NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2008 47
Engineering Archers see
a victory on
off Air Force
the greens
challenge
PLANNING complete and
the August rain having abated,
THE Royal Navy South Coast
competitors in the 15th annual
Archers hosted the national
RN Engineers golf championship
record status tournament on
awoke to grey skies but with the
a windy, overcast day at HMS
hope of a dry day.
Collingwood.
For the fi rst time in the
The RAF have dominated
contest’s history the engineers
archery in the 21st Century,
moved to the spectacular course
winning six out of the past seven
at Elfordleigh Hotel, just three
titles, including the 2007 event at
miles from Plymouth city centre.
Cranwell.
The rambling pink hotel
The Navy, however, were
providied a fantastic backdrop
fielding the strongest side in years
to spectacular views across the
– two former and one current
course.
RN champion and one former
Following a 7.30am start, a
GB squad member who narrowly
closely-fought battle ensued over
missed out on an Olympics place.
two rounds with the hand-mown
The round shot was a ‘York’:
greens and lunchtime pin changes
six dozen arrows at 100 yards,
proving to be the undoing of
four dozen at 80 yards and two
many in the fi eld.
dozen at 60 yards (or 80, 60, 50
Lt Steve Trotman, off fi ve, yds for women, the same number
played some magnifi cent golf in of arrows, called a ‘ Hereford’).
the increasing wind, carding gross
● LA(METOC) James Bulpett checks out the ‘sets’ (waves) from a reef
The Navy team – Lt Jonathan
76 during the morning medal
at Super Tubes Pictures: LA(Phot) Gaz Faulkner, 42 Cdo
Parker (Raleigh), Mne Seb
round and a highly creditable York (CTCRM, King’s Troop),
34 points off a handicap in the CPO Barry Green (Ark Royal)
afternoon. and Capt Gareth Knowles RM
For later players, the conditions (CTCRM) – won comfortably.
became more diffi cult as The RN Recurve
temperatures dropped and heavy championships were decided in
rain was carried by the now the same order: Lt Parker, Mne
strong wind. York, CPO Green and Capt
WO2 Yorkie Glover pushed Lt Super Tubes days Knowles.
Trotman all the way but fell short
In the association competition,
after being one back at lunch and
carding 32 points in the afternoon
SURFERS from the Royal
the RAF won but in the
Compound Division, the Senior
round. Navy and Royal Marines
Service overcame the Air Force by
Congratulations also to Tam
risked all for perfection
20 points.
Snaddon of BAE who took the
champion sponsor trophy.
at the tip of the African
It might sound an emphatic
2009 will see CPOET(WE)
continent.
triumph, but it was actually less
than one per cent of the total
Steve King take the reins Despite it being one of the most
points scored.
from this year’s organiser, great white shark-infested regions
The association team
CPOET(ME) Nobby Styles, and on the planet, the fear of attack
comprised Mel Sandford, Cdr
plans are already in motion to was not enough to keep the surfers
Ian Harrop RN (Fleet HQ) and
move away from the Plymouth from riding one of the world’s
Ian Cooper, while CPO Darren
area, with Bristol fi rmly on the premier waves.
Bennion (SFM Devonport)
2009 committee’s radar. More Nine members of the RN and
and S/Lt Nick Hepworth
details at www.engineersopen. RM Surfi ng Association travelled
co.uk
(Collingwood) formed the
. to the foot of Africa for ten days
compound team.
Meanwhile, the China Fleet in Jeffrey’s Bay in the Eastern
Individual, Senior Service
Country Club in Saltash hosts Province of South Africa.
the Field Gunners Command
champions were: gents recurve:
‘JBay’, as it’s known, is renowned
100 Golf Classic – the second
Lt Parker; gents compound:
for being one of the fastest,
year the contest has been run
CPO Bennion; gents longbow
longest and consistently perfect
(the ‘Oggies’ lifted the trophy in
Mid Tom Goodwin (Typhoon
wave locations in the world and
its inaugural year).
Sqn, Loughborough University);
was due to host the world’s fi nest
This year’s event takes place on
gents barebow: Ian Cooper; ladies
professional surfers in competition
Friday October 31. Details from
recurve: Mel Sandford.
only a week after the Navy group
Fred Pearce on 01752 202860
left for home.
or freddiepearce@blueyonder.
Before the world’s fi nest could
co.uk
ride the Indian Ocean offerings,
Bags of
And finally... the Royal British
the equally enthusiastic (if not
Legion is staging its inaugural
as talented) RN boardriders had
Combined Services veterans
their fi ll. power
golf contest at Machynys, near
In what were some of the best
Llanelli, in south Wales.
waves that most of the the group
Details of the July 24 event
had ever seen, let alone ridden, the
ONE sport which has never
from rikoshea_10@yahoo.co.uk
performance levels of the group
appeared in these pages before
were pushed to the top limit of
is powerbag lifting.
Horse course
their abilities.
