NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2008 49
es: keith woodland
pictur
● You can’t beat a bit of bully (offs)... (Clockwise from above) RN captain Lt Dave Potter lunges in to make a block against the Mercians;
when life was in black and white... the RN Master Veterans line up; Cdr Heber Ackland attempts to outpace former England international
Peter Nail; the U23s charge out from the goal line; hand of friendship... S/Lt Rachel Rake with Mike Smith, long-standing supporter of RN
hockey
Raising the banners
IN A seven-day bonanza, the Royal Navy Hockey
The RN veterans took to the fi eld next; WO Nigel Buckley had
Association rounded off a highly successful year
assembled pretty much an Inter-Service squad to compete against a
and warmed up in great style for its centenary
Mercianary Veterans side comprising four former England and Scotland
internationals. The fi nal score of 2-2 was a great result at the end of
season, writes Capt Mark Darlington. another closely-fought game.
The action-packed programme opened with a PT Qualifying The women’s match took place under the watchful and supportive eye
Course. Normally the ‘Quals’ would spend fi ve days of their six- of Capt Lynne Gibbon QARNNS, women’s vice president, sadly in her
month course earning English Hockey’s Leadership Coaching Award last few days in the Naval Service. As Matron in Chief QARNNS, Capt
and Foundation Umpire Award. Gibbon has been a strong supporter of women’s hockey and it is hoped
After a day of intensive coaching and practising under the weathered that she will retain her contact with the team in retirement.
eye of Combined Services chief coach Lt Cdr Alan Walker, helped by The match ended 4-0 to the Mercianaries – a scoreline which hides
hockey stalwarts LPT Shiner Wright and Mne Alan Thomson, the 19 the hatful of chances which the Navy women created against far more
qualifi ers put their new-found skills to the test as umpires and coaches experienced opposition.
for more than 300 nine to 13-year-olds during a two-day festival of For the senior men’s match, Mercian did the Navy proud turning
hockey for local Hampshire school children. out a mix of past and current internationals against the Inter-Services
“All the wannabe PTIs performed brilliantly and the children had a Champions for four of the past fi ve years.
fabulous time. The past two days have been a superb advert of all that is Lt Cdr Walker was delighted to welcome some of his former England
best in the Royal Navy,” said Lt Cdr Walker. U21 players from 1992-94 who went on to full England and Olympic
On the fourth day of the bonanza, the men’s and women’s outdoor status. Prominent in a wonderful match were Simon Mason, Ben Barnes,
Inter-Command tournaments began. Manpreet Kochar, Mark Pearn, Danny Hall and Simon Faulkner.
With many players deployed on operations, each Command took great This was the outstanding match of the weekend. With three minutes
pride in raising its banner and fi elding full-strength sides to battle it out to go the Navy were winning 7-6. By full time, through sheer white-hot
against the others. brilliance, the Mercianaries had won 8-7.
The fi ve Command team banners, each 3ft wide by 14ft high, “This was truly a fantastic game of hockey, and one the RN team will
dominated the Temeraire skyline and the Command Colours, logo, and remember for a long time,” said RN captain Lt Dave Potter.
the imprinted faces of a number of RN hockey players fl uttered in the A fi tting fi nale to four splendid, superb games of hockey was provided
warm summer breeze. by the Corps Drums of the Band of the Royal Marines Portsmouth who
At the end of the fi rst day in the men’s tournament, Naval Air were gave a very special and breathtaking display on the running track in front
ahead of the Royal Marines on goal difference, and in the women’s of a packed Victory Stadium.
competition a combined Naval Air/Scotland team had the edge over both Sunday dawned – and the years rolled back. Thirty-plus RN master
the Portsmouth and Plymouth teams. veterans aged between 50 and 76 took on an Army over-50s team in
With 150-plus players and umpires present for the Inter-Commands, three twenty-minute one-way fi xtures.
what better time to hold the sport’s annual general meeting. In some cases it had been more than 50 years since some of the RN
How fi tting it was to recall that the U23 and senior men’s RN team had played together – in most cases they were all from different
representative teams in their pre-centenary season had both achieved eras.
the Inter-Services indoor and outdoor double, the Royal Marines had All the master veterans experienced the thrill of playing again on
won the Inter-Command indoor and Naval Air had reached the West what used to be the fi nest grass pitch in the South of England, superbly
of England Indoor semi-fi nals and won the men’s and women’s Navy prepared for the occasion by the groundsmen at Burnaby Road East.
