46 NAVY NEWS, MAY 2007
Four for good in Cornwall
From Dinos
THERE was a white tint to the golden sands of use of straight shots and a clubbing rear hand feet to move and throw shots against the slower
to heroes
Newquay as the RN boxing squad destroyed a he dazed his opponent early in the fi rst round and but stronger opponent N Gold. Quickly
Dorset and Cornwall side. – the bout was stopped before it reached the settling in, she found her range and used it to
THE RN’s resurgent ice hockey
All four naval fighters emerged victorious second with a win for Owen. good effect, throwing sound combinations to
side the Destroyers returned
in the whitewash, led by OM Sellers who is Finally, Mne Bedward again put in a valiant force a count early in the second.
mixed results against stronger
enjoying his ‘baptism of fi re’ since joining performance against local boxer Underwood Gold then tried to force Clare onto the back
civilian opposition after a run of
the RN team, writes Lt Lucy Abel, RN Boxing (Bodmin ABC). Bedward boxed well in the foot for the remainder of the contest, however
straight victories.
Association publicity offi cer. early rounds using skilful footwork and fl ooring Teeling stood fi rm and continued to throw
The team lost heavily to the
Rising to the challenge, Sellers found his Underwood with a strong left hook. Frantic a strong rear hand to win her fi rst bout on a
Isle of Wight Dinos (18-4),
range early against Poole ABC’s Lawrence. to retrieve the defi cit in points, Underwood unanimous points decision.
but bounced back to triumph
Raining in the shots, he troubled his opponent turned the bout into a brawl and after a scrappy AB Marshall found herself up against a
11-6 over the University of
in the fi nal round, landing solid rear hands, fi nal round the bout ended in a points victory strong opponent in K Osbourn, who set out to
Southampton Spitfi res 11-6.
forcing his corner to retire the Poole boxer. for the green beret. overpower her from the start.
The Dinos dressed four
Mne Ferguson faced a diffi cult bout against Also making their debuts were two female Covering up, the RN fi ghter looked to catch
English Premier League players
Shootin’s
Portland ABC’s T White, hitting the canvas in pugilists, taking on the Metropolitan Police at Osbourn on the counter. She was, however,
for the game when they became
the second round. He recovered well however, Bushey. under pressure for most of the round, but
available following the Isle of
and showed grit and determination to regain LWEA Clare Teeling (Collingwood) and AB came back to hurt Osbourn with a strong
Wight Raiders’ failure to make
startin’
his composure and end the bout with a points Andrea Marshall (Manchester) are only the combination only to be stopped by the bell.
the play-offs.
victory. third and fourth ladies respectively to don the The second round opened with severe
Due to leave and operational
In his debut for the Senior Service, Mne RN vest in the ring. pressure from the policewoman, enough for the
commitments, the Destroyers
THE combat shooting season
Owen faced Newquay ABC’s Hooton. Making Teeling started strong using fast hands and RN coach to throw in the towel.
could only muster ten players
kicks off in earnest this month
for the game with many of the
for the RN and RM Rifle
stronger players unavailable.
Association with skill-at-arms
Coast-busters
The pros were too much for a
competitions across the Senior
tired and overstretched RN team.
Service, writes Lt Liam ‘Dickie’
By the end of the third period
Byrd RN, association corporate
the Destroyers were down to just
communications offi cer.
seven skaters due to injuries.
Units from each area command
LWtr Adam Lappin (HMS
(Pompey, Plymouth/Scotland,
Kent) and LOM(C) Daz Smalley
Naval Air and Royal Marines)
(HMS Ledbury) put in strong
compete against each other, with FIVE Royal Marines and sailors set out to run, ride
performances in the defeat.
the SA80 A2 and 9mm, in four-
and kayak their way across New Zealand in one of the
The game against the Spitfi res
person teams.
was marked by the return of many
The competition dates are:
world’s most challenging endurance sports. regular players and the addition
Naval Air Command, May 7-
How hard can it be? was the somewhat fl ippant catchphrase of the of an experienced netminder in
11, Pirbright/Bisley, Surrey;
RNRM team embarking on Speight’s Coast-to-Coast race. the form of AET Alex Wilkins
Plymouth & Scotland, April 30-
The answer was clear to all after 17hrs of racing where only four of the (848 NAS) to take on a strong
May 2, Trevol ranges, Plymouth;
fi ve managed to fi nish the race – absolutely nailed, writes Lt Cdr Simon side which had not lost in their
Portsmouth Area, May 7-11,
Ablett (MGMS IPT).
previous seven games.
