NAVY NEWS, JULY 2007 51
Commandos
avenge 2006
Incom-para-ble
fi nal defeat
achievements
DESPITE heavy rain leading up
to the event and leaden skies THE RN and RM Paragliding Team trounced the Army and RAF in a
on the fi rst day, the 2007 Inter- closely-fought Alpine Paragliding Competition during a 12-day sports
Command cricket tournament tour of Slovenia.
at Portsmouth started on The squad headed to Tolmin in the Soca Valley where they faced not
time, much to the amazement merely a challenge from fellow Brits, but also the Belgian Air Force, at
of many, writes Lt Cdr David the most prestigious event in the Joint Service paragliding calendar.
Cooke, RNCC spokesman. The sailors and Royals took their largest team yet to the championships
Five commands were (eight matelots, three green berets).
represented – all wearing Hopes were high as the team arrived in the Alps, despite the RAF and
Twenty/20 coloured clothing: Army fi elding far larger teams.
Portsmouth in their traditional Some fi ne weather and spring conditions allowed a couple of days of
blue, Devonport red, Naval Air good training before the actual competition.
in light blue, Scotland black and
There followed several days of competition fl ying as around 45
Royal Marines in green – again
paragliders gracefully moved about the Slovenian skies. Competitors
a veritable riot of colour.
were expected to fl y around waypoints on a course in the fastest possible
Because of the withdrawal
time.
of Fleet, it was decided to run
“This was my first time on thermals,” said Lt Cdr Oscar Whild, “and
a ‘round robin’ tournament
it meant I flew 19 kilometres down a valley rather than a few hundred
between the fi ve teams,
yards off Butser Hill. My first flight lasted 2½ hours, not 20 minutes.”
all playing each other to
Despite the new conditions, the RNRM team quickly established
earn batting and bowling
themselves, scoring fi rst and second places in the fi rst task, continuing to
bonus points throughout the
maintain the open class lead throughout.
competition, in addition to
All pilots recorded many signifi cant fl ights with most surpassing their
points for a win.
personal best performances.
To cap the contest, the two
This is the fi rst time that RN and RM Paragliding Team has won such
top-ranked teams would meet
an event (although the RN hanggliding team regularly beats all comers)
in the fi nal.
and all team members contributed to this success.
Over the two days of the
The intermediate class was won by Cdr Dave Hadfi eld and the open
contest there were some fi ne
by team captain Lt Cdr Rory Lynch.
performances from each of the
The rest of the team were: Cdr Jerry Ovens, Capt Rich Alston RM, Lt
Commands, particularly on the
Jack Daniels, Lt Paul Richman, WO2 Bert Lane RM, CPOWEA Steve
batting front.
Bamlett, POAET Jim Howe and Cpl Grant Oseland RM.
For Scotland Lt Cdr Peter
“It was immensely satisfying for the smallest team to take all the
Deeks was the backbone of
silver as the other two Services always attend these events in far greater
his side, regularly scoring
numbers than we do,” Lt Cdr Whild added.
runs; Portsmouth PO(PT) Mark
Paragliding and hanggliding are adventurous training activities and all
Toogood notched up 164 runs
service personnel can learn free at two specialised military centres in
throughout the competition; Sgt
Crickhowell, Wales, or Wertach in southern Germany.
Sean Needham RM smashed
Once qualifi ed, RN and RM personnel can hire equipment for
162 runs which included 105
a nominal fee from the Royal Navy Hanggliding and Paragliding
in his fi rst match at a run rate
Association (RNHPA). See www.rnhpa.co.uk for details.
of eight an over; Mne Callum
Smith hit 151 in two innings.
● Whild about paragliding... Lt Cdr Oscar Whild with his distinctive
turquoise canopy emblazoned with the Team RN logo
Navy skipper Lt Cdr Paul
Snelling, playing for Devonport,
amassed 178 runs in his four
innings and, for the Naval Air
Command, Lt Justin Matthews
RN totalled 198 which included
two not-out visits to the crease.
The were also some decent
Talent in depth at Dartmouth
bowling returns, not only from
known representative and
ex-representative players, but
THE past six months has
Phillips) have also scored notable It’s an important link for BRNC
also from some newcomers too;
seen BRNC Dartmouth
successes. – and RN – rowing, as these
their performances were noted
achieve great success
The season began with a mainly fantastic facilities give senior and
by RNCC committee members
novice team entering netball’s novice rowers the opportunity to
and selectors. across the sporting
Navy Cup and ended with a further their sport.
At the end of the round robin
spectrum.
BRNC triumph in the fi nal over The link has already reaped
stage, Scotland were in fi fth
Firstly the college football team
HMS Heron 40-12. rewards for Dartmouth, who
place, Portsmouth fourth and
(coached by LPT Peplow & LOM
The team built on that success defeated the RAF in a coxed four
Devonport third, which meant
Wilkinson) lost only once at home
by entering the Plymouth Area at the Intercollegiate Games.
that Naval Air and the Royals
in the entire campaign.
tournament, where they topped BRNC dominated the race from
had to meet each other in the
As usual many faces come and
the seven-strong league. the start, winning by six lengths to
fi nal, their previous encounter in
go from the team and the college
The men’s hockey team claim the title.
the early stage resulting in a win
has never been able to select a
defeated the RAF in a tight match The next day the team travelled
for the green berets by 27 runs.
settled side.
