46 NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2007
Six of the best
Police steal
from rowers
late victory
REAR Admiral Andrew
Mathews (Director General
A STRONG RNRL team was
Nuclear) couldn’t resist the
taken by coach Wayne Okell to
opportunity to leap into a boat
the York International 9s.
at the Joint Services Regatta in
The squad started well
Peterborough.
against York RU, in a tight and
Arriving to lend his support
controlled performance, followed
at the event (as patron of RN
by a demonstration of powerful,
rowing) he seized the offer of a
expansive rugby league against
race, writes Lt Louise Wooller of RN
the Beach Boys (a specialist 7s &
Rowing.
9s side).
He was one of over 30 oarsmen
The fi nal pool game saw
and women representing the
us come up against the 2006
Royal Navy against the Army and
champions, GB Police – a very
Royal Air Force. big, experienced and mobile team
Crews were competing in this would prove to be the game
a variety of boats, including a of the pool stage and it certainly
women’s eight (the fi rst in several didn’t disappoint.
years), and they achieved six With the police 12-6 up and
wins throughout the day, clearly seconds ticking away, super-sub
demonstrating that RN rowing is Johnny Platt found space down
a force to be reckoned with. (The the middle to score a length of the
Navy came second, sandwiched fi eld effort out wide which was
between the Army in fi rst place converted from the touchline to
and the RAF taking home the draw level before the fi nal whistle.
wooden spoon.)
The semi meant Team Fiji
The squad was well represented
(1st Btn Scots Guards) and
with some members coming back
undoubtedly the game of the
from sea, others heading out
competition so far. The soldiers
from shore establishments and a ● A grin from Lt Matt Twiselton as he enjoys sea kayaking off the Anglesey coast
had swept all before them,
particularly strong and committed
scoring all their tries out wide
group from Britannia Royal Naval
but they were no match for the
College.
Expeditionary oar fare
free-scoring Navy team, with Seli
In addition, Olympic hopeful
Bonamasi leading the way against
Lt Peter Reed arrived to lend his
his fellow countrymen in a 16-4
support to other RN rowers.
victory for the RN.
The race day followed the
That set up a rematch with the
club’s AGM and barbecue when
police where a missed knock on-
many members arrived to bid
by the offi cial proved to be crucial
farewell to chairman Cdr Dave
Hosking as he raced at the event
TEN sea kayakers are
The surf on the first day Lynx pilot currently on loan to the
RN kayaking and a training/ as it allowed the bobbies back in
for the last time before leaving the hoping to qualify as
was up to three feet, providing Royal Danish Navy), “in the right preparation day at HMS Temeraire
to the game. The police worked
RN later in the year.
excellent waves for coaching the place (top left hand corner of the on September 28, contact Lt Cdr
their way out of their own half
certifi ed instructors and
An accomplished oarsman,
more inexperienced paddlers island), at the right time (springs), Joe Wood at HMS Temeraire on
and scored a fi ne solo effort on
Cdr Hosking has represented
leaders this autumn so in the RNKA’s four new high- with the right people (debatable) mil 9380 25623 or Temeraire the fi fth tackle in the corner at the
the RN on numerous occasions
they can introduce the
performance surf kayaks, recently with the right kayaks.” SO2PP Wood J, Lt Cdr death to sink the Navy.
with great success and has always rest of the RN to the
bought with help from the RN He continues: “For some of us
been a stalwart of the organising
adventurous sport.
Sports Lottery. this was new and others had been
committee for training and racing.
Skills taught included surf here before.
No kayak expedition in the
His expertise and support have
safety, how to catch waves, turning “Myself, I was here nearly 34
open seas can take place without
Red-hot Winters
been integral to RN rowing for
at speed, reacting to the conditions years previously and many times
a qualified leader – something the
many years.
and surf etiquette (the rules of the since but unusually never in a sea
RN doesn’t have at present.
