NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2008 47
● Lt ‘Willow’ Wielopolski grapples
with the swollen River Teifi
Rain helps RAF reign
A RAINSWEPT Llandysul in and the slalom course before the huge Hawkesbury River north-
western Wales was this year’s discovering that the river was in west of Sydney.
venue for Inter-Service canoe full fl ood and several of the slalom Both canoists – Lt Cdr Stewart
slalom competition. gates had been broken or swept Bankier and Maj Jason Ainley RE –
And that heavy rain meant away. were new to the sport, but teamed
conditions on the River Teifi were This meant that the hotly- up for the annual Hawkesbury
every bit as challenging as the anticipated team event was Canoe Classic.
opposition posted by the RAF and cancelled for safety reasons The event is a gruelling overnight
Army. leaving the RAF as Inter-Service canoe endurance race including
In the individual events the champions and the RN team check points and opportunities for
women’s team produced the unable to improve on a valiant a top-up of food and water.
stronger performance, clinching third. Mostly, however, it is just hard
second place thanks to Lt Charlie Competitor numbers continue graft, especially in this tidal river.
Jones (MWS Collingwood) to be affected by the pace of This year conditions were
taking fi fth in the K1(W) and the deployments and the Royal Navy favourable with two ebb and one
remainder of the women securing Kayak Association (RNKA) are fl ood tides.
places in the top ten. always on the look out for paddlers The event started at 5.15pm and
Meanwhile, the men’s team had of any ability or keen novices who 15h 34m later the Brits crossed
to settle for a familiar third place are interested in slalom or other the fi nish line with a few tender
with the RN’s best-placed male K1 disciplines. limbs but a feeling of immense
paddler, Lt ‘Willow’ Wielopolski Further information can be satisfaction.
(845 NAS), forced into 15th place found on the new club website,
– an achievement in itself as he www.rnka.co.uk
had only recently returned to the Meanwhile, Down Under...
(HMS) Sultan
UK from a tour in Afghanistan. Two UK exchange offi cers
Unfortunately, overnight at Australian Fleet Base East in
weather conditions worsened and Sydney have raised over £500
of swing
the morning began with having for the Arrow Bone Marrow
to negotiate fallen trees across the Transplant Foundation after
GOLFERS at HMS Sultan are
road between the accommodation kayaking their way down 111km of
hoping to bolster their society’s
numbers.
Kent’s Goliath
HMS Sultan Golf Society is
is slain
HMS Echo’s footballers
Off to a fl ying start
more than about ‘just’ playing
18 holes – although the sport is
at the heart of all members do,
from fund-raising to weekends
away.
The club, surprisingly, has
triumphed in a ‘David vs
only been going for a decade,
Goliath’ encounter in the Far
but since being formed in 1998,
East.
the Sultan Open in July has
The survey ship just
THE best Inter-Command become a regular fixture and
managed to scrape together 11
competition in years saw
one of the bigger events in the
players from her small company the trophy head north of
RN golfing calendar.
to face the mighty HMS Kent in
The Sultan team could
the border – and there
the balmy heat of Sembawang,
be found on the fairways of
Singapore.
were rich pickings for the Chichester this autumn – if you
Size doesn’t matter evidently,
RN’s talent scouts.
had a torch – when they played
for despite boasting more
The contest this year was run
a round of night golf.
than three times the number
in two leagues, with the winner of
A weekend of sun and golf is
each progressing to the fi nal.
lined up for next April and the
of sailors, Kent’s 11 were no
In League 1, Scotland used
society will continue to dip into
match for Echo’s.
their experience to ensure they
its pockets for St Dunstan’s
Actually, that’s not strictly
were undefeated, beating the U23s
and SSAFA at events across
true, for this was a proper
by 6-3 (PO Archbold scoring a
southern England.
ding-dong-do with ascendancy
hat-trick for the Scots – and an
Membership is available to
alternating between the two
own goal), and then Plymouth
civilian or Service personnel
teams.
Command 3-2. Plymouth beat the
who have worked or lived in
Kent dominated most of the
U23s 3-1 to fi nish second.
the Gosport establishment,
first period – but were thwarted
In League 2 the honours went
Centurion, or any of the
by Lt Alex Bingham in the Echo
to Portsmouth who beat RM 3-2
satellites such as harbour
goal.
and Naval Air Command 2-0. The
training ships.