Pirbright/Bisley, Surrey;
The race is a gruelling 243km (150-mile) endurance The RN squad took the game
Royal Marines, proposed mid-
event which is considered one of the premier adventure to the Spitfi res, scoring three
September (date/location TBC).
racing events in the world. unanswered goals in the fi rst
Afterwards, individual shootists
It consists of six stages: a 3km run, 55km bike ride, period to take a lead they would
may be selected to take part
33km mountain run, 15km on the bike, 67km kayak and never relinquish.
in the RN Inter-Command
70km on the bike again. The whole event takes “It was good to see the
Central Skill-at-Arms Meeting
up to 19 hours to fi nish. guys playing as a team,” said
(CENTSAM) competition at
The majority of the 900 competitors Destroyers captain Mne Scottie
the National Rifl e Association in
complete the event over two days but Atkinson (45 Cdo), who bagged
Bisley between June 22 and July
the RNRM Team had entered the four goals and an assist in his fi rst
13.
World Championship where the best match back.
Combat shooting acts as a
multisporters in the world complete “I am really pleased with the
great opportunity to carry out
the course in a single day of racing. progress the team made while I’ve
Naval Military Continuation
Sgt Andy Fletcher, Cpl Denis been away in Afghanistan.
● Lt Cdr Simon Ablett kayaks through the Waimakariri
Training, within a competitive,
Gildea, L/Cpl Paul Baker and Lt
Gorge and (left) a delighted Sgt Andy Fletcher crosses the
“I think many of these new
challenging and fun environment.
Cdr Simon Ablett fl ew out two weeks
fi nishing line after 16 hours of racing
players might give us the edge we
Further details from Lt Byrd at
before the race to acclimatise. need to defeat the Army at the
corporate@RNRMRA.org or at
The preparatory period proved to be
led to boat damage.
Tri-Services in June.”
www.RNRMRA.org
vital because after a weeklong course
No amount of ‘black maskers’ could sort the problem and despite
Training continues every
recce the enormity of the race quickly
struggling on he missed a time cut-off and was withdrawn from the
second Tuesday in Swindon
Army put to
became apparent.
river.
as selection for the squad to
It had seemed challenging but achievable on
This left Dave, a good all-rounder and second on the run, to come
represent the RN at the Tri-
paper, but in reality every stage of the race had
through as the team’s fastest fi nisher in a time of 15h 55m and 107th
Services Championships in
the sword
some sort of complication that made it more
overall.
Sheffi eld draws near.
diffi cult than it appeared.
Andy, who struggled on the run but made up for it with strong bike
All Service personnel are
The terrain was technically diffi cult, the fastest
and kayak legs, closely followed him.
invited to cheer the RN players on
THE growing strength in depth
routes over the mountain and down the river
He had the dubious honour of having the slowest run time of all those
during the three-day competition
of the RN men’s lacrosse team
relied on local knowledge and the specialist boats
who fi nished the race.
where admission will be free
helped to ensure victory over
to be used were quite unlike anything the team had
Paul and Simon had steady races and fi nished third and fourth
and games held continuously
the offi cer cadets of Sandhurst,
paddled before.
respectively, with Simon crossing the line in 16h 50m as 149th overall.
throughout each day.
who headed to RNAS Yeovilton
They began to understand how the New Zealanders
In a year when conditions caused a quarter of the 205-strong fi eld
More information is available
for a trouncing.
had developed a reputation as the masters of to withdraw from the race, just fi nishing was no mean feat and every via the team’s website www.
The RN team, made up of
understatement. competitor had fully earned their can of Speight’s beer handed them at piczo.com/rnicehockey.
personnel from across the UK,
With a week remaining before the event the fi nish line.
converged before the match for
everybody had reduced his target for the race Team manager Andy was pleased with how the day went: “All fi ve
a quick training session with
from competing to completing. team members gave their all and the combination of hours spent training
This was also when the fi nal member of
Demise of the
former German international
and a ‘can-do’ attitude went some way towards overcoming our lack of
coach Nik Roberts.
the team, Maj Dave ‘No cuff too tough’ Ethel specialist skills and local knowledge. Considering the size of the challenge
The game started in frantic
arrived to a full brief from his team-mates I was delighted that four of the team completed the race.”