The regatta came at the
‘road’). kayak. I’d sailed, swam, flown and
For an attempt to paddle
climax of a successful year for
The intention was to run the climbed, but never paddled and and cool Lucy
around James Ross Island in
RN rowing. There are plans
RN championships on the second as I soon discovered I had been
Antarctica earlier this year, HMS
for BRNC to enter a crew into
day, but overnight the conditions missing a real treat.”
Endurance’s kayakers called on
ROYAL Marine John Winters blows against Roseman forced the
Henley Royal Regatta and a small
flattened so the contest will now The tide around Anglesey
civilian expert Mike Devlin.
lifted the fi rst national crown of referee to stop the fight.
number of the men’s squad are
take place next month at the Inter- runs like a huge river ebbing and
But to spread the word to the
his super-heavyweight career, Lt Abel drew the experienced
also hoping to enter as part of a
Services. flowing through the gaps in the
wider RN world, the association
battling not just his opponent but Christine Shergold (Pilgrims
Combined Services Crew (Lts
On a more adventurous note, islands before bursting out back
needs in-house experts.
fl u in a night of amateur boxing to ABC) in the semi-final. Superior
Ben Kadinopoulos and James
several RN paddlers took their into the sea.
So members of the RN Kayak
remember at HMS Nelson. fitness ensured a points victory
Fickling).
kayaks into the Irish Sea for a trip “A bunch of kids we were,
Association have been in the
The green beret entered the ring for the officer, who faced England
In addition, the women’s squad
along the coastline of Anglesey. daring ourselves to fit through
water regularly this spring and
against Lewsey’s Steve Parsons rival Leah Flintham (Stevenage
won the Services Pennant at
Apparently the last time we gaps playing backwards and
summer to prepare themselves for
barely recovered from illness. ABC) in the final.
the Pairs Head earlier this year
featured a major expedition by the forwards on the swell,” said Mark.
examination in October (when it
Yet he proved faster on his feet Lt Abel opened the decider with
(Lts Ally Pollard and Danelle
association to Ecuador in 2004 it The local seal population was
will be Mr Devlin passing judgment
and sharper with his fists than his a flurry of quick single shots and
McKenna).
was “cut down to a crappy little also out in force as the kayakers
on the kayakers’ ability).
much larger foe from Dunstable. combinations which prevented
These successes are achieved
column not worth wiping your arse paddled their way along, as were
The first surf training and
Winters comfortably avoided the Flintham from settling.
with ongoing support from the
with...” (Mea Culpa – Assistant the ferries to Ireland leaving
championship weekend was staged
Ed
slower shots from his opponent, Despite breaking her hand early
Sports Lottery and this year two
.) Holyhead (black plumes of smoke
for 18 paddlers at Sennen Cove in
although the Royal tired visibly in in the second round, the officer
new boats have joined the RN
Anyway... the Anglesey trip was, gave away their setting sail).
Cornwall.
the third round – but by then he claimed a comfortable 7-2 points
rowing fl eet – ‘Horatio’ and ‘San
in the words of Lt Mark Jameson (a For more details about
had an unassailable points lead. victory.
Carlos’ – which are much-needed When the bell rang he was The two remaining Senior
additions to enable crews to train proclaimed victor, 13-4. Service fighters also walked away
and race across the country. The fi nals of the ladies national with gold – although courtesy of
ABA contest were staged not at walkovers.
Ladies are all
Nelson but at Hendon Police But all four impressed England
College with 70 bouts squeezed coaches, who have invited the
into a single day’s boxing. quartet to a training camp in
on board
Four sailors were representing Sheffield this month with
the Service in the ring: WEA England’s top female fighters.
Sophy Roseman (Collingwood), “All of the girls have
The RN and RM boardriders Lt Lucy Abel (Sultan), LWEA trained extremely hard for this
held an all-female beginners’ Claire Teeling (Collingwood) and championship and thoroughly
weekend at Gwithian on the AET Sam Thomson (RFA Fort deserve their medals,” said coach
North Cornwall coast. Victoria/RNAS Culdrose). LPT Stuart O’Connor.
