NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2008 43
The ridges of
Vättern down the hatches
Gokyo Ri FINDING naval offi cers near water is not unusual but to fi nd them
cycling 300km (186 miles) round the Vättern, the second largest
UP TO 65 sailors and Royal
lake in Sweden, perhaps is.
Marines will head to the
The four Portsmouth-based cyclists – Capt Peter Lambourn,
Himalayas next year for a series
Cdrs Jon Asbridge and Cdr Kris Nicholson and Lt Cdr Jules Lowe
of challenging climbs and treks
– recently took part in the Vätternrundan with some 17,000 other
aiming to help victims of combat
bike riders.
recover from their injuries.
The challenge is simply to complete the ride around the
Khumbu Challenge 09,
Vattern, which lies 90 miles east of Gothenburg and about 150
planned for next October and
miles west of Stockholm. There are no winners: the Swedes call it
November, will see a mix of
a motionslopp (fitness race).
veteran mountaineers and
The event fi rst took place in 1966 and has since grown to be
inexperienced climbers grappling
the largest recreational bike ride in the world in terms of the total
with a series of Nepalese peaks.
distance cycled by all the participants.
But the emphasis of the
Given the number of riders, the start is spread over several
expedition, says Cpl Steve Perry
hours which meant that the four offi cers had to set off from
RM of the Adventure Training
Motala on the eastern shore around 1am in dark, damp and cold
Centre at HMS Drake, is to
conditions.
re-introduce Service personnel
However, by the time they fi nished back in Motala the following
injured in the line of duty to the
lunchtime, the sun was shining and a couple of beers to celebrate
military environment and all the
their success were well appreciated.
support, camaraderie and banter
Meanwhile in Glencoe... Lt Doug Wylie, the area recreation
it brings. More importantly,
officer at HMNB Clyde, was having a wild time in the ‘70 Wild
believes Steve, it will “make them
Miles’ multi-sport event.
● Lt Cdr Adrian Olliver and LET(AE) Mark Needham do battle in the foil at the Inter-Services
aware that they are still part of
The event comprises a 47-mile cycle ride, a ten-mile kayak and
the family.”
rounds off with a 13-mile (uphill) run.
A main team of 12-16
Doug was one of 100 competitors from across the UK and set
experienced climbers will
Fencing numbers swelling
out with two distinct aims: to cross the finishing line in under
acclimatise in Khumbu by scaling
six hours and to raise at least £1,000 for charity, namely CLIC
Gokyo Ri, cross Cho La, and
Sargent which helps children and young adults suffering from
AFTER an evening to mark 275 Wollaston achieved fi rst place the numbers for the Inter-Services
ascend Lobuche East, before
leukaemia and cancer.
years of RN fencing at Fareham each respectively in sabre, foil and Fencing Competition which took
moving on to the technically-
The former he achieved with eight minutes and 38 seconds to
Museum – heralding an exhibition épée. place at RAF Cosford.
difficult assault on Ama Dablam,
spare. The latter he’s £96 short of (or was as we went to press);
on the sport – sailors picked The race for Master The RN team showed their
a 22,350ft mountain – “a steep
you can help him reach his financial goal at www.justgiving.com/
up their swords for the Senior Swordswoman was won by LMEA dominance at the sabre with
pyramid of ice with vertical walls
davidakadougwylie
Service’s annual championships. Wollaston as she came second in victories over both other Services.
and sharp, exposed ridges.”
As for the times he posted in the race... cycling – 2h 5m 43s,
The event showed that the sport both the sabre and foil. Unfortunately the foil team only
At the same time, a high
kayaking – 2h 3m 8s, and run 1h 42m 31s.
is still well and truly alive within The ladies turnout was at a high managed to beat the Army and
altitude development team
the RN. so the ladies foil Inter-Command the épée team were unsuccessful,
comprising a similar number of
The weekend saw an infl ux of was contested for the fi rst time earning a second position overall.
less experienced mountaineers new fencers eager to score a few in four years with Portsmouth The ladies did not have the same
will also trek through Khumbu hits off the more experienced being pipped to the post, 5-4, by success sadly. In the individuals the
before ascending Island Peak, entrants in sabre, foil and épée. Plymouth. results were very much the other
Pokalde and Lobuche East. Despite being placed fi rst The mixed Inter-Command saw way round with S/Lt Barbara Mair
And finally, two junior in sabre and second in foil, Lt four teams entering, but the Fleet winning a raft of medals to take
teams will form the crux of the Keith Bowers was denied Master Air Arm came away victors. the ‘Champion At Arms’ title and
expedition, each consisting of Swordsman by LAET Mark Ever keen to encourage NN(S) Leanne Parry won bronze
20 trekkers including around Needham whose overall score in beginners and intermediates, the in the sabre.
half a dozen personnel injured/ all three weapons, including third prize for best overall score without The men had to be satisfi ed
traumatised by conflict in place in sabre and second in épée, a medal, the Andrew Wallis with just a well-fought silver in the
Afghanistan and Iraq. These was just higher. Achievement Award, was won by épée gained by Lt Ralph Coffey.
