NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2007 45
NNot soar losersot soar losers
THE Senior Service held on to
the Inter-Service hang gliding
gong they snatched from the
wings of the RAF and Army 12
months ago – and added an
individual title in storm-laden
Welsh skies.
The team arrived in southern
Wales having spent a week in
the skies beforehand honing
their skills, so come competition
week everyone was on top form
and fl ying their best, ready to
defend the title, writes Lt Steven
Blackler, HMS Ark Royal.
The first day of the
competition was a light day on
top of the Blorenge mountain
Barney’s back
near Abergavenny but the
furthest fl ight was only 9.7km
(six miles), 300m short of the
activating distance so the task
was annulled.
A POPULAR veteran of military impressive achievement for such Day two was overcast
equestrianism came out of a venerable old gentleman and above Merthyr Tydfi l and team
retirement for one day only to brought a smile to everyone who captain Lt Cdr Rob Dowdell
make a guest appearance at the witnessed it. (Lynx Trapper pilot with Flying
Royal Navy and Royal Marines During their long association, Standards at Yeovilton) won the
equestrian championships at Rachel has achieved a lot of success day with an excellent fl ight in
Southwick Park. with Barney, including wins at the testing conditions. Rob (pictured,
At 25 years old the thoroughbred 1999 Larkhill and Sandhurst horse right) covered 40km (25 miles)
gelding Lynefoot Barnes, or Barney shows and numerous placings in – double the distance fl own by
as he is known, has been owned a variety of military and civilian most of the other competitors.
and competed by Lt Cdr Rachel shows. Not even former British Hang
Firth (pictured above on Barney) In 2003, it almost came to an Gliding team member and
in a wide variety of equestrian end when horse and rider came Tornado pilot Sean Kimberly
disciplines for almost 18 years. to grief at the military section could out-fl y our XC hound.
With a human equivalent age of the Gatcombe Horse Trials. The third day opened under
of over 90, Barney stepped down Fortunately, they fell in opposite overcast skies – which turned
from full competition in 2005 directions and Rachel survived to rain sadly, forcing a 30km (18
and has been enjoying a very with nothing more than broken mile) task to be cancelled.
comfortable retirement in Sussex hands and a broken shoulder while Days four and fi ve signalled
with his stablemate and Rachel’s Barney was merely concussed. the start of the fl ash fl oods and
current competition horse, the Rachel herself is now also on the tornadoes, which marked the
eight-year-old mare Cromarty. verge of retiring from the Service. end of the competition and the
Nevertheless, such is Barney’s During her equestrian career she start of the British summer...
general fi tness and character she has represented the RN virtually but by then the Royal Navy had
felt that he would enjoy a romp every year since 1982; she has done enough to seal victory.
out at one of his favourite venues served ten years as the secretary Rob’s superb fl ight on the
as a guest entrant in the new of the RN&RM Equestrian second day also meant that he
riders’ competition, competing for Association and in 2005 and 2006 is now fi nally the Inter-Service
fun rather than reward. she was the captain of the RN champion after being runner
Completing a very creditable showjumping team. up more times than anyone can
dressage test considering his The offi cer’s young mare, remember.
general aches and pains, Barney Cromarty is now beginning to Even though the weather was
(and rider) followed that with realise her true potential and disappointing, the overall result
a lively clear round over 75cm Rachel is looking forward to was fantastic and the warm the training pipeline so there
fences. continuing her competitive activity up week proved that the Royal is no reason why next year we
Although past glories have as a civilian while at the same time Navy have some very capable can’t win the title for the third
Warships IFR
been achieved against much keeping Barney fi t and active and hang glider pilots. year in a row.
bigger obstacles, both in the ring hopefully enjoying a long and The team also has some More details from www.
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was causing problems to the RN Five minutes later, Wtr Laura
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After 15 minutes the RLC her fi rst move was to link on to a
At the end of June, the RN
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The confusion as to whether it
This led to ten minutes of senior players, and as the Senior
martin@hp-bookfinders.co.uk
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HMS INVINCIBLE
match. chip the ball over LMEA Burns in
A different squad saw fi ve new
By Neil McCart
The second period saw a few the goal to seal a 4-1 victory.
women playing their fi rst game
The well illustrated story of the first of
changes from the Army team Overall it was a good outing the Royal Navy’s new generation of aircraft
for the Navy, but the heralded
and this, coupled with a better which saw some promising debuts
carriers from the Falklands War to the early
return of Becky Webb sadly did
performance from the RN led to a from the fi ve new players: AET
years of the 21st Century.
not materialise.
much better half. Campbell, ETME Hogan (Sultan),
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their stride, and found that the a scuffed shot was easily saved by 2.
0045_NN_Sept.indd 145_NN_Sept.indd 1 221/8/07 10:28:061/8/07 10:28:06
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