46 NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2008
● Go ahead, make my day... A competitor takes aim during the fi nal day at Bisley Pictures: LA(Phot) Alex Cave, FRPU East
Lucy’s sixth sense
LNN Lucy Norman (pictured above) stepped up a notch to take part in
one of the UK’s most gruelling endurance events – the Ironman.
Lucy, a psychiatric nurse at the community mental health department Shoot to thrill
in Portsmouth Naval Base, is already an accomplished athlete in the
RN’s triathlon and cycling teams.
Ironman is a ‘super triathlon’ – 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride
CORPORAL Jim Bloom
“The association continues to
ending with running a marathon.
ensure that its events, exercises
Some 1,600 competitors gathered in the Dorset town of Sherborne for
is the ultimate marksman
and competitions are focused on
the 2008 championships; the leading hand took part principally to raise
in the Senior Service –
improving an individual’s skills
money for numerous charities (Leukaemia Research, air ambulance, as he demonstrated in
in the use of small arms, and
MacMillan Cancer Relief, and youth/sports projects in the UK).
front of a clutch of senior advancing their marksmanship,”
But the 29-year-old also posted some impressive times (1h 13m 01s in
explained Lt Liam ‘Dickie’ Byrd
the water, 6h 39m 1s on the bike and 4h 5m 6s for the marathon) which
military and defence
(HMS Gloucester).
gave her 350th place overall and sixth place in her age group.
fi gures.
The final day of the prestigious
“That helps to maintain and
tri-Service Combat Shooting
improve operational capability at
Your RNFA needs you
Competition at Bisley saw the
the grassroots level.”
top shots in the Forces aiming to
2008 has been a busy year for
take home the Queen’s Medal,
the association, but there is yet
including the green beret.
more to come.
THE new football season is now well underway and the fi rst It marked the climax of eight
Under the Chief-of-Staff
month or so has been spent with RN team managers looking to days of fi rst-rate marksmanship
(Capability)’s newly-released
develop their squads. at the home of shooting, which
marksmanship directive, the
Of course, RN/RM teams of all standards will be optimistically saw all participants challenged
Association now has a reinvigorated
looking forward to success and we really hope that everyone under conditions that any sailor
plan for the future of advanced
enjoys the coming season. would fi nd it hard to experience
combat shooting training.
The senior team’s fi rst game of the season will be a friendly elsewhere.
This directive also saw the recent
against the Civil Service at Burnaby Road on October 22. Lastly A training week preceded the
establishment of the much needed
in this general introduction, if there are any budding journalists competition, the event proper
RN Marksmanship Training Team
out there with an interest in Navy football, I am looking for some saw each command team of 12
(RNMTT) who have worked
help with RNFA Comms work – nothing too onerous, and there competing for 13 trophies, while
closely with the association to
● Bloom with a view... Cpl Jim Bloom, top marksman in the Senior
are perks to the job. Please ring me on 01225 467543. there were 19 individual titles up
Service, is honoured by comrades
deliver the required training to the
In addition to the area trials held during September, the current for grabs including the coveted
Senior Service.
Royal Navy U23 and U18 football coaches are always on the Queen’s Medal (a signal was sent
VIPs included Shadow Defence (Capability)’s marksmanship
The focus has already switched
lookout for players with the ability, attitude and commitment to out last month with a full list of
Secretary Dr Liam Fox, head of directive.
to the 2009 shooting season and
represent the RN at these age groups. winners).
the Army General Sir Richard They then witnessed the
the support required from all COs
The U23s play throughout the season against opposition such The latter medal is awarded
Dannatt, Chief of Staff (Capability) tri-Service fi nal and met the
to make a success of the various
as England Schools, culminating in the Inter-Services versus the to one member from each of the
Rear Admiral Philip Wilcocks, most important element of the
levels of free combat shooting
Army and RAF. three Services under the Queen’s
Deputy FOST Cdre Nick competition – the sailors and
training offered by the RNRMRA
The U18s play in the South East Counties Cup and the Dallas Warrant and is the only military
Lambert, Head of the Maritime marines.
to all Fleet units.
Cup (Texas, USA) in April; to be eligible to play for the U18s you
medal awarded for a military skill- Warfare School Cdre Steve Kirby, The business of advanced
The Area Skill-at-Arms
must have been born after August 1 1989.
set. Commanding Officer of RNAS combat shooting is primarily
Meeting (SAAM) competition
Details from WO1 Steve Rule 93825 2510 or Lt Cdr John Gordon
Having shown a special interest Yeovilton Cdre Chris Palmer, and managed by the RNRM Rifl e signals will be distributed in due
93825 5105 for the U23; CPO Fraser Quirke 9380 25552 and CPO
in the work of the RNRM Rifl e finally the association’s honorary Association on behalf of Fleet with course, explaining how ships,
Paul Willetts 9380 25871 for the U18s.
Association over the past year, First vice president David Gosling. the principal objective of delivering unit and establishment teams can
During the close season, HMS Westminster paid a short visit to
Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon All the VIPs received a briefi ng advanced marksmanship training enter.
