50 NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2009
Dragons be here(oes)
Bowmen’s bullseye
THE Navy Archery Association cleaned up at the Inter-Services indoor
HMS EXCELLENT hosted the
championships at the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall with the RN
2009 University Royal Naval
triumphing in all three team events, writes Lt Jonathan Parker.
Unit Sports Competition which
The event opened with the compound unlimited team shoot. For
was won this year by Wales
those who have never seen these bows, they are a collection of pulleys,
URNU.
cables and sights which has the effect of making the most powerful
All 14 units took part
bows possible using modern technology.
with more than 500 students
The RN team of LLogs CS(D) Andrew ‘Knocker’ White (HMS
competing in six disciplines.
Chatham), CPOET(ME) Darren Bennion (SFM Devonport) and S/Lt
Defending champions
Nick Hepworth (HMS Collingwood) all shot a little under par, but the
Southampton URNU won the
overall team score was strong enough that the RN won by eight points,
hockey in a penalty shootout
1615 to the RAF’s 1607.
against Aberdeen, who had just
Although Knocker had ambitions to make the shoot-offs on
won the shooting.
completion – and confi rm himself as one of the top 32 archers in the
Cambridge powered their
country – it was left to Daz Bennion as the top RN archer with a score
way to victory in the rowing,
of 548 from 600 to come second in the Inter-Service rankings.
but it was Wales who triumphed
Knocker and Nick came 4th and 5th respectively with scores of 540
in rugby, sailing and a thrilling
and 527. To achieve the shoot-offs in the National competition, the
netball final to take the shield,
score this year turned out to be 565.
followed by Bristol and Liverpool
Day two saw the main event of the Inter-Services, the senior recurve
in joint second place. The shield
competition for serving personnel only alongside the Association
was presented by Capt MFP,
Competition, also for recurve bows.
Capt Peter Lambourn.
The recurve bow is the one used at the Olympics, the highest
Away from the sports field
development of what the longbow was with the latest materials but still
there was fun to be had at the
only using one string.
sports social held in the Victory
The Senior team of Lt Jonathan Parker (HMS Raleigh), CPO Barry
Club, and considerable effort was
Green (HMS Collingwood), CPO Andy Robertson (HMS Chatham)
put into attempting to ‘borrow’
and Mne Seb York (FPGRM) had a real fi ght on their hands.
other teams’ mascots.
The RAF had brought a full team of four – with three very able
Bristol failed to keep their
shooters. Indeed, the female member of their team went on to compete
elephant in one piece, and Wales
in the knock-out stages of the tournament, coming sixth overall and
lost their dragon once again.
being easily the best Service archer on the day.
Slightly safer was the mascot
The Navy relied on a consistent team effort and despite Jonathan
competition winner – a vintage
and Barry being below their normal standards, Seb York and Andy
fire engine driven by some
Robertson both shot well, leaving the team scores separated by a mere
particularly dapper members of
nine points out of just over 2,000 scored.
London URNU.
The teams were effectively separated by one arrow out of 480 shot, ● Wales URNU ladies celebrate victory in a thrilling netball fi nal Picture: LA(Phot) Simmo Simpson, FRPU East
while Andy was the third-place Service archer.
Sadly the Army did not fi eld a Service team: operations took priority,
Kings’ Swiss role
but the soldiers were represented in the association section – retired
personnel, reserves or dependents with links to their service; their
inclusion helps to give service archery a broader base of support and, in
the Navy’s case, includes the RFA.
Although the Army were represented, they had only managed a team
of three, unlike the RAF and Navy’s four. Inevitably, they came 3rd
while the RN’s team of Cdr Ian Harrop, Rob Smith, Chris MacFadyen
THE RN Ice Hockey
pitted against the Polish police
and Simon Woolston all shot competitively to win the fi nal team event
Association sent its best
at the Lyss Stadium. The team’s
comfortably.
The RN Archery Association exists to support all archers, from those
players to compete in the
nervousness was evident as the
Kings got off to a slow start,
interested in the sport right up to the highest competitive standards.
2009 European Services conceding four goals in the fi rst
It runs a Naval indoor and outdoor competition every year at HMS
Championships held in
period.
