46 NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2007
Commandos in Watergate affair
Windsurfers’
triumph
marina Continued from page 48
start line and back around again
and down to finish on Prickly
Pear Island.
For windsurfers on the upper
side of ten stones it wasn’t
much fun, apart from about ten
minutes when the wind picked up
enough to enjoy it.
CPO Walker, however, excelled
in these conditions and finished
fourth overall and third in class.
Next came the Anegada 13-
mile race – further than any of
Top grades
the RN team had windsurfed in a
straight line before.
The first part of the race
from A to Q
suffered lots of ‘holes’ with the
wind dropping which was very
frustrating, but the second part
ENGLISH. Maths. Chemistry.
was great.
French. Geography. History.
The last stretch towards the
Boxing
beach was the best – flat water
.
and bearing away going faster
Boxing? Not a typical
and faster.
qualification for your average
Adrian Wallis made a great
school-leaver... until now, thanks
recovery from an unusually bad
to the efforts of the Navy’s
start to finish 18th; by sailing a
outgoing (in both senses of the
different course to everyone else
word) ‘Mr Boxing’ (pictured
he stayed in the constant winds.
above).
Lt Morris took third place and
A stalwart of the sport in
CPO Walker was seventh.
the Senior Service for the past
Thursday saw a race around
two decades, first in the ring,
Necker Island - Sir Richard
then outside it, PO(PT) ‘Q’
Branson’s personal paradise, one
Shillingford has finally hung up
which you can rent for a mere
his No.1s to concentrate, er, on
$48,000 a night for 20 guests (a
boxing in civvy street.
He has ambitious targets for
ANOTHER month, another breathtaking (or trailblazing Go Commando I claimed ninth top spot in the final round of racing, and took
bargain when you consider drinks
the sport – to offer a GCSE in
bonkers) picture from the world of Zapcat position in the national championships fourth place in the rookie championships.
are included).
racing as Go Commando II driven by Maj in his second year of competitive racing; “There’s nothing like Zapcat racing in the
Again there were some good
boxing, to swell the number of
Aldeiy Alderson and Lt Orlando Rogers novices Aldeiy and Orlando were seven surf,” Orlando assures us. “It’s the ultimate
results with Lt Morris second in
qualified boxing tutors and, above
leaps above the surf at Watergate Bay in places behind them, and the Holt brothers, combination of skill, speed, courage and
his class, CPO Walker seventh
all, to raise the sport’s profile so
Newquay (pictured by PO(Phot) Sean Clee, C/Sgt Mark and Cpl Paul, in Go Commando adrenaline.
and WO1 Strudwick a couple of
it sits happily alongside football,
RN Photographer of the Year). III were just in the bottom half of the table “When I’m not getting an adrenaline rush
feet behind running up the beach.
cricket and rugby.
This will be the last image for some time in in 22nd place. in the RM, Zapcat is just as good – if not
Richard Branson was even
Key to getting boxing into
Navy News as the season is now over for the The last weekend of the contest saw better.”
there waiting to greet the team as
Britain’s top three sports (it’s
three RM Zapcat teams (Go Commando I, II eight-to-ten foot waves rolling ashore. Go Commando II built up quite a reputation
it arrived.
currently ranked 14th) is to
and III) and, in true Bruce Forsyth fashion, Combined with the Cornish rain, it made for in their inaugural season... chiefly for their
There was a brief interlude
encourage youngsters to pick up
didn’t they do well... an exhilarating finale to the season. performance above the surf doing vertical
of a pirate party where (almost)
gloves from the age of five (this
They did. Sgt Richie Lake and his Go Commando II claimed the Division 2 ‘wheelies’.
everyone dressed as Blackbeard
is, of course, a non-contact sport
and Co and downed the odd
at this stage).
glass of wine.