Chennai (formerly Madras), when members of the ship’s football
Band was keen to witness the on the RNRMRA’s year so far, with the 5.56 (or SA80 in more More details from www.
team helped out at a local orphanage.
strides made in combat shooting. and a progress report on the common parlance) and 9mm rnrmra.org, or from Lt Byrd on
Balagurukulam Orphanage provides abandoned and deprived
He wasn’t the only one: other implementation of Chief-of-Staff pistol to the RN and the Corps. corporate@RNRMRA.org.
children with adequate shelter, food, medical facilities and
education.
The care and attention given to the children by the hardworking
staff was plainly evident to the team, who felt privileged to be
able to help out for the afternoon.
The Westminster team, led by Lt Glenn Gorman and CPO(MEM)
Branches blossom in rain
‘Snakey’ Blake, handed out new England football kits provided by
the FA and RNFA and their Defence Diplomacy programme.
THE RN Hockey Association’s centenary and POMEA Stuie McInally (Turbulent) Northwest team, both of whom ended up
Every child was given a shirt and a football, along with sweets
season opened in fine style, with a Navy-wide, amongst others. amongst the prizes, split by a talented WE/
and school equipment. “The children were eager to get into their
seven-a-side, mixed inter-branch competition, In a quickfire opening 15 minutes, the Navy QARNNS combo.
new kits and show off their skills,” said Lt Gorman.
writes Capt Mark Darlington. soon went ahead 1-0 as good teamwork and Most welcome were a visiting team of
Building on the success of last year’s inaugural true grit and determination helped the RN Canadians, currently on course at HMS Sultan
Onside with Capt Paul
tournament, this year’s event brought together counter the fine individual skills of many of the – hell-bent on having a party, and on showing
more than 150 men and women in 15 teams KPMG players. the Brits what hockey is really all about.
Cunningham, RNFA
from across the Naval Service to battle it out in The RN eventually won 3-2 on the day, Led by WO Scott Hill, the stars of the show
defence of their specialisation or branch. but this was less important than the fun and were the logistics specialisations. Combined,
Despite the torrential rain at HMS Temeraire, enjoyment that everyone got from a game they could have fielded chefs, writers, SAs and
the fighting spirit of the players remained played in just the right spirit. stewards sides. Instead, they chose to answer
undiminished. RNHA secretary Lt Cdr Alan Walker said: the numerous calls to help other teams field
The contest began with a closely-fought “The game against KPMG was a splendid full strength sides – “just like when you go to
Fights, food and fun
match between the RN and the management way to begin the weekend. It was great to host war, everyone needed the loggies,” beamed
consultancy group KPMG, who had kindly a team the RN have not played before and to Navy Vets star Cdr Heber Ackland.
agreed to sponsor the event. show them a little of what life in a blue suit, or CPO Jakie Foran added: “Despite the rain,
PUGILISTS past and present will from sailors and Royal Marines The game was played between two mixed under a green lid, has to offer.” this was a terrific start to the year, and a great
gather in Pompey next year for who’ve boxed for the Service sides with the Navy fielding a well-balanced Two days of hockey followed in which nearly way to promote grass-roots hockey within the
an evening of fi ne food and top at representative level and team with a blend of youth and experience all the 32 specialisations and branches of the Royal Navy. It was fabulous to see so many
boxing. includes national, international, under the watchful eye of Lt Matty Wesson. Naval Service were represented – including different teams represented.”
Members of the RN and RM Commonwealth and Olympic This was the first time that many players had full team entries from the dentists, PTIs, For their achievements on and off the field
Ex-Boxers Association – 120 veterans. represented the RN in a mixed game, with each QARNNS, Doctors and MA/Ms, Greenies of play, fighting spirit awards, complete with
strong – have lined up a reunion The 2009 reunion takes place side comprising six men and five women. and Clankies. a dash of Nelson’s Blood were awarded to
at South Parade Pier. It will on Friday March 27. The Senior Service side included husband There was also a mix of two warfare Lee Aitken, Karen Duke, Marian Taylor,
take the form of a boxing dinner Details are available from and wife team Lts Adam and Karen Duke, teams drawing upon five different sub- Jakie Foran, Scott Hill, Marc Dowling, Kelly
with today’s Navy and Royal ex-CPO Tony Bevel, former L/Cpl Tom Nicoll (RMR Bristol), S/Lt Marian specialisations. Urmston and the whole Canadian Navy team.
Marine boxers taking on as yet RN coach and now association Taylor (Observer under training Culdrose), PO The Royal Marines and the Fleet Air Arm Looking ahead, there’s a black tie centenary
undetermined opposition. treasurer, on 01489 880472 or (UW) Micky Warriner (St Albans), the newly- were all represented, and the submariners ball on June 5 at HMS Nelson – a family affair,
The association is formed 0750 005 8801. married LNN Simon Domoney (MDHUP), fielded a SM Southwest team and a SM open to all RNHA (past and present).
0046_NN_Oct.indd 146_NN_Oct.indd 1 119/9/08 14:21:539/9/08 14:21:53
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