teams will trek to Everest base Overall winners in foil and épée NN (S) Leanne Parry. Lt Verity The six-person team showed
camp then climb 18,200ft Kala were Cdr Matt Clark and Lt Will Fayne-Bailey also came away with the increase in numbers coming
Pattar which offers stunning Hale (RM) respectively. a trophy for best newcomer. through with BRNC winning
views of Everest. The ladies competition proved The RN championships also saw the competition and second and
● Checking out the fi nish of the 300km Vätternrundan are
Details from Steve on 01752 to be just as close as Lt Andreana four entries in the Inter-Unit six- third for HMS Sultan and HMS
(l-r) Cdr Kris Nicholson, Lt Cdr Jules Lowe, Cdr Jon Asbridge
555312 (mil 9375 65312) or Glendinning, Surg S/Lt Barbara person team competition and this Excellent in the three-person
and Capt Peter Lambourn
perrys@a.dii.mod.uk Mair and LMEA Gemma boded well with at least providing teams.
At sevens and nines
28 short in Twenty20
AFTER last year’s defeats by both Steve Hole scoring an impressive
other Forces, this year’s RN side 64 not out.
were out for revenge in the Inter- Navy openers Toogood and
Services Twenty20 cricket festival Upton started well carving out 24
in Portsmouth. before Upton fell to the consistent
IT WAS a glorious summer’s day
the Plate where they lost out to an extra time afternoon saw the start of the knockout phase The first match was an quick bowler Wade, in an over
when fi ve RN teams – four male,
golden try from the Lithuanians. of the competition . encounter between the RN and that Wade claimed two other Navy
one female – took to the fi eld for
In a genuine team performance, all In the Plate competition the fi rst match RAF and after the first ten overs scalps, all clean bowled.
contributed to a series of fi ne performances provided the winner of the ships’ competition the Navy were accumulating runs Until then, the RN run rate had
Kiel Week Rugby 7s Schietwetter against well-drilled and stubborn opposition. as Illustrious shaded it over HMS Nottingham – 89 with Lt Mark Toogood RN been on track, but that certainly
Cup.
Now you may have read above about Ark by virtue of a conversion. (CNR) 32 and Sgt Sean Needham turned the tide and even a breezy
The tournament – literally ‘crap weather
dispatching Bulwark. The Plate fi nal went to CTCRM led by (Cdo Logs RM) 30 at the forefront partnership between Lt Andrew
cup’ (!) – has been run annually since the mid-
Well, the amphibious assault ship also RNRL Veteran Chris Richards who nailed of the blitz. Ainsley RN (JSSC) 30 and Lt
1980s and regularly features teams from all
entered two sides in the 7s (cunningly named Illustrious with a fi ne display of attacking rugby A slight wobble in the middle Tim Burt RN (Argyll) 45 failed to
over Europe.
the first and second teams). to celebrate their return to the competition. order however, slowed the scoring enable the Navy to catch up and
Sixteen sides – from Germany, Lithuania,
The second team faced a harsh draw, The cup semis saw two matches between rate down considerably and only after their 20 overs were 28 runs
Scotland and the RN – gathered on the field at
including Ark Royal 1 and Gütersloh, and so four very evenly-matched sides, HMS Sultan a late flurry by Lt Jon Parker RN short at 140-8.
Kiel University.
were unable to progress beyond the groups. defended well against a strong and fast (Raleigh) 22 restored respectability The Army therefore retained the
HM Ships Bulwark and Ark Royal both
Bulwark 1, however, steamrollered opposition Collingwood team and in the end triumphed, at a final total of 151-8. Men’s Inter Services Twenty/20
fi elded sides, the latter sent a female team on
in the group stage, clocking up 157 points for winning by the odd conversion. POAEA Keith Adams (Nelson) trophy after a most entertaining
to the Kiel turf; most of the ladies were playing
just fi ve conceded (including a 59-0 drubbing The second semi was between two struck in the first over claiming day’s cricket.
their fi rst competitive game of rugby.
of Hamburg Exiles). contrasting sides. Nelson fi elded a strong side ex-CS skipper Flt Lt Tim Adcock
They played four tough matches against
That earned the fi rst team a place in the whilst Heron were a lighter team and just had for a duck and Adams, Parker and
opposition sides boasting considerably more
semis against DRC Schwalbe, full of Fijians... the edge in the speed department highlighted MA Gareth Freeman (Illustrious),
experience than our ladies.
who promptly saw off the sailors’ challenge by fl ying winger Aaron Hansen. He added to held all the other early batsmen
Sean’s got
Despite this they put in highly–creditable
47-0. his previous tournament scores with another in check.
performances, tackling harder and passing
Bulwark bounced back from the trouncing, long-range effort to help his team on their way Late wickets were taken by
sweeter than many of their rivals. Even now
however, to win a third-place play off 31-10. to the fi nal. Toogood (2-16), Mne Ash Haw the power
there will still be numerous young German
The fi nal was an all Army (and almost all That match was a thriller with neither side (42 Cdo) and Mne David Upton
females having fl ashbacks to that weekend.