But to encourage youngsters,
Podium fi nish
It seemed like a good idea at
you need teachers.
the time, but the next morning
“If you look at swimming, you came the 27-miler, one of the
have a teacher to show you how longest windsurfing races around.
to swim and a coach to bring There was a severe attrition
you on. In boxing there was no rate; fewer than half the racers
teacher, just a coach,” says ‘Q’. finished (although six of the 11
Working with children and staff RN team crossed the finish line).
at Paulsgrove Primary School The week’s fun ended with two
in Portsmouth, he devised a
for cyclists
races around two small islands
course to develop tutors, then a and prizegiving.
boxing awards system to teach There were five trophies for the
youngsters to box, from the Brits to carry home. CPO Walker
absolute basics to stepping into came third overall and second
the ring for a contest one day. in his class and Lt Morris was
From small acorns, the scheme fourth overall, third in his class.
has mushroomed; it’s now With more consistent winds
endorsed by the Amateur Boxing
NAVY cyclists rode into history this
Having won the team title in 2005 the RN were narrow one over Childs. With Kelly making a
there would have been a very real
Association of England and by chance of an overall victory.
Amir Khan, Britain’s IBF light
autumn claiming a top-three fi nish
determined to claim back their crown. tremendous impression in fourth place, the RN
welterweight champion. in national team rankings.
The individual championship had been team dominated both the individual and team
held by a Navy rider since 2004, with Childs honours yet again.
There is a glossy series The team clocked up victory upon victory,
winning in 2004 and 2005 and Drew taking the The British ‘best all-rounder’ ranking saw
Squash title
of record books to follow a shattered RN records and personal best times.
title in 2006. the RNRMCA’s top riders compete at the very
youngster’s progress (books For good measure, they beat the rival Services
This year was to be no different when Childs
which all happen to feature
highest level throughout the season, chasing
in a new competition.
reclaimed the individual championship for a
various fast courses around the country in order
up for grabs
recruitment adverts for the Winning ways began with the RN 100-
third time, thus keeping the trophy in RN hands
RN/RM), certificates to reward
to improve their times; they didn’t disappoint.
mile championships incorporated into the
for a fourth consecutive year with a distance of
THE RN squash championships
achievements and a DVD Western Time Trial Association event held
This ranking takes the riders’ fastest average
just over 269 miles.
will take place at HMS Temeraire
presented by the sailor/boxer near Cirencester on a wet and windy morning,
speeds over 50-mile, 100-mile and 12hr races.
They also reclaimed the team title, assisted
in Portsmouth on December 7-8.
to show potential tutors how to writes CPO(PT) Sean Childs (HMS Drake).
They surpassed all previous personal best
with some great performances from C/Sgt
Players of all abilities are
bring his beloved sport to the The weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the
and expectations to be ranked the No.3 team
Stuart Edwards (42 Cdo) in fi fth with 255
encouraged to attend and enter
masses. Navy riders though and it was Childs (Drake)
in the country. Individually Childs was ranked
miles and Satchwell in 6th. Bob Richards (a
in one or a number of categories,
More than a dozen schools in who continued his winning ways by taking
eighth, Stanton 23rd and Edwards 58th.
former CPO and affi liated member) also won
which are: men’s open, ladies
the Portsmouth area alone are both the open and RN honours in a new Navy
The fi nal icing on the cake came during
his veteran age category.
open, men’s U25s, men’s veterans
involved with the boxing awards record of 3h 49m 58s.
the newly-formed Combined Services Sportif
Stanton became only the second RN rider to
(over 40), men’s vintage (over 50)
and across the UK there are now Riding their fi rst 100-mile race, Lt Steve
championships which took place around the
break the 20-minute barrier for a ten-mile time
and doubles.
700 qualified boxing tutors. The Kelly (Collingwood) and PO(D) Keith
rolling terrain of Newbury towards the end of
trial during the Andover Wheelers CC Open
All players will be given a free
senior rate is confident by the Satchwell continued their close rivalry with
September.
event, with a stunning 19m 51s, 30mph-plus
squash playing shirt on arrival at
end of next year that figure will sterling performances to fi nish 11th and 13th
Sportifs are a fairly new concept in cycling
ride.
the Championships
have grown by 8,000. (second and third in the RN championships)
where riders of varying abilities participate over
The Inter-Service Championships, hosted
More information from unit
As for the boxing GCSE, with 4h 10m 51s and 4h 11m 40s respectively.
by the Army near Poole, saw a very strong and
a set course and distance to be rewarded with
PTIs or Lt Cdr David Cooke RN
accredited by ASDAN The RNRMCA also won the open team event.
large Navy team complete a victorious double
either gold, silver or bronze merits for their
(Secretary RNSRA) on 02392
(Alternative Skills Development One lucky rider to escape a serious injury
in both the ten and 25-mile championships for
performance against the clock.
