52 NAVY NEWS, JULY 2007
Next month
Traffi c
stoppers –
on the front
line in the
drugs war
with Ocean
’Ton Air
– all the
action from
Yeovilton
Air Day
● Bourne to be wild... Sgt Richie Lake and Steve Pidsley in Go Commando I leap above the surf off Bournemouth Picture: Shaun Boggust
I, II, III... Go
In Portland’s
memory
Hockey stars
Commando
– Fleet Air
AFTER a highly-credible fi rst
season in the exhilarating
Arm honours
zapcat powerboat
championships, the Royals
fallen airmen
in parad-ice
have taken to the sea in
strength to push for the title
in 2007.
Trailblazer Sgt Richie
Lake and his boat Go
Commando have now been
joined by two more green
beret-driven racers, fittingly
THE Royal Navy lifted ice
Hankins (40 Cdo) leading the way Go Commando II and III,
hockey’s inaugural tri-
with six goals in a 11-5 demolition II driven by Maj Aldeiy
Service cup after three
of the Air Force. Alderson and Lt Orlando
The showcase event took place Rogers, and III by siblings
gruelling days in the rink. on Friday evening between two Cpl Paul and C/Sgt Ed Holt.
It took fi rst-class netminding tired but very determined teams in Zapcats are inflatable
Nirvana in
from HMS Endurance’s LS(AWW) front of a substantial crowd. boats fitted with a 50HP
Liam ‘Stretch’ Armstrong to tip The game was dominated by
two-stroke engine, capable
Varna – in
the balance in the decisive clash numerous penalties to either side
of racing along at speeds of
with title favourites the Army on which rather marred the fl ow of
up to 50mph.
Bulgaria with
the Sheffi eld ice. the match.
There are now 35 zapcat
The triumph is the culmination Nevertheless, the Senior Service
boats racing in the national
the Orion
of a year’s growing success in the bagged three early goals, while
championships, split into
rink. LS(AWW) Armstrong, a last-
two divisions.
Two tournaments were minute addition to the team who
task force
The three Royal zapcats’
crammed into three days in South was returning to the ice for the
first race of the 2007 season
Yorkshire: the Combined Inter- fi rst time in four years, ensured
took place over two days in
Services Command (ISCC) and the Army had little to show for
the surf off Bournemouth.
Plus
tri-Service with ten base/unit/ their numerous men advantages,
The weekend began badly
regimental sides competing for denying the soldiers on more than
for Go Commando, courtesy
the former trophy and three elite one occasion in front of the Navy
of engine trouble, but Richie
representative sides for the latter. goal to keep the score close.
still managed to make the
Ledbury
This year’s competition was the The game would remain tight
day’s final, posting seventh
fi rst to include a proper tri-Service until the very end with the Army
place.
goes home
contest with the elite sides of all closing the lead on a number of
Go Commando II went
three forces vying for the cup.
● Netminder LS(AWW) Liam Armstrong looks on as Mne Johnny
Underwood glides around the Sheffi eld ice
occasions.
two better, with fifth
Ice Sheffi eld provided an The turning point came in the
Picture: Paul Lewis, www.lossiemouthjets.co.uk
position; Go Commando III’s
excellent venue for the upgraded second period when Armstrong
racing was curtailed by a
And
competition, with full use being
fi elded four teams apiece. The tri-Service contest saw all
stopped a penalty shot, crushing
broken steering shaft.
made of the two newly-built rinks
Both RN sides progressed from three teams playing each other,
Army hopes of reducing the gap to
Day two saw Go
over three days of play.
the group stages of the competition with the two top sides then
one goal.
Commandos I and II battling
The ISCC has traditionally
– RN White eased through with competing in a grand final.
They would never recover and
out in a thrilling final.
Farewell to
been dominated by the Army, with
fi ve straight victories, while Red The competition opened with despite a few close calls and an Richie led for much of the
the REME Stallions winning the
topped their pool. RN up against the Army, with the increasing number of injuries race until a freak wave and
the ONA
previous four tournaments.
After relatively easy quarter- soldiers on the end of a 4-3 defeat which started to signifi cantly
awesome jump slowed him
The RN participated for the fi nal clashes, the twin RN assault – despite leading 3-2 late in the reduce the size of the Senior
down, allowing Aldeiy and
fi rst time last year in Dundee, on the ISCC ended at the semi- third period. Service bench, the Navy put the
Orlando to catch up and
surprising many by claiming third fi nal stage – just. The Army bounced back from game out of the soldiers’ reach
overtake.
place. Navy Red found themselves that loss to overcome the RAF 4-2 in the third period, eventually
The two Royals’ boats
The standard of play has been pitted against the REME Stallions; in a physical encounter. winning 7-5 to be crowned the
vied for first place, but as
steadily increasing and there was a the Stallions were keen to avenge That meant a draw would fi rst tri-Service Champions.
the craft rounded the top
great deal of hope that this year’s the 8-0 defeat (their fi rst in the be enough to ensure the RN’s “This is what we had worked for
buoy on the course, Go
event would be hotly contested ISCC) they had suffered at the appearance in the final – and all year” said Lt Cdr Alain Bernard
Commando was caught in
with a wider selection of teams hands of Navy White in the fi rst they entered the match with (FOST Devonport).
the wash and beaten by its
competing for a place in the fi nal. round while Navy White eventually fresh players not available for the “I am glad that the guys’ efforts
green beret competitor.
With ever greater number of faced the Army All-Stars. previous game because of service paid off. Everyone is very tired – a
The races at Bournemouth
players joining the Navy team, the The All-Stars triumphed commitments. lot of hockey has been played but
left Go Commando in eighth
Senior Service managed to fi eld 6-3 (and subsequently lifted the The extra offence generated by the competition has defi nitely been
place in the national league,
two sides, Navy Red and Navy trophy), while the Stallions saw off the new arrivals would prove too a success with ice hockey reaching
with II in tenth and III 24th.
White, while the RAF and Army the Navy Red challenge 7-5. much for the RAF with Mne Alex the next level as a Service sport.”
Published by Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth and printed by St Ives (Andover) plc.
0048-052_NN_Jul.indd 548-052_NN_Jul.indd 5 119/6/07 16:55:219/6/07 16:55:21
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