Fijian) affair. being able to seize the initiative. As the fi nal (Temeraire) sealed their fate at a THE RN made a big impact at
Never having played beyond the confi nes
As expected it was a bruising, fl air-fi lled whistle approached, Heron were ahead by four total of 125 off 18.1 overs and a the annual European powerlifting
and entertaining encounter and was a suitable points but Sultan were not fi nished and with win for the RN by 26 runs.
of their training complex (know affectionately
championships at Castleblaney in
climax to an excellent day’s rugby with the the last play of the match went over under the That result meant that the RAF
as ‘the hangar’), AB(CIS) Tegwyn Leadbetter
Northern Ireland.
atmosphere only heightened by the appearance posts. had to return to the field and After a great performance
emerged as the leading female player in the
of glamorous cheerleaders on the sidelines. The conversion attempt was caught by confront a formidable-looking in the British Nationals with a
tournament.
DRC Schwalbe were crowned the winners the strong wind and bounced off the upright Army side, and, batting first total lift of 490kg (1,080lb) LPT
The men’s second team, the Ark Royal
of the tournament whose standard, organisers leaving the scores all square at full time. never looked comfortable. All Sean Cole qualified to represent
Valentas, were a nine-man tribute to the Ship’s
said, “was even higher than in previous years”. For the second time in the day the match the Army bowlers pitched in and England – the first time the
diesel engines claiming that like them “we run
The Ark team are in action again at present went to the golden point. they dismissed their light blue PTI has lifted at this level in the
all day, will drink anything and have the power
in a tournament in Norfolk, Virginia later this Almost from the restart Heron went on the counterparts for a paltry 105. 67.5kg class.
to electrify.”
summer, before the 15s start their season next offensive and went over for the winning score In return, the Army batsmen On this occasion Sean
Like most engines the team took a little while
month. earning them the RNRL 9s title for 2008. never looked in danger and past managed to break his military
to warm up, suffering group stage defeats to a
Meanwhile in the sport’s other code, eleven Despite the heavy operational and training their target for the loss of only world record with a 160kg squat,
strong Kiel side and the Lithuanian national
teams entered this year’s RN Rugby League load, the fact that 11 teams made it to the four wickets in just 13 overs, and 117.5kg bench press and 235kg
team.
9s competition at HMS Collingwood with competition featuring well over 120 players therefore the last match of the day dead lift – 512.5kg in total and
Once up and running however the team put
Heron claiming the cup, writes WO1 Keith was a tribute to the efforts of the team became a fitting final. second place overall.
in a sterling performance in their fi nal, notably
Humpleby, RNRU press offi cer. managers and coaches in getting their players The Army batted first and got As we were going to press,
ET(WE) ‘Flipper’ Roberts running in four of
On a very hard pitch and played in hot, very to Collingwood. off to a flier, Adams conceding Sean was in action again, this
the team’s nine tries. Valenta winger ET(ME)
windy conditions the teams played out some A massive thanks to POPT Mark Brocklesby 25 runs in his first two overs, but time in Bradford at the British
‘Monkey’ Bawden also received an award in
thrilling matches with the speed merchants who once again put together a great competition fortunately Parker’s hostility at single lift championships where
recognition of the hard work he put in over the
making the most of the conditions. and almost single-handed ran the day’s events. the other end brought him two he was aiming to beat his 250kg
course of the weekend.
In addition to the nine men’s teams two One other person deserves a special mention wickets for three runs in his first dead lift record.
The unimaginatively-named Ark Royal 1 was women’s teams were added to the fi xtures was Army Referee Gareth Ricketts who had two overs.
After that he’ll be heading
the fl agship team and played an entertaining and once again the RNRL women triumphed fl own over from Germany to offi ciate the match Freeman replaced Adams and to the USA in November
brand of passing 7s throughout. over Army opposition provided by the Medical and due to injuries to other nominated offi cials with his accurate left arm swing representing GB at the world
Ark 1 won two of the three group games, Services Regt in both their matches. found himself the sole offi cial referee. To his conceded only 13 runs in his championships.
including a victory over HMS Bulwark, and Winger Sam Halford scored three tries great credit he did ref most of the matches and allocated four overs, but Toogood, More details on the sport in
were only narrowly defeated by the eventual overall and this performance earned her the was ably supported by Danny Johnson and Haw and Upton proved to be the RN/RM are available from Lt
fi nalists from 11 GS Sqn in Gütersloh. ‘player of the tournament’ award. Scott Partis to give him some much needed expensive towards the end and the Cdr Simon Wynn (96218 5520)
The team progressed to the semi fi nals of Following the morning’s league stages the downtime. Army managed to post 168-6, Sgt or LPT Cole (94229 4723).
0043_NN_Aug.indd 143_NN_Aug.indd 1 114/7/08 11:41:154/7/08 11:41:15
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