympic medal as Russia drugs cheats ruling upheld

Simon Mander
BACK WHERE THEY
AIR FORCE bobsleigh ace Stu BELONG: GB bob team
Benson has finally become an in action on the Sochi
Olympic medal winner – five years ice, right, RAF man Sgt
Stu Benson
after being denied his podium
place by Russian drugs cheats.
Benson and teammates John
Jackson, Bruce Tasker and Joel Fearon
finished fifth behind two Russian
teams in the 2014 Sochi Games that
were later banned for life.
Disqualification for athletes
in both Russian sleds for doping
offences means that the British
crew are now officially Olympic
Bronze medallists.
Benson said: “I am absolutely
over the moon to finally get
confirmation that we will be
awarded our bronze medal from
Sochi.
“It has, of course, been difficult
to know we were cheated at the
time, but the fact that justice has
been done brings a sense of relief
that all the effort has been properly
rewarded.
“At times the sport is brutal but it
has been worth every bruise, break
and burn.”
RAF team safety manager
Squadron Leader Heather Ratnage-
Black, who is also a non-executive
director of the British Bobsleigh That justice has
and Skeleton Association, added: “
been done brings a
“It’s great news for Stu and for
British Bobsleigh as a whole. huge sense of relief. It
“Winning an Olympic medal is was worth every break,
an incredible achievement and it’s
a great reward for the years of hard bruise and burn ”
work and dedication that Stu put
into the sport.”
Athletes from the gold medal-
winning Russia first team and The GB four-man squad have Sqn Ldr Ratnage-Black added: long time to receive this news but New medals will be minted to
the second team who finished endured an agonising three-year wait “Integrity in sport aligns with the Stu, John Jackson, Bruce Tasker present to the winners Latvia.
fourth were charged with doping since the retesting of samples began. key values of the RAF so we are and Joel Fearon have shown great The athletes will be allowed
violations following re-analysis of During that time there have been delighted to see the right result being patience over the last five years.” to decide where they would like
samples taken at the Games. numerous appeals by the Russians officially recognised, even if it’s a lot Despite being stripped of their to be awarded the medals, with a
The bronze brings Team GB’s to reverse the decision to strip them later than we would all have liked. places the Russian team are refusing presentation at the next Winter
medal tally from Sochi 2014 to five. of medals from their home Games. “The team have had to wait a to return the gold medals. Olympics in 2022 a possibility.

WWII Spit hero laid to rest News bulletin

Drones deal
A WORLD WAR II Spitfire pilot WO Coates’ identity was later
killed in the final months of the confirmed through DNA testing with THE MOD has signed a £2.5
conflict has been laid to rest 70 members of the family. million deal to develop a new
years after his aircraft came down His niece Shelagh Coates said: generation of battlefield drones.
during a mission over Italy. “It is a great honour for us to finally UK manufacturer Blue Bear
WO John Coates was buried put him to rest.” Systems will produce around 20
with full military honours at the His coffin was carried by new UAV types to provide medical
Padua War Cemetery in Italy during personnel from RAF Halton. A assistance bomb disposal and
a ceremony attended by family RAF spokesman added: “That we surveillance.
members and RAF personnel. have this opportunity to pay our The MoD hopes to develop
His remains were recovered when repsects to this brave pilot is a networks of ‘drone swarms’
the crash site was excavated in 2017 testament to the dedication of the designed to overwhelm enemy air
by the Romagna Air Finders group. Romagna Air Finders.” defences, a spokesman said.