723742 or 9380 23742, e-mail
Accreditation Network) it was CPO(MEA) Aran Stanton (Nelson) who
a third consecutive year.
Solid performances by all riders ensured
Intranet Temeraire RNSO4,
would see youngsters rewarded parted company with his bike at 30mph during
During the ten miler, the Navy nearly made
they took both the 75 mile and 115 mile team
Internet rnso4@a.dii.mod.uk.
for their ability and knowledge the early stages of the race, resulting in some
it a one, two, three, with Childs taking the
championships titles.
of the sport, as well as related nasty leg and shoulder cuts and abrasions.
honours in 20m 40s from CPO(MA) James
The last event for the Navy riders was the
skills: organising a tournament, He remounted and tried in vain to continue,
Smith (RCDM Birmingham) the runner-up in
Sid Valley CC Hill Climb, which incorporated
’bout time for
overseeing the refurbishment of a but the pain was too much.
21m 23s and Stanton in fourth in 21m 39s, just
the RN championships.
gym, completing a course in first One week later 19 Navy riders descended
one second off third place.
Starting on the sea front at Sidmouth, the
aid or coaching. upon Buckfastleigh for the mid-Devon CC 25- The ladies race also saw a fi rst for the RN
riders set off up the ever ascending 1.1-mile
a new gym
And all of this, says ‘Q’, stems mile Time Trial, which incorporated both the when LMA Mhairi Muir became the fi rst lady
course to the top of Peak Hill.
RN and RM Sports Lottery cash
from his involvement in the sport South West district and RN championships. to win an Inter-Service cycling championship
A newcomer to the sport, Sgt Nick Keast
has helped fund a tip-top new
with the RN down the years. Again it was another good day for the senior in 27m 26s.
(RMR Bristol) used local knowledge to take
boxing gym at HMS Raleigh.
“I’ve used all my coaching, service when Childs won the open, South West The results were just as good the following
a close Navy victory from Jerry Bromyard
What was once a static
all the experienced gained as a and RN titles in 52m 26s. morning in the 25, when Childs again won with
(associate member) with Mark Gorman
weight training area in the
professional trainer in the RN Kelly fi nished 9th overall and runner-up in the a new RN record of 50m 46s, completing the
(associate member) in third.
Torpoint establishment’s main
and directed into these courses,” RN champs with 55m 13s and WO(SA) Garry double (also for the third consecutive year), this
The season has seen the Navy take more open
gym is now dedicated to the art
he adds. Drew (Chatham) made a brief reappearance time from a very determined Stanton in runner-
wins than ever, with over twenty individual and
of pugilism.
“I can’t thank enough everyone racing during a busy ship’s programme to claim up spot with a personal best of 51m 22s, with
ten team wins. New RN records have been set
As well as a boxing
who’s supported Navy boxing 17th and 3rd RN rider in 57m 18s. Smith 7th in 54m 20s. Muir completed the
at 25 miles (twice), 50 miles (twice), 100 miles
ring, facilities provided for
and I’m really going to miss the Other riders to fi nish below the hour ladies double by winning in 1h 7m and 30s. and 12 hrs and many riders achieved personal fighters included a separate
loyalty, the cameraderie that you mark were Lt Cdr Lee Sanderson (MOD The fi rst year of the Combined Services bests. conditioning area with heavy
find in the RN.” Abbeywood) 58m 9s, Satchwell 58m 15s and ‘best all-rounder’ ranking series proved to be a This year’s AGM will take place at the punch bag and other bespoke
Somehow, we don’t think we’ve PO(AEM) Scott Markham (Culdrose) 59m tremendous success. Nuffi eld Bar (RNAS Yeovilton) on November boxing kit.
seen the last of ‘Q’ in these pages. 41s. Based on a rider’s average speed for their 29 at 5.30pm. Raleigh has a 16-strong
You can learn more about the The Welsh 12-hour championship held near fastest ten, 25 and 50-mile events during Details from CPO Childs at childss@a.dii. boxing squad coached by LPT
courses at www.abae.org.uk Abergavenny was another success for the team. the year, it saw Stanton take victory, albeit a mod.uk or www.navycycling.org.uk ‘Arnie’ Arnold.
0046-047_NN_Nov.indd 146-047_NN_Nov.indd 1 222/10/07 09:29:192/10/07 09:29:19
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