A collection of print articles written or part written by Thomas Stockting.
Argentines visit fallen soldiers’ graves in Falkland Islands
by Paul Bryne and Thomas Stockting
The Associated Press
The families of 90 Argentine soldiers killed during the 1982 war with Britain traveled Monday to the Falkland Islands to visit the graves of loved ones who were recently identified under an agreement between both countries.
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A forensic study led by the International Committee of the Red Cross identified the remains of the soldiers last year after a multinational team of experts exhumed the remains. More than 200 relatives of the soldiers traveled aboard flights early Monday morning to the remote cemetery in the South Atlantic where until now, the gravestones read: “Argentine soldier known only to God.”
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“It’s a very strong, new feeling because I found my son,” said Dalal Abd, the mother of soldier Marcelo Daniel Massad, as she held back tears.
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“I was able to speak to him, as a mother, and ask him questions,” she said. “I have a feeling of peace because I know where he is after almost 36 years of so many struggles. I know he’s here now, with his cross.”
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Experts exhumed, analyzed, sampled and documented the remains from graves at Darwin cemetery, which is known for its rows of white crosses and dark gray tombstones. The samples were analyzed and compared with DNA samples from family members of some of the dead soldiers at a laboratory in Argentina. Laboratories in Britain and Spain conducted quality control of the DNA analyses.
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The Red Cross has said the identification process of more than 120 graves was highly successful.
University of Sheffield snow-sports win big in Kings Ski Tournament
by Thomas Stockting
Forge Press
It was a triumphant afternoon for the University of Sheffield Snowboard Club 1s as they won round three of the Kings Ski Club competition.
With the first team having come third in the last two rounds, Sheffield travelled up to Sunderland with reason to believe they could get a podium finish, if not more. All their races had been close with little else but a few falls separating them from Lancaster University, Manchester University and Leeds University on the leader board.
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The racers for Sheffield 1s for the third round were Jonathan Copeman, Flo Brookes, Race and Freestyle Captain James Hallas and Club Co-Captain Alex Kennedy. The day started in typical fashion – rainy, windy and cold – but Sheffield got off to a flying start with a win over winners of the first round Lancaster 1s.
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The long wait between races didn’t throw off the concentration of any of the racers as they followed up their opening win with victories over Newcastle 1s and Newcastle 2s. The biggest test came on the fourth race when they faced round one runner up and round two winners Manchester University 1s.
SUSC 1s had a narrow lead as the last two racers set off. It was impressive how Alex Kennedy remained on his feet the whole race, passing as close to the polls as possible to gain speed, his board clipped them a number of times. This was a risk that paid off, as he crossed the finish line well before his opposite number.
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With confidence soaring there was no surprise on the slope when Sheffield 1s beat Lancaster 1s in the final race to claim top spot for the day, earning them 10 points.
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This puts them second in the leader board for the Northern Boarders Competition with 22 points, a narrow two points behind Manchester 1s.
Sheffield 2s managed to pick up two points, but still remain bottom of the leader board and in the Mixed Skiing League Sheffield 1s picked up nine points and Sheffield Ski 2s picked up seven as they sit seventh and 11th respectively.
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