They opened the second
Marines beat the aviators 3-1 to
The joining fee is £6, the
period in the same fashion until
grab their runner-up spot.
annual subscription thereafter
a quick two-goal Echo sucker
In the fi nal the two unbeaten
just £5, plus insurance of £10
punch left the frigate men ● Flag day – the RNFA’s banner fl utters while Scotland (in crimson) and Portsmouth fi ght it out for the
teams went head to head;
per year.
reeling. Inter-Command Cup Picture: LA(Phot) ‘Knotty’ Knott, FRPU East
something had to give and the
Full associate member status
Kent clawed their way
Scotland squad ran out worthy
is available to any golfers who
back to 2-2 following intense
‘H’ Wilson and Laura Mackenzie.
winners with a 2-1 victory.
are recommended by a present
pressure on the Echo goal.
In the 69th minute Julie Hewitt
Played in a good hard fashion
Onside with Capt Paul or former member of the
Not done, the frigate began
made a perfectly-weighted pass for
with no quarter given, Scotland
society.
to press for a winner until a
Laura Mackenzie to run on to and
took the lead in the tenth minute
Cunningham, RNFA More details from CPO(MEM)
breakaway from Lt Carmen with
confi dently slot the ball home.
when LS Malone (Fleet Diving
Mark Williams at mvw173@
fi ve minutes to go brought a
The fourth Navy goal came in
Group), left unmarked in the area,
ntlworld.com or from www.
winner for the survey men (from
the 82nd minute. A positive run by
guided in a free kick from the left
engineersopen.co.uk/society/
a seemingly impossible angle).
POAEM Marissa Dryhurst from
fl ank past the stranded keeper.
index.htm
attention being paid to the and played in MEA Tobell (Sultan) defence, saw her carve open the
Squash titles
In the 27th minute Portsmouth
relationship between captains and who took one touch with his right Christchurch midfi eld.
had an opportunity to equalise
the referee; this helped to keep the foot and lashed the ball in with his The move resulted in a cross
when they were awarded a penalty
number of incidents of dissent to left from 12 yards. into the box from the right hand reasons
after CPOPT Quirke was adjudged
up for grabs
a minimum. The RN continued to play good side which the Christchurch keeper
to be unfairly challenged on the
At the representative level, the football, with another debutant AB was only able to fl ap at, and LPT
edge of the 18-yard box.
2008-09 season has begun in Dinnell (Collingwood) enjoying Sam Covey, the fi nal substitute of
LPT Young stepped up to take
promising fashion. the space on the left of midfi eld the evening, tapped the ball into
to celebrate
THE top squash players in the the kick and tried to place it wide
The U23s got off to the best and looking comfortable on the the back of the net.
Senior Service will be challenging to the keeper’s right side only
possible start with a 3-1 victory ball. This year’s East vs West
THE last time Scottish
for honours in the annual to fi nd man of the match L/Cpl
against Cambridge University. He played an inch-perfect pass Womens’ Command Game saw
hockey players lifted
championships this month. Murphy (FPGRM) comfortably
After a goalless fi rst half where for MEA Hodgson who forced the fi ve new faces playing in their fi rst
the Navy Cup, Mrs T and
HMS Temeraire is the venue saving it.
debutants ETWE Hillbourne visiting keeper into a good save, RN(W) match.
Ronald Reagan were at the
for the 2008 title on December In the second half Pompey
(Collingwood) and AET Gibson but from the rebound Musemeki The two sides were evenly
helm and Frankie Goes To
5-6 with the men’s open, ladies’ were awarded a second penalty
(Culdrose) were rock solid, NA showed great composure to rifl e matched, and the fi rst half was
Hollywood were all the rage.
open, men’s U25s, men’s veterans opportunity when Young was
Card (Ocean) worked tirelessly up in his second and the RN’s third played at a good tempo, with the
Well now it’s Gordon
(over 40s), men’s vintage (over scythed down in the area, this time
front and deserved his goal after from 25 yards to cap a memorable East playing the better football
Brown, George W Bush and
50s) and men’s doubles being it was Quirke who successfully
57 minutes. debut for him in the U23 side. through midfi eld, but unable to
Girls Aloud as HMS Neptune
contested.
converted from the penalty spot.