Until now. RN and RM PTIs
Tour organiser Sgt Andy
are looking for strapping
Williams (CTCRM) said: “We
Senior Servicemen and women
for free
walked straight into a new swell
to uphold the honour of the
and perfect conditions, which even
Corps/Fleet against the Army
the locals claimed was the best day
and RAF.
SAILORS and marines who fancy
they’d had in weeks, so the trip
For the uninitiated powerbag
a fl utter can enjoy a free day out
began on a high.
lifting involves lifting powerbags
on the fi nal meeting of the fl at
“The length of the waves, the
(obviously – Ed) – five pairs of
season at Newbury races.
power, and the sheer speed are
powerbags (think elongated,
The racecourse is devoting
something we rarely get in the UK
heavy bean bags) weighing
Saturday October 25 to the
between 10kg and 30kg.
military via an ‘Armed Forces
and this perfection is something
These are placed at five-
race day’.
you can only get at JBay. So this
metre increments from the back
Tickets to the course are
was a fantastic opportunity for
of a Land Rover.
limited to two per person. You
the guys to push their surfi ng in
Competitors set off from the
must book in advance by October
world-class waves.”
back of the 4x4, carrying one
17 on 01635 40015.
The boardriders not only tested
powerbag at a time, loading it
Various half-price hospitality
themselves against the waves,
on to the vehicle.
deals, plus a suite for injured
but also the area’s top longboard
Oops. Almost forgot. Several
personal, are also available.
surfers in competition.
million people will be watching
Details on the same number.
Hosted by the Eastern Longboard
you.
Association at Noordhoek Beach
The contest is filmed by Sky
Offi cers enjoy
near Port Elizabeth, the contest
Sports’ popular Soccer AM
was a challenge of the abilities
● Flawless Lawless... CPO Matt Lawless “taking on a fast one at Super Tubes” (or that’s what it says in show and runs for the duration
of the tour members against the
the accompanying caption...) of its 42-week series.
Skyy larking
very high standard of surfi ng in
Personnel wishing to take
South Africa, which is among the
shown by the South Africans When not dodging pods of surfers could concentrate on the part in this event should seek
top fi ve surfi ng nations along with
and an invitation, from David dolphins or surfi ng with them on waves alone, even with the Jaws chain of command approval.
Australia, the USA and Brazil.
marina Continued from back page Lipschitz, president of the South the waves, they were watching soundtrack sounding in their ears. Once that is received,
halves”, “the boys did good”,
In what were fun waves for
African Longboard Association, to whales breach out to sea from South Africa 2008 will go down contact Tom Oliver at Sky
“Harry will be sick as a parrot”,
the event, the British boardriders
a future event. their beachside balcony. as one of the most successful tours Sports on 0207 805 739 or tom.
and “you don’t win the title in
put up a good fi ght against top-
“It was a pleasure to host the One natural wonder they were the RNRM surfers have made, oliver@bskyb.com
August”.
class opposition. Although none
guys from the British Navy, the not keen to witness however were joining Hawaii, France and San You will be competing
In the post-match summary,
of the team reached the fi nals,
waves could have been slightly the fi sh – big fi sh like great whites. Diego as destinations the team has in your own time and Sky
the England manager was
good performances saw fi fth-place
better for the event but they were Ask any locals if there were surfed. will be providing insurance
discussed and the lack of spine of
fi nishes from WO1 Paul Keenan
more than contestable,” said Mr sharks, the answer was always The tours not only provide the cover should an injury occur.
the Arsenal squad, although the
and CPO Steve Hicks in the over
Lipschitz. “We would love to see ‘yes’. Despite tales of people opportunity for the members to Personnel should also confi rm
presence of too many Ghanaians 35s division and LA(Phot) Gaz the RNRM team out in the water being ‘bumped’ in the water only push their abilities in world-class their own personal insurance to
in England – specifi cally Michael Faulkner in the U35s. again – with the possibility of a days before the Brits’ arrival, the surf but also provide a reward for ensure adequate cover.
Essien – had the off-camera staff The team also donated many larger, national event next time prospect of perfect waves was too those who donate free time to The RN PR team in Whitehall
booing. prizes for the event in the form they visit.” much to keep the surfers out. hosting numerous beginner surfi ng – DPR (RN) – are looking to
So, at the end of the day, it of highly-sought-after boardrider On the squad’s return to Fortunately no sightings were weekends throughout the year for provide suitably branded
was less a case of Hansen and jackets, T-shirts and caps. Jeffrey’s Bay for the fi nal week, the made of the toothy predators – Royal Navy/Marine personnel and T-shirts for competitors. Once
Lawrenson than Morecambe It was a highly-successful perfect waves kept coming, with although there were plenty of their families. selected by Soccer AM, chosen
and Wise starring in Carry on meeting between the two clubs with the team enjoying the amazing cuts and abrasions incurred from More details on the sport can individuals should contact Maj
Commentating... great generosity and hospitality natural wonders of Africa. colliding with the reef – so the be found at surfnavy.com Mark Perrin on 9621 82861.
0047_NN_Oct.indd 147_NN_Oct.indd 1 119/9/08 14:06:149/9/08 14:06:14
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48