NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2007 47
Peak effort
by cyclists
Royals invincible
THE Royal Marines held on to their Inter-Command hockey title after trouncing
SAILORS with the Cyprus the opposition at Burnaby Road.
Squadron headed into the hills to Just four teams competed in the championships; Scotland were unable
take part in the Mountain 2 Sea to field a side, but sent sent two players south, OM Lawrence turning out
cycle race. for Plymouth, then Portsmouth, while Lt Crockett played for Portsmouth
The event takes riders from throughout the tournament. OM Lawrence received a bottle of wine
the top of Mount Olympus for his trouble in making an 800-mile round trip to represent other
(not the home of the commands; he scored a goal for one of his teams and epitomised the
Gods, but Cyprus’ highest commitment and spirit on which the RNHA places so much value.
peak) round a rocky and The Royals held on to their crown with a 2-1 victory over Pompey, a
demanding 55km 6-0 demolition of Plymouth and a 7-0 thrashing of Naval Air
(34-mile) Command.
course. It was worthy of note that command teams with a command president,
Two chairman, and secretary-esque structure in place achieved success, those
teams from without did not, writes Alan Walker, RNHA.
the squadron A special meeting of the AGM committed the RNHA to working with all
(which comprises commands to produce a viable structure for future occasions. It is clear that
HM Ships Dasher and the PT branch at Command level needs Hockey to help itself.
Pursuer) joined 57 other squads Turning out for Portsmouth was Diver Daniel Martell, who had already
drawn from the three Services represented the RN at the county championships and against the Indian Air
on the Mediterranean island plus Force. He was voted player of the tournament, was about to switch branches to
civilian racers from around become a NA(AH), but sadly PVRed last month. We shall miss him; he still had 2
the world. years in the U23s and now he’s back home in Wisbech.
Battling against the The key hockey event in coming weeks is a new Inter-Branch contest, lined
punishing heat and up over the weekend of September 8 and 9, hopefully with chefs and stewards
difficult off-road trails, competing against deeps, warfare specialists, dentists, ETs etc.
‘2 Fishheads, a Crab The first day of the tournament will be a light-hearted seven-a-side mixed-
and a Scablifter’ gender event, followed on Sunday by the more serious 11-a-side contest,
posted the fastest which will close with a barbecue and disco/party.
time of the two The hope is that 200 players from across the RN-RM will converge on
squadron teams, Portsmouth for the weekend from a stock of 1,000 or so hockey players
finished in third place (present and lapsed!) in the Senior Service.
overall in 2h 56m, with rivals Details from Lt Cdr Walker on rnso1@a.dii.mod.uk or 9380
‘Operational not Decorational’ 24131.
some way down the field thanks
in no small measure to numerous ● Capt Richard Moore RM on the attack for the Commandos
punctures and mishaps. during their destruction of the opposition
AB(CIS) Matt Boner collects Picture: LA(Phot) Pete Smith, FRPU Whale Island
the purple heart for falling off
more times than any other sailor,
● Contrary to what you may have seen in the national press, there
while the ‘battler’ award was
were other players on the fi eld in the Rundle Cup, the annual polo
presented to Lt Cdr Alex Bush
clash between the RN and Army at Tidworth, as well as Prince
for completing the race with just
William – not least Lt Cdrs Nicholas Cooke-Priest and Allan
three gears working after severely
Wilson, Cdr Arnold Lustman and Cdre Richard Mason. They were
damaging his bike in a crash after
watched by a 5,000-strong crowd as they grappled with the Army,
just 14km.
Five-star Scott taking the lead before eventually going down to a 4-2½ defeat.
Picture: LA( Phot) Emz Tucker, FRPU Whale Island
Crisis? What
IN STARK contrast to last
To say Kelly’s playing of the
year’s championships at
18th hole was impressive is an
crisis?
sun-baked Hayling Island,
understatement. Covering the par
fi ve with a drive and wedge to the
this year’s RN golf contest green, Lown had no answer and
To the women, a cup
took place amid the fl ood
the match was halved making the
WIDESPREAD fl ooding in
waters of Yorkshire.
whole thing level.
Gloucestershire saw the River
The famous club at Fulford
The decider was fantastic
Severn burst its banks and
was the venue and despite the
sport for spectators. Each captain to the men, a spoon
meant only one thing for fi ve
elements, a thoroughly successful
selected one player from their
matelots based with Defence
championships was enjoyed by
team who then played sudden
Joint Technical Training at
some 55 of the Navy’s top players,
death. With both captains not
THE Navy’s female
against some sharp and accurate
RAF Innsworth... get the Open
writes Cdr Gary Skinns, RNGA
surprisingly selecting their No.1
cricketers took the
Army bowling.