Twenty minutes later the The fi rst match of the season break through the West defence.
triumphed for the first time
All competitors will receive free
Opportunities were hard to
students equalised from the spot, for the RN Women’s team saw The fi rst goal was scored after 23
in 24 years.
playing shirts upon arrival.
come by but Portsmouth had
leaving the game well poised, but in them defeat Christchurch Ladies minutes by debutant Logs Helen
Having dispatched
Details from Lt Cdr David
a golden opportunity to go in
the last ten minutes, ETME Kerr by 4-1. Kingscott (Raleigh), whose volley
Britannia Royal Naval
Cooke, RNSRA secretary, on
front only to fi nd Murphy in
(Exeter) scored two excellent goals The Navy started the match from the edge of the box fl ew into
College Dartmouth and
9380 23741 (mil), 023 9272
brilliant form in the Scotland goal to confi rm a deserved victory.
brightly and with great enthusiasm, the top corner of the goal. Seahawk in the group
3741, or RNSO4@a.dii.mod.uk.
defl ecting the ball over the bar For their second game they
which paid off in the sixth minute The East continued to fi nd stages (plus drawing with
Accommodation can be
from a fi ercely-driven shot from came up against a strong Newport
with a goal from LS Julie Hewitt. space on the fl anks, but were Heron), the Scots faced the
arranged in Nelson on 023 9272
Young. County side, but again ran The fi rst half continued with the unable to create anything from
Yeovilton side – the Navy
0120.
In the 78th minute LET out deserved winners by a 3-0 Navy ladies creating lots of chances these promising positions.
cup holders – again in the
O’Reardon found some space on margin. but in return the Christchurch The second half saw the East
final.
January
the Portsmouth left fl ank, rounded The RN started brightly and keeper produced some excellent start strongly, but they failed to
A fine goal from Lt Rob
the defender and drove the ball in with another six debutants in saves. create any clear chances, and as
Heywood set Neptune on
for the winner. the squad, looked to take the The RN’s second goal came on the half went on, the West took
their way and the Scotsmen
deadline
This was the best-contested initiative. the half hour mark from a well- control.
had to weather a Heron
championship for a number After a goalless fi rst half, a slide- taken corner, providing AB Sarah On 81 minutes, Kingscott
storm before a stunning
of years. Not only were all the rule pass by MEA Mitchell (HMS Collins with a tap in, her fi rst goal picked up the ball in the middle of
individual goal from PO
TO ENSURE your favourite matches close, but the quality Sultan) on 55 minutes sent AET for the RN. the pitch and played a great pass
Stevie Parfitt sealed a 2-0
nautical newspaper (that would of football was excellent. This Musemeki (also Sultan) away and Despite eight Navy corners in in behind the East defence which
victory.
be this one – Ed) is out in time allowed the Navy coaching staff he calmly slotted the ball past the the fi rst half, the opposition scored allowed Collins to go one-on-one
Neptune were captained
for Christmas, we have very early for all representative teams a great onrushing keeper from the right from a penalty after a rare attack with LStd Lee in the East goal.
superbly throughout by PO
deadlines for our January 2009 opportunity to talent spot over 100 side of the penalty area to give the ended with a foul in the area. Collins got to the ball fi rst and
Russ Garner and expertly
edition. players and identify new potential. Navy side a deserved lead. The second half again saw nicked it into the net. The third
directed by RN Scotland
We’ll need submissions for It was good to see that all teams Ten minutes later, and to show the Navy on top and manager goal was scored by AB Sarah
coach Cpl Sam Hartland
the sport pages by Monday signed up to use the FA’s Respect that the fi rst pass was no fl uke, Lou Lewis made two inspired Mansfi eld, fi ve minutes from
RM.
December 7 at the latest. Programme with particular MEA Mitchell repeated the feat substitutions, bringing on ETMEs time.
047_NN_Dec.indd 1 20/11/08 10:22:25
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