With instructers and beginners Roseman had her work cut out “I could not have hoped for a
divided into groups, training in the Class C U80kg category better result in the first season. To
began with warm-up exercises on against seasoned pugilist Sarah be invited to an England training
the beach followed by some basic Alderman from the Met Police camp is just the icing on the
surfi ng instruction. – recently selected for the England cake.”
Then it was time to take to the squad. If you’re interested in bolstering
waves to put the lessons learned Although less nimble than her LPT O’Connor’s potent squad,
into practice. opponent, Alderman’s experience contact him on 93832 4048 or
Great fun was had by all in the in the ring told and her heavy 07859 905024.
early sessions; the slight waves
provided adequate conditions for
the rookie surfers.
After a hard day’s surf
● Lacrosse purposes... Students from the University of Exeter close in on POET(WE(SM)) Teal during A decade of domination
beginners and instructors retired
the RN’s 13-8 defeat by the Devon side at RNAS Yeovilton (hence the brevity of this ‘report’!). For
to the nearby campsites for a hot
more details on lacrosse, contact Lt Dan Weil at 845 NAS on 93510 6667 or RN Lacrosse on Navy marina Continued from back page Victory in the swimming
shower and refreshments in the
Star. Picture: LA(Phot) Ian McClure, RNAS Yeovilton
diving board after taking a year
freestyle relay – with a new RN
form of a barbecue. out for the birth of her son. record – took the team to within
Day two focussed on practising She returned to the podium one point of the RAF on the fi nal
the lessons of the previous day immediately with two splendid leaderboard, with the Army a
and it was encouraging to see the
Rookies enjoy Cornwall gig
silvers in the 3m springboard and further seven points ahead to claim
majority of beginners surfi ng with 5m highboard. their tenth successive triumph.
some confi dence. Sadly her new diving partner The swimmers deserve praise
In all this was a fantastic
TWO teams of rookie sailors hauled traditional Pellow Starboard claimed the trophy, reaching
pulled out late on so the Navy from for their dedication and training
weekend which is becoming more
Cornish gigs through the water as they competed the quay two boat lengths ahead of their port
having had high hopes of glory had – they did the business in the pond
popular with each event.
for a century-old rowing trophy. rivals to lift the cup.
to be content with second place. when it mattered.
The next beginners’ weekend
New entry sailors in Pellow Division at HMS The future George V presented the cup at
The swimming began with a They know, however – and
will be held on September 8 and
Raleigh set out from Jupiter Point to race the 1½ Saltash Regatta back in 1909 as a prize for a race
maximum 11 points from Caroline everyone else in swimming knows
9, again at Gwithian. Details
miles to Saltash Quay during the Saltash Regatta, between offi cers.
Smart and Mhairi Muir in fi rst – that the architect of this and all
from club secretary PO(ACMN)
fighting for the Prince of Wales Trophy. Over the years the competitors have changed;
and second in the 400m, Caroline the other famous victories was the
‘Bungy’ Williams at 771 NAS
“Four weeks ago my division believed a gig for much of the trophy’s life the RN Engineering
cracking the 5 minutes barrier. man who coaxed and cajoled even
RNAS Culdrose Helston
was a concert,” said Lt Shaun Southwood, College at Manadon and fliers from RAF Mount
Other successes included a win frightened them into the water
Cornwall TR12 7RH, mil ext
Pellew Divisional Training Officer. “Now they’re Batten fought over it, racing in whalers.
for Gemma Howells in the 4x1 over the past year and the past
2522 or visit the website www.
a committed, disciplined crew and they reached With the closure of both establishments, the
individual relay and a one-two decade and he’s getting better at
royalnavyroyalmarinesboard
a highly-competitive standard.” cup transferred to Raleigh.
double again from Smart and it every year, namely coach Gary
riders.co.uk Muir in the 200m. Thomas.
0046-048_NN_Aug.indd 146-048_NN_Aug.indd 1 223/7/07 11:41:543/7/07 11:41:54
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