Collingwood, competes in the Inter-Services every year, has regular
Lyss, Switzerland, writes
After some soul-searching
shoots against St Dunstan’s and is looking to expand the sport.
Details from Lt Parker on 9375 41213, Raleigh-wdto or jdp298@
Lt Cdr Alain Bernard.
during the intermission, the Kings
came out fi ghting and clawed
zepler.net
The Royal Navy Kings were
back led by Mne Adam Hankins
joined by the British Army Blades,
(FPGRM) to reduce the defi cit
the Royal Air Force Aces and
to one goal by late in the game;
RN turn full Thirkle
police and military teams from
Hankins would once again go on
across Europe to challenge for
to lead the team in scoring during Patterson (HMS Heron) making marina Continued from page 52
the title of best Service ice hockey
the tournament.
team on the Continent.
visitors a 2-0 lead at half time.
a tremendous block to deny the
Regrettably, penalties would
The RN squad arrived in
The second half saw a change
home side a goal.
cost the Kings and while the RN
Switzerland without any great
in the weather. Driving rain
Despite the onslaught of attacks
was a man down, the Poles added
expectations, aware that the
worsened conditions and the
by the AFA, the Navy were not
a late goal to win 5-3.
standard of play would be far
RN took advantage of the AFA’s
fi nished at the other end.
The second game against the
greater than anything experienced
weakened defence.
With ten minutes to go, Logs
Viennese police was another
within the confi nes of Services ice
Again, good pressure from
(SC) Evans (HMS Neptune)
penalty-fi lled affair, although
hockey in the UK.
Yates freed the ball and he quickly
found space a yard inside the
this time, the Kings were the
As the 2007 and 2008 tri-
fed it in between the defenders,
penalty box and side-footed the
benefi ciary of the man advantage
Musumeci once again rounded
ball past the keeper 4-0 to clinch
Service champions, the RN were
most of the time.
the keeper and played the ball into
the U19’s fi rst win of the season.
looking to place themselves above
The main powerplay line of
the net – 3-0 Navy. Overall, a spirited and well
the other two British service
Mnes Hankins and Cameron
The home side were not disciplined display of football by
teams and be competitive while
(RM Stonehouse CSG), Cpl Jared
yet defeated and still looked the young Navy side.
benefi tting from the exposure to
Stauble (FPGRM), Lt Cdr Bernard
threatening when in the Navy’s And fi nally... The redesigned
the high-calibre hockey.
(on exchange in Australia) and Lt
half. The Navy’s defence were and much improved RNFA
A concerted effort was put in
John Rutter (845 NAS) made the
called into action on more website is now up and running at
to get the most of the Service’s
most of it, scoring four powerplay
than one occasion with AET royalnavyfa.com.
top-tier players released within
goals while LS Armstrong (HMS
the constraints of the current
Liverpool) turned away most of
high operational tempo of all
the shots he faced in net on the
Fleet and RM units. At the same
way to a 6-2 victory.
time, the opportunity was also
The 1-1 record left the Kings in
Cyclists on course
taken to invite three or four
● A brief pause for Lt John Rutter during the thumping of the
fourth place at the end of day one
developmental players to reward
Viennese police Picture: Musn Jon Booth, RM Band Portsmouth
– a surprising but very pleasing
their commitment to the team.
2009 looks set to be another outstanding year for RN/RM
result.
Service requirements prevented
Cycling Association with the team benefiting from a Sports
The Kings’ confi dence had
the team from completing a
Zurich Police. Although the Kings No-one expected the UK teams Lottery-funded training camp, honing their skills and laying
grown on the back of their fi rst
training camp before traveling to
were able to stay out of the penalty to be competitive, but the RN down the final layers of their preparation for the year ahead,
victory and the team approached
box, legs were tired after two skaters proved they could be just
Switzerland, but the players did
writes WO1(WEM) Andy Hunstone.
the second day’s play with far
gruelling days of hockey and the that – and more. With a little more
manage to take to the ice a few
The offroad squad, led by Maj Andy Plewes, will be tackling a
more optimism.
team was never really in it against luck, the Kings could have fi nished
times to get rid of the cobwebs.
variety of races throughout the year all of which count towards
Despite being underdogs, they
the well-drilled and experienced much higher than their eventual
Most of the team had not
a Combined Service League place.
saw themselves having a chance at
Swiss coppers, going down 11-3 14th place.
had the opportunity to play
The event is becoming more competitive each year and the
qualifying in the top three of the
with LS Armstrong having his “The RN suffered from a short RNRMCA has some outstanding riders.
competitively since the last tri- group.
only bad game of the tournament bench and we simply got tired and Early season events included local area championships in
Services held in Sheffi eld last June The fi rst opponents were ‘Team
in net. lacked the practice of the other both Plymouth and Portsmouth.
and the friendly fi xtures against Germany’ – undefeated on day one.