Canadian canoes out and paddle
secretary.
player, Lomas from the Royals
honours in their inaugural
In reply, the Army looked to
upstream from Bishops Norton.
Arrival for the fi rst two rounds
held his nerve over LPT Mike
have a very strong batting line up,
The scene that greeted the
Inter-Services Twenty20
of the matchplay event was greeted
Setterfi eld (Heron) and clinched
particularly with Gnr Heyns and
team was one of utter devastation
by torrential rain, a practice
the title on the fi rst extra hole.
competition but their
Pte De Souza at the crease who
– whole fi elds were turned into
putting green under water and the
Thus the Royal Marines took both
male colleagues collected
stroked and smote the ball to all
lakes and debris was swept
18th green virtually surrounded
Inter Command titles for the fi rst
the wooden spoon in a
areas of the ground, including
downstream at a rapid pace.
time. Plymouth Command took
inside the marquee!
The river stopped for no-one
by a moat.
day of frantic batting and
third place prizes.
The Army easily overtook their
except the band of brave brothers.
Golfers are nothing if not
Fulford was a fi rst for the
bowling at Burnaby Road
target for the loss of four wickets
Paddling three miles upstream,
optimistic, but with the course
Navy Championships and both in Portsmouth.
with four overs to spare.
expedition leader, Lt Cdr David
closed and the rain showing no
players and offi cials were all made The men’s tournament is into
In the second match, the RN
Gibson remarked: “I have not
signs of abating, the day was
to feel most welcome. Despite its third year, but for the female
– defending champions – scored a
witnessed scenes of devastation
abandoned at lunch time.
it being deep in RAF country, players this was a new experience
respectable, but not totally match-
like this since my stag night in
This forced a reorganisation of
the members showed signifi cant at representative level, and the
winning 147-5 in their 20 overs
Barnsley 30 years ago.
the programme and after some
interest and were full of praise for first time the RN had hosted the
and had at one stage reduced the
“My team was fatigued towards
deliberations a revised format was
the players enduring not the best contest.
RAF to 117-9 with only three
the end and quite traumatised
arrived at to achieve results in both
greensomes event, CPO(WEA)
of conditions. While the men locked horns
overs to go.
by what they saw, but with
matchplay and strokeplay events.
Steve King and partner LOM Neil
Other matches for Navy golfers on the main ground, their female
It was therefore with total
my experience I managed to
The improvised matchplay
Dickinson shot an impressive 73.
have not gone too well this season. counterparts toiled alongside
disbelief that with only one over
motivate them to dig deep and
format proved popular enough
The Inter-Command team
On the men’s side, they played them on the Burnaby Road (West)
to go and 18 runs required, the
keep going.”
for it now to be considered as the
events again provided some
for the fi rst time in the Brent wicket.
only recognised RAF batsman left,
No other team members were
norm for the future.
exciting play and close fi nishes,
Knoll Bowl at Burnham and The grounds looked in
Ollie Bailey, attacked each ball and
available for comment but a
After the Monday deluge, York
particularly in the matchplay.
Berrow winning the consolation immaculate condition, well
hit 6, 6, 0, 4, 4 to record a win for
spokesman did say that the trip
appeared to escape the worst of the
Scotland were the surprise
plate, while defeats have been prepared and decked in Service
the RAF by one wicket with one
had been worthwhile and their
rain and play was uninterrupted
leaders after round one of the
encountered against Cornwall, ensigns, fl ags and sponsors
ball to spare. An incredible result.
efforts had been vindicated by the
thereafter. It’s worthy of note that
Inter-Command strokeplay, but
Leeds and District, the Civil banners. Thales sponsored
The fi nal match between the RN
discovery of a Mitre football and
the greenkeeping staff performed
only two shots separated three
Service and most recently Dorset. the men’s event and Qinetiq
and Army saw the Navy score an
a petrol can...
miracles in getting the course
teams at this stage.
The ladies enjoyed a successful the ladies, both companies
improved 169-5 in 20 overs with
ready for play on the Tuesday, and
With six out of eight scores
training camp in Portugal but their providing generous sponsorship
Mne Alvin Pollard (3 Cdo Bde
Chatham vs
the presentation of the course all
counting over three rounds,
fi rst match of the season against to Combined Services cricket, so
RM) smashing the ball repeatedly
week was simply superb.
large leads can soon appear and
Cams Hall Golf Club was fl ooded vital for its future development,
towards the marquee in the latter
Winner of the previous four
disappear. In round two, the Royal
out. In their most recent fi xture, writes Lt Cdr David Cooke, RNCC
stages of the innings.
Chatham
Navy titles, LNN Scott Gilbert Marines team began to show their
the ladies had an encouraging win spokesman.
