NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2008 51
Picture: PO ‘Dutchy’ Holland,
Phoenix CBRNDC School
Top gun Cotton
THE super Nova of Logs Tracey with Alistair Lowe in his pinto- returned and the track began to pushed back on the grid closer to
Cotton – and some pretty nifty powered Vauxhall Tigra. lose its grip. the other cars, but only Sammy
driving from the sailor – propelled He shot past on the home Luckily, the chequered fl ag Mitchell in his pinto-powered
her to fourth place in the domestic straight with three laps to go, to came out sooner rather than later Toyota Starlet managed to squeeze
championships. bump Tracey into fourth place. and Tracey crossed the line in past her Nova.
There was a relatively small fi eld In the second heat she got off second place. 2007 points champion Trevor
at Standlake Arena near Oxford to a much better start and held She was back on the Oxfordshire Harvey in his Clio roared past in
Steady Freddie
for the SEGTO (South Eastern the lead, managing to fend off circuit a fortnight later for the the fi nal, setting up an epic scrap
Grass Track Organisation) races the rest of the fi eld thanks to a next round of the domestic with Mitchell for third-fourth
AS EXPECTED, there was a virtual clean sweep achieved by the
– ten cars in Tracey’s two-litre hot quite defensive drive in the closing championship – this time with a place.
Royal Marines golf team at the RN Championships at Trevose
rods class. stages to take chequered fl ag. fi eld of just eight cars thanks to He forced his way through with
Golf Club in Cornwall, writes Cdr Gary Skinns.
The racers faced 18-lap heats During the day the weather other major meetings on the same two laps to go, but in doing so left
As well as being victorious for the second year running in both
and a 22-lap final, with Tracey had been a mixture of sunny and day. Tracey bouncing off the outer tyre
the Inter-Command Strokeplay and Matchplay events, the green
and her modified Nova beginning rainy spells. Only with the vehicles This time, at least, it was a dry wall, straight in the path of Sean
berets also fi lled the fi rst places in the individual championship.
the first heat in pole position (her lining up for the fi nal did it dry meeting so there was some fast Townsend in his Starlet.
The players were met with strong winds all week, mixed with rain
car was the smallest on the track), out suffi ciently for the racers to racing in the 16-lap heats and He managed to take evasive
for the last two days. Scores were predictably higher than normal
while the 2007 champion lined up put on dry tyres. 20-lap fi nal. action to miss Tracey, who brought
and all golfers did well to battle the elements in what turned out
at the back of the grid. Once again, Tracey got off to a Again Tracey started at the front her Nova under control and at
to be the most diffi cult RN Championships since 1996.
The writer didn’t get a very fi rst-class start, doggedly pursued of the grid – and in the fi rst heat least held on for fi fth place.
This year the event was blessed with the presence of 13 members
good start, however, and slipped by Lowe in his Tigra. managed to pull away from the Despite that incident the writer
of the Australian Defence Force for whom the championships
back to third, setting up a tussle He edged past her 12 laps from pack to take the fl ag. managed to fi nish the day in
represented the hub of a three-week tour of the UK.
Isle be around
the end – just before the rain The second heat saw the sailor second place overall on points.
The ADF brought some fi ne golfers; although not eligible for
RN titles, they took part in both the matchplay and strokeplay
elements of the event. Sgt Steve Rotherham provided the best
TWENTY sailors and civilians
round of the whole week – a stunning four under par 68 which
from the Maritime Warfare
included three dropped shots on the fi nal two holes. Runner up
School at HMS Collingwood as
was Lieutenant Darryl Whitehead, until three years ago an RN
well as the Fleet raced two yachts
player now turncoat and plying his trade in the RAN.
in the Isle of Wight Round the
The individual championship promised to be the most open in
Island race – up against 1,600
many years – fi ve-times winner LNN Scott Gilbert and RN captain
other craft.
and Trevose member Lt Guy Norris (771 NAS) were unavailable.
Sea Nymph III, skippered by
However this should not detract from some excellent
Jim Oxborrow with Lt Simon
performances from a number of players, particularly those
Blous as mate, completed the
fi nishing in the top ten. Round one saw Sgt Joe Sharp (RM Band
50-mile course in seven minutes
Portsmouth) leading the fi eld with a very creditable 76 against
short of n ine hours.
a par 72 and a competition scratch score which for all rounds
Electron V, with Lt Cdr Jon
turned out to be 75.
Glass at the helm and Lt Ian Kiff
Sharp led by two at this stage from fellow RM Band Service
as his tactical navigator, had an
member C/Sgt Freddie Lomas (pictured above) of the RM School
even more eventful race.
of Music and a host of other players within a few shots.
They crossed the line in a
The second round saw the emergence of a surprise package in
smidgin under eight hours... but
CPO Paul ‘Jumper’ Collins (GCHQ). After a fi rst round 80, he put
with one fewer crewman than
in a magnifi cent 75 to leap into the lead. Unfortunately he could
when they set off.
not continue this form and fell back into the pack on the fi nal two
Lt Colin Darkin found himself
rounds.
in the drink after being caught
Sharp and Lomas continued their steady progress and another
by a 35kt gust off St Catherine’s
of the RM contingent, Cpl Richard Baker (CTCRM) began to come
Point.
to the fore.