3-2 and progressed to the fi nal to London to compete in the
This year’s fi nal was a re-run
One of the most diffi cult things
of the Navy Cup, where they International Fours Head of the
of the 2006 decider, which
this past season has been selecting
were defeated by HMS Nelson. River Race competing in the
saw the Air Command take the
a squad of 15 people for each
The season has seen fi ve cadets Armed Forces Challenge Cup,
trophy.
fi xture when over 30 cadets were selected for the U23s, fi ve for the representing the Senior Service.
The Royals were out for
desperate to wear the Dartmouth RN(W), one for the RN Seniors The four cadets lifted the cup
revenge, although nobody
shirt. That commitment and one female cadet for and came 19th out of 200 overall.
really dominated a low-scoring
was refl ected in the college the Combined Services More recently, four senior cadets
match.
fi nishing fourth in the local squad. have been selected to represent
Matthews hit an unbeaten 54
premier division. Although dormant for the RN at the International Head
in a NAC score of 120-3 after The college’s rugby team a few years, the college now of the River Race held again in
their 20 overs, but it was Mne (coached by Lt Clark) has a fencing team (led by London; this is the same course
Alvin Pollard who carefully put a set themselves some Lt Cdr Lees). as the Oxford Cambridge Boat
match-winning score together, ambitious targets, With the arrival of Race. Unfortunately, the race
scoring 53 not out and guiding which overall they a handful of young was cancelled due to ‘sinking
the Royals past their target with achieved. offi cers already able conditions’ on the Tideway.
just one ball to spare. Victories against to take to the ‘piste’ And fi nally... changing tack
For his efforts and judgment, BRNC’s French and a large number to sailing (headed by Lt Cdr
Pollard was awarded player of counterparts, Ecole keen to give it a go, BRNC Adams), the college lifted gold
the fi nal. Navale, (23-10) and our RAF entered the RN Knock-Outs in the international Trofeo Delle
Capt John Fulford RN, cousins at the Intercollegiate – and won by consistently Academie Navali in Livorno, Italy.
Chairman RNCC, paid tributes Games (16-8) were tremendous scoring, giving Dartmouth the Twenty-four naval academies
to players, offi cials, and various – especially as they were both away highest team average. from around the world, including
back room staff who had fi xtures. The college now has a civilian Japan, China, Sweden, Germany,
contributed to make the festival Having a decent run in the Navy coach twice a week to improve France, and Belgium.
possible. Cup would be diffi cult but was fencing skills. At the recent RN The lottery to establish which
delivered when on the 9th May vs Cambridge University contest, country received which particular
BRNC contested the fi nal against the establishment was able to fi eld boat ensured BRNC was allocated
25x13=Ark
HMS Heron... who eventually two sides (the competition was the only craft which had not
triumphed in a full-blooded game, eventually drawn). arrived at Livorno.
33-15. In the swimming pool, the After a day of panic and valuable
TWENTY-FIVE members
On a broader level, maintaining BRNC team were very successful time missed on the water, the crew
of HMS Ark Royal’s ship’s
RFU affi liation status by playing during the Combined Armed went to bed the night before the
company took part in the
20 fi xtures in a season was achieved Forces and ASA Masters fi rst race still without a boat.
Gothenburg half-marathon
and by offering Dartmouth’s Swimming Championships at Luckily, it arrived and the team
when the carrier visited the facilities in preparation for fi xtures, Easter, collecting 15 golds and rapidly rigged and tuned her in ● The BRNC team grafting on their way to victory in the Trofeo Delle
Swedish port on her Baltic the RNRU have used BRNC fi ve silvers. Dartmouth also time for the fi rst race, fi nally Academie Navali in Livorno, Italy
deployment. as a base for fi xtures in the West had four personnel selected for launching her one hour before the
They were joined on the Country. the victorious RN team which fi rst start. The fi ve-man crew competed in such success in their sporting
streets of Gothenburg by And numerous college competed in the Inter Services. The boat was considerably the j24 class boat with seven races endeavours,” said BRNC’s
38,000 fellow runners and were players have turned out for RN Another phoenix to rise from older and supposedly heavier over four days. They beat Sweden Commanding Offi cer Cdre Martin
cheered around the course, representative sides: 1st XV, the ashes this year has been the than the other 23 boats, but pure into second place by a clear eight Alabaster.
which ended in the city centre, U23s, women and veterans, have BRNC rowing club. skill, determination and superior points. “We are now very much looking
by thousands of locals. all benefi ted, and two players A recent agreement with Dart knowledge of the sport ensured Their success crowned an forward to competing against –
WO2 Craig Spring posted the appeared for the U23 Combined Totnes Rowing Club (DTRC) to BRNC’s team – MID D Roach, impressive sporting season for and defeating – the Royal Military
fastest time of the Ark entrants, Services team. use their world-class start facility, S/Lt A Penfold, S/Lt D Bacon, the college. Academy Sandhurst when it visits
completing the 13-mile course The RN(W) sports teams has cemented this new era led by S/Lt R Wilson and S/Lt T Gell “It is fantastic to see the next Dartmouth this month for the
in 1h 28m 12s. (headed by Lt Buck and LPT the Commander, Cdr Rich King. – triumphed. generation of naval offi cers achieve annual sporting competition.”
0048-052_NN_Jul.indd 448-052_NN_Jul.indd 4 119/6/07 16:54:589/6/07 16:54:58
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