In the end, the Kings fi nished teams,” said Lt Cdr Bernard. Both races attracted good fields, which encouragingly
an established local side and the The Kings were keen to get off to a
on a par in group one with the “We simply did not have the included many novice riders despite a spell of bad weather.
British Army would be important good start and took the play to the
Poles, equal in goal difference. numbers to take up the slack. We The road squad have been preparing hard for the toughest
in gauging the team’s status before Germans. Unfortunately, the RN’s
That opening game which the also need to make sure that we season yet with some riders planning on stepping up to
the competition began. physical style of play attracted the
RN lost to the Poles tipped the play more games at this standard compete in road races and long distance time trials (24-hour
The RN squad was competitive disapproval of the offi cials and the
balance; the Poles took fourth on before the 2011 competition. national championships).
in both games, losing by one goal Kings got into penalty trouble.
the back of that result. “I’m still proud of our Early indicators are good with the club recording wins in both
to the Swiss side and beating the Another excellent performance
Although the Kings had performance. We played well Portsmouth (Jerry Bromyard) and Plymouth (Lt Steve Kelly) at
Army by two goals the following from LS Armstrong in the nets
accomplished their goal of being offensively, our goalies kept us in time trials and a podium finish for the team’s road secretary
day. kept the RN squad in the game,
competitive, it was a disappointing the games and we came top of CPOPT Sean Childs at the springtime pursuits (road race) near
The Kings would play in group but a few questionable offi ciating
result to not get to play for tenth the UK teams participating while Exeter.
one along with the Zurich police, decisions eventually sealed the
place after missing out by so little. being competitive in most of our The club organises many events throughout the season
Viennese police, Team Germany Kings’ fate, going down to the
Instead, they would play the games.” including a two-up time trial and a road race championships.
(German National Police), Germans in a close 3-2 game.
other two fi fth-placed teams, the The focus of the RNIHA now Both these events are very popular and the added bonus
Selection Ticino (Police and The physical game and penalties
British Army Blades and Team are the Inter-Services in Sheffi eld of being held at RNAS Merryfield (Yeovilton’s satellite airfield)
Border Guards from the Italian- also physically drained the team,
Austria the following day to during the fi rst week of June. gives the riders the safety of a traffic-free route ideal for
speaking part of Switzerland) and resulting in the Kings coming out determine their fi nal position. The Kings will also play a
beginners.
the Polish police. very fl at against a fresh Swiss- The Kings acquitted themselves preliminary game against the RAF
Equally exciting is the up-and-coming ‘sportive’ scene, ideal
The fi rst three teams would Italian side only an hour later. well again, narrowly beating the Aces in Cardiff on May 8.
for riders who like the challenge of long-distance riding without
advance to the championship Their well-rested adversaries British Army Blades 4-2 and losing More details on from S/Lt
the formality of race conditions.
round while places four to six took an early 5-0 lead and never a physical nail-biter 5-4 to the Adam Lappin (HMS Raleigh)
The Combined Service event for 2009 will be held in
would play the equivalent-placed looked back, eventually defeating Austrians, just failing to equalise on southernrep@rndestroyers. conjunction with the Highclere Castle event on June 7.
teams from the other two groups the RN 7-1. in the dying seconds. co.uk or LS(CIS) Darren Smalley More details on these events – and Senior Service cycling –
to determine fi nal standings. The fi nal game of the day saw Overall, the team’s performance (HMS Edinburgh) on 07824 at www.navycycling.org.uk.
The Kings’ opener saw them the Kings play the group leaders, was judged a success. 395945.
049-052_NN_Apr.indd 2 19/3/09 14:26:57
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