Tadpoles
fashion with POET(WE) G Teal
before starting his hurried race preparations. The race is extremely popular in New Zealand (akin to events such as
(DNR Manchester) winning
Before they knew it was 6am on race the London Marathon in the UK) and the Royal Marines participation
AFTER nearly two decades of
the face-off in front of an
morning and they began what would prove to resulted in interest in the national media with some good positive
teaching youngsters the art of
enthusiastic crowd.
be an eventful race because although the team publicity achieved.
swimming at the Temeraire pool,
The Sandhurst cadets, quick
members were not competing for the top places in The team would like to thank the New Zealand Army for their
the Tadpoles Club has sadly met
and fi t thanks to their training,
the race they had a race amongst themselves to contend with. hospitality and support during the race and the Royal Marine Central
for the fi nal time.
were not shy to put in the big
Denis, an experienced fell runner, developed a lead on the run Fund, RNRM Sports Lottery and a number of unit funds whose
The club was formed in 1989
hits. However the RN side
but struggled on the kayak leg with a few swims that ultimately generous backing made the trip possible.
by Service personnel and civilian
were just as keen to return the swimming coaches in Portsmouth
favour. to give instruction for free to
CPO(AET) S Walker (845
Record gone in 60 seconds
children aged four and up.
NAS) had a very busy game The loss of a key member of
in midfi eld providing the legs the Tadpole team, moving away
as the team transitioned from from the area after a dozen years
defence into attack. and growing front-line demands
S/Lt C Suckling (BRNC) INSPIRED by Roy Castle and Record It took six months of preparation on RN personnel, especially in
was on fi re in front of the net, Breakers as a youngster, LPT Sean alongside training partner CPO Nick Haigh the last couple of years, forced
teaming up nicely with LCH Cole fl icked through the pages of the to reach a stage where he could make a the club to close its doors on
Chick (Northumberland) to put Guinness Book of Records to see record attempt. Saturday March 31.
away some sweet goals against what was within his grasp. In two trial runs, Sean (pictured
a stern Sandhurst defence. The result was a mad minute in the left during a practice session by Dave
Back in the defensive half gym at HMS Raleigh where Sherfield) beat the target, but it needed
the RN dominated the Army the leading hand witness statements and video footage
Brothers in Oz
students with superior stick set out to achieve of the actual attempt to convince the
skills and confi dence in front at least 45 chin- Guinness supremos that the physical
DESPITE a heartbreaking
of goal with PO(WTR) J Cooper ups in a single training instructor’s efforts were worthy of
defeat in the rugby league
(845 NAS) making his lacrosse minute. inclusion in the famous book.
Challenge Cup, are the ‘brothers’
debut as a real thorn in the side Just a month before The first ‘real’ attempt ended after seven
downhearted?
of the Sandhurst attackmen. Sean’s record attempt, chin-ups; on the second try he got into his
No, they cry, probably because
In the end the RN proved too American gymnast stride after chin-up number ten. When the
the team were enjoying a two-
skilful for the pacey team from Robert Natoli had minute ended, Sean had accomplished
week tour of Australia as Navy
Sandhurst, winning 7-2. set the benchmark, 47.
News went to press.
The men of the match were with 45 lifts in 60 The record bid is awaiting verification
The tour is one of the
the four RN players that had seconds. from the Guinness team, but while he waits
highlights of the tenth anniversary
never even seen a lacrosse To complete the for the nod (or not) from the adjudicators, of the sport in the RN.
pitch before the game and exercise properly, Sean has his sights set on an even more The team had three matches
really proved their worth to the you must lift your demanding title. lined up against Antipodean
team. entire body with your “I’m aiming for the most chin-ups in 24 opposition in the Sydney area,
More information is available arms, lifting your hours,” he explains. as well as various RL-related
from Lt Dan Weil – intranet chin above an overhead bar, then “No-one has been daft enough to set activities to get the most out
e-mail RN Lacrosse or 93510 lower yourself until your arms and the record yet, but the baseline that will be of the sport in a land where it
6667. shoulders are fully extended. accepted is somewhere over 3,500.” thrives.
0046_NN_May.indd 146_NN_May.indd 1 117/4/07 18:44:247/4/07 18:44:24
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