Thankfully he was picked up
At the half-way stage, just three shots separated the top six
by a fellow competitor... who
players. Lomas now fi red in an excellent – and decisive – level par
turned out to be a class winner;
72 to take the initiative and Sharp’s 82 allowed both Baker and
what some people will do to win!
LPT Mike Setterfi eld (RNAS Yeovilton) with 79s to leapfrog him.
Both RN yachts completed
With deteriorating conditions and an eight-shot lead, Lomas
the race in very challenging
was never going to play anything but steady, sensible golf in the
conditions. Aside from those
fi nal round and his respectable 81 was suffi cient to gain him his
blustery gusts, fog hampered
fi rst championship title.
visibility around St Catherine’s
Baker fi nished runner up, with Sharp in third place while veteran
● The RN charge to glory in the Rundle Cup at Tidworth Picture: LA(Phot) ‘Simmo’ Simpson, FRPU East
Point. Ten sailors fell overboard
Cdr Ian Yuill (AFPAA Centurion) shot the best fi nal round (77) to
in total and one yacht even
Army fi ghtback thwarted
leap above a host of players into fourth overall.
capsized.
The very strong Royal Marines side were always going to
be diffi cult to beat in the team events and the Inter-Command
RL go to Oz
Strokeplay provided them with a runaway victory by an aggregate
of 68 shots.
THE highlight of the Services polo season – the Tight teamwork soon paid off and Mason was
With the ADF team throwing a few spanners into the Matchplay
Army-Navy clash for the Rundle Cup – saw the the first to score. Two minutes later Aplin had an
(all the other teams had to play against them) the competition was
A 27-strong Forces squad will be soldiers field a particularly strong side, writes Cdr excellent run for almost the length of the field and
a lot closer. Three teams could have claimed the title going into
taken to Australia this autumn Arnie Lustman. added another goal.
the fi nal round: Portsmouth needed a resounding victory against
to compete in Rugby League’s Indeed, the Army had offered to allow the RN to The Navy continued to dominate in the second
Plymouth to apply pressure on the Royals who were up against
Defence Force World Cup. bring in a ‘hired hand’ to match the Army handicap chukka and, despite an Army goal, extended their
Naval Air, themselves capable of winning had results gone their
The Aussies are celebrating but the Navy maintained that they would prefer to lead with two more RN goals; Lustman completed a
way.
the centenary of the sport Down continue the practice of only using serving sailors or Navy attack with a very clean shot under his horse’s
As it transpired, Portsmouth did overcome Plymouth but only
Under (culminating in the World marines for this fixture. neck and Aplin broke through a heavily-defended
by a similar margin to the Marines win over the airmen. Thus both
Cup final on November 16) and Thus the -1 goal Navy team of Cdre Richard Army goal to bring the tally to 6½-1 at half time.
the Royal Marines and Portsmouth ended with three points, the
have invited sides from across the Mason, Cdrs Adrian Aplin and Arnie Lustman and The Navy were not complacent and knew the
Royals taking the title by virtue of superior ‘goal difference’ (more
globe to compete. Lt Cdr Al Wilson knew they would have their work Army were finding their form. In the third chukka
games won).
The GB Armed Forces have cut out to beat the much stronger (and younger) the play, as expected, swung away from the Navy but
Trevose proved to be an excellent host club, making all the RN
been drawn in a pool against three-goal Army team of Lt Paul Blakison, Capts they managed to effectively contain the Army despite
players, offi cials and sponsors very welcome. While a number of
Russia and Papua New Guinea. Philip Kaye and Quentin Hicks and Lt Col Mike conceding a goal.
the RN top players were not available this year, the event was a
Fifteen players from each of O’Dwyer. In the final chukka the Army completely dominated
huge success and the format remains popular.
the Services will be selected for Starting with 2½ goals on handicap, and having the play, scoring three goals, but the RN fought back
Meanwhile, the RN(Scotland) PT branch is holding a reunion
the squad initially, before it’s trained and played well in their last two matches, the valiantly to hang on and were still in the lead by a goal
and and golf day for serving and former PTIs who’ve served north
whittled down to 27 after next RN knew that they could effect a surprise although and a half at the final whistle.
of the border.
month’s Inter-Services. the odds were certainly against them. This was a wonderfully-pleasing result. The RN
There’s a get together in the senior rates’ mess at Caledonia
Respected RL coach Ray Consequently, from the first throw-in, the Navy demonstrated how a structured programme of team
on September 2 followed by a round at Burntisland the following
Unsworth and stalwart of the played aggressively and exploited a surprising lack training and practice could produce a disciplined side
day. Details from CPO(PT) Derik Nordon on 01383 425814 or
RNRL WO Wayne O’Kell will of team cohesion in the Army to generate a constant which punched well above its weight to overcome a
Lt(SCC) Tommy Wallace on 01383 425045.
coach the side which heads south. stream of attacking runs. talented but individual Army capability.
0050-051_NN_Sept.indd 250-051_NN_Sept.indd 2 119/8/08 15:34:189/8/08 15:34:18
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