Cup and the men’s and women’s Tri-Service Cup Winners Cups. The ‘Olde Worlde’ rules were the order of the day, and Lt Cdr John Gawley
RN women also had fi ve players selected for Combined Services outdoor (aged 76), complete with blazer and fl annels (no white stick!) umpired
and had beaten – for the second year indoors – the RAF women. with Lt Ian Bryan.
Day fi ve of seven dawned. Air/Scotland went on to triumph in the Both turned back the clock with roll-ins, hand-stops, bullies-off,
women’s competition and the Royal Marines and Naval Air met in the penalty bullies, offsides, and everyone back at long corners.
last match of the men’s tournament. Even Lt Cdr Walker got a run out and it was great to see Admiral John
Both had come to win – Royal seeking to win for a fi fth consecutive Robertson and his wife Kathleen present and giving their support, just
year, Naval Air to grab the silverware from the green machine. as they did 30 years ago. It was a perfect setting and a splendid match
In an intense and closely-fought game, Naval Air fi nished strongly which the Army won 2-0.
drawing 3-3 with the Royal Marines after being 3-1 down. The fi nale to a cracking week’s hockey was the RN men and women’s
The result of the competition hinged upon goal difference; the Marines sides taking on the Army. Before the start of the senior men’s match a
fi nisnished just ahead of a bitterly-disappointed Naval Air team. 60-year-old Olympic torch from the 1948 London Games was exchanged
MMeanwhile, third, fourth and fi fth place positions had been settled with between the RN and Army captains as a token to signify the formal
Porortsmouth edging out both Plymouth and Scotland. With the drive and handing over of the centenary baton from the Army (whose centenary
eenthusiasm shonth wn by the Scottish clan, led by the redoubtable Lt Gareth year was just ending).
‘Jesesse’ James, it will surely not be long before their fortunes improve. Army vs Navy senior men’s matches are always hard fought affairs.
TThe weekend arrived, and beneath blue skies and sunshine the RNHA First the Army took the lead, then the RN. With fi ve minutes to go the
ccelebraele ted a wonderful 30-year partnership with Mike and Judy Smith, Army, led by Olympian Guy Fordham and the brilliant Matt Jamieson,
jjoint managoin ing directors of Mercian Hockey. were 4-3 up, but in the dying minutes the Navy equalised to level the
OOn Saturday, RN representative teams played four matches against scores. The Army women won 3-1.
MeMercian select sides,r sprinkled with current and former international At the end of seven days of intense, action-packed and fun-fi lled
plaayey rs. hockey, the RN Hockey Association was ready for its centenary year,
UUp fi rst were Southgate’s Under 18 National Mercian Leagues which will be launched in the KPMG seven-a-side, 24-team, inter-
CChampions team,ha complete with a 52-seat bus load of mums, dads, branch tournament on September 5-7 at HMS Temeraire.
ffrriiends and relaen tives. This was to be the team to play the RN U23s who Looking further ahead, the RNHA black tie ball will take place at
did did well to hold Southgate to 2-0 until close to full-time. In the dying HMS Nelson on June 5 2009 and an international weekend is planned
mminutes,in both sides went up through the gears with Southgate ultimately for July 4-5.
winwinning a splendid match 6-2. Southgate were then entertained to lunch If you would like to play hockey, either as a serving or retired member
aaboard HMS Ark Royal. of the Royal Navy, contact Alan Walker on 02392 724131.
0049_NN_Sept.indd 149_NN_Sept.indd 1 119/8/08 12:53:589/8/08 12:53:58
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