The Army gave a predictable
(MDHU Portsmouth, pictured) strength in depth and although
over the Southwick Park ladies The highlight of the day for the
reply sending in some powerful
started as favourite and he set his threatened at one stage by Naval
team. Senior Service was the success
hitters early on, and again it
THE footballers of frigate HMS
stall right from the fi rst round by Air, they retained the title they
There is still a shortage of lady of its ladies team who defeated
was Heyns and De Souza, ably
Chatham found themselves
shooting a one-under-par 71. won at Hayling last year. Naval
golfers in the Service and anyone both Army and RAF teams
assisted by Cpl D Webb (Army
up against each other at an
Although he couldn’t match this Air were runners-up and Scotland
interested should contact the comfortably.
captain), who paved the way for
international tournament in the
for the remainder of the week, he third.
ladies secretary, Lt Debbie Vout Both matches were team
a comfortable army victory with
Netherlands.
gradually drew further away from The reorganisation of the Inter
on 9380 23958. performances by the RN side who
overs to spare.
The ship visited Vlissingen
the opposition and fi nally won by Command matchplay meant that
were most ably led by PO(MA)
Overall the day was considered
to celebrate the 400th birthday
six shots from CPO(MEA) Lee all players were involved over two
of Admiral de Ruyter, Holland’s
McCathie (Neptune). 18-hole rounds
PTIs unite
Emma Boswell (Keogh Barracks)
to be an outstanding success
who scored over 75 runs and took
enjoyed by payers and spectators
leading naval hero.
McCathie’s performance was The secretary’s seeding once vital wickets in both matches,
alike.
Away from the pomp and
one of the steadiest all week and again pitched Royal Marines and
THE RN Physical Training rightly earning her the title of
On a fi nal note, one further
ceremony, there was the he received much-deserved praise
Naval Air in the fi nal match and,
Branch Association held its ‘player of the tournament’.
interesting point is that of the six
serious business of a football in picking up the runner up
true to form, the two entered the
biennial reunion at Portsmouth’s For the men’s event a large
matches played throughout the
tournament to win. trophy. Third place went to Band
game exactly level.
Royal Maritime Club, with 83 number of corporate guests and
day, only one was won by the team
Chatham fielded two strong C/Sgt Freddie Lomas (RM Band
Right to the last, it looked as if
club swingers past and present sponsors mustered to watch what
batting fi rst.
sides which both made the Portsmouth).
Naval Air had the edge. With two
sharing sporting dits. promised to be a fascinating
RESULTS
semi-finals of the contest after All three players gain automatic wins each, Royals captain Sgt Ned The clubz were entertained by tournament.
Ladies: RN vs Army: RN 158-5 (20 overs),
Army 148-5 (20 overs) – RN won by ten
dispatching Dutch, Russian and selection to the Inter Service Kelly (RMR London) was three some traditional hornpipe and About 250 spectators fi lled a runs; Army vs RAF: RAF 145-3 (20 overs),
Portuguese teams. team. down with three to play against NA club swinging by the budding large marquee and members of
Army 146-2 (19.3 overs) – Army won by
And in the semis the two The other fi nal day winners Jamie Lown (845 Sqn) in the fi nal PTIs of PT Qualifying Course the public and a number of local
eight wickets; RN vs RAF: RAF 85-6 (20
overs), RN 87-2 (10.3 overs) – RN won by
Chathams met, with the A side were CPO Chris Wood (URNU match on the course and victory 51. schools could be seen in the stands eight wickets.
seeing off the B team 3-0. Birmingham) who was the leading for the airmen seemed certain. PTIs looking to bolster the on the eastern side of the ground.
Men: Army vs RAF: RAF 121-7 (20 overs),
The A team then faced a individual entry and Lomas who However, Kelly’s resilience had association’s numbers should The opening match between
Army 124-4 (16 overs) – Army won by six
wickets; RN vs RAF: RN 147-5 (20 overs),
squad from Portugal in the won the prize for the lowest fi nal not been reckoned and Lown, contact CPO(PT) Bailey at the Army and RAF produced no RAF 150-9 (19.5 overs) – RAF won by one
final – and saw them off too round (discounting winner and having done little wrong himself HMS Temeraire, Burnaby Road, real surprises and, batting fi rst, the
wicket; RN vs Army: RN 169-5 (20 overs),
with a 3-0 victory to take the runner-up). suddenly found himself only one Portsmouth PO1 2HB or temci@ RAF only managed to muster 121
Army 172-3 (15 overs) – Army won by seven
wickets to become Inter Service Men’s
tournament. In the non-qualifi ers’ hole to the good on the fi nal tee. a.dii.mod.uk runs for the loss of seven wickets Twenty20 Champions 2007.
0046-048_NN_Aug.indd 246-048_NN_Aug.indd 2 223/7/07 11:42:393/7/07 11:42:39
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