NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2009 47
Naval offi cials take to Wembley turf
Ladies offer
TWO Royal Navy referees were chosen to opportunity to play at the National Stadium.
consolation
offi ciate at the fi nals of the national Umbro Players really have to be on top of their
fi ve-a-side competition on the hallowed turf game and physically fi t to keep up with this
THE opening day of the Inter-
of Wembley. high-speed format. One innovation has been
Services U25 cricket festival saw
Having taken part in the regional heats the introduction of the ‘blue card’ instead of
defending champions the RAF
around the country, Cdr David Gordon (FOST the ‘yellow’ to ‘sin bin’ for two minutes for
take on hosts the Royal Navy.
Command Navy HQ) and POAET(M) Tim misdemeanours. There may be some merit
After putting the RAF into
Burley (857 NAS) – pictured on the far right and in using something similar in the 11-a-side
bat, the Navy opening bowlers
second left respectively with Match of the Day’s game.
enjoyed immediate success
Garth Crooks and Ray Stubbs – were selected HMS Collingwood won the RN regional
claiming two wickets in the first
from a large number of fellow referees to take heats to get to the Southern regional fi nals,
two overs for no runs.
part. but on this occasion they did not progress to
That shock concentrated the
This was the culmination of a nationwide Wembley.
RAF minds resulting in A Watson
competition that saw hundreds of teams “This was my second visit to Wembley in
and R Diver gritting their teeth to
participate through various preliminary rounds the competition and it was a huge honour to
put on a 137 run partnership for
in an attempt at making it through to the last be asked to once again represent the Royal
the third wicket.
24 at Wembley. Navy and the RN Football Association at this A final total of 256-8 was a
The tournament, which is open to both prestigious event,” said Cdr Gordon. remarkable achievement after
male and female teams, is organised with “It was also a huge surprise on the day to such a disastrous start.
military precision by the Umbro logistics team be asked to lead the offi cials and players out of In response, the RN innings
and is aimed at giving grass roots football the the tunnel and on to the pitch.” never really got going; although
opener K Hewitt chiselled out
Support RNFA
a useful 24, it was not until a
seventh wicket partnership of
66 between J Wilson and J Hill
home or away
24-hour power
that the RN effort regained
momentum.
Watson, however, returned to
THE football season might be his spell of offspin to finish off
over... but that’s no reason to the tail leaving the RN 89 runs
forget about the beautiful game, short of their target.
writes Lt Cdr Neil Horwood, RNFA.
THE Royal Navy and
lights, which proved a fortuitous
On the second day, the Army
For the 2009-10 season, the Royal Marines’ Cycling
ruling as when WO2 Arey went
won the toss and invited the
RNFA wants to hear all about
Association scored a
out for his fi rst night lap his main
RAF to bat under thundery and
your progress.
light failed.
threatening skies.
It doesn’t matter what level of
resounding success at It was during the night that
After a stuttering start, a
football your team plays at, we
the Mountain Mayhem
LLogs Smith put in his fastest
fourth wicket partnership of 144
would very much like to receive 24-hour endurance event
lap – recorded a top speed of
between A Watson and R McGee
your match reports; unusual
at Eastnor Deer Park in
37.9mph.
restored respectability and
fi xtures are particularly welcome
The night passed with no more
enabled the team to post a score
along with photographs.
Herefordshire. issues or mishaps and by morning
of 252 from 48 overs.
As well as the usual
Now in its 11th year, the race the routine of ride, handover, eat,
prepare bike, relax (if possible),
The Army in response fell 146
representative team match
is the UK’s toughest endurance
handover and ride again seemed
runs short of their target.
reports, next season the RNFA
event and attracted racers from all
the norm, and then it was 2pm
Having lost to the RAF, both
is looking to publish much more
over the world.
and all over.
the RN and Army had a point
about what is going on at grass
Some 2,351 riders (450 teams
Royal Navy B was fi rst over the
to prove in this ‘dead rubber’.
root level but we can’t do it
and 150 soloists) competed around
line with 24 laps in 24 hours and 7
Electing to bat, the Army
without your help.
the nine-mile circuit in teams of
minutes followed fi ve mins later by
amassed a score of 288-5 at the
The RNFA is committed to
up to ten, or as solo riders, while
the A Team, who had completed
end of their 50 overs.
assisting the FA in improving
a 15,000-strong crowd stormed
29 laps.
The Navy opening pair of K
relations abroad.
the grounds to cheer the riders
Once the dust had settled after
Hewitt and C Castle responded
The Navy can be credited with
through the mud.
more than 24 hours of racing, the
very well with an encouraging
introducing the game of football
The RN entered two teams
● Maj Steve McCulley and LLogs Rob Smith (well the backs thereof) opening stand of 95, however a
to numerous nations around the
into the open category and the
in the opening stages of the 24-hour Mountain Mayhem
A Team fi nished sixth out of 97 in
the open category (this would have
trickle of falling wickets turned
world and can be justly proud
Services’ sub-category (both the
given the team fourth out of 229
the game back in favour of the
that it is spreading the word of
Army and RAF entered three
take the honours. the B Team consistently lapped in the sport category), 15th overall
Army although a fifth wicket
the beautiful game to all corners
teams respectively).
The RAF were fi rst to make around the hour mark. (including the elite teams) and
partnership of 58 between
of the world today.
The RN A Team consisted of
it back to transition with Maj There were a few dramas along second in the Services’ category –
A Haw and J Wilson re-generated
In the past year numerous
Maj Steve McCulley RM (team
McCulley and WO2 Arey well- the way – mainly befalling Surg Lt just one lap down on the RAF’s A
momentum.
ships have been able to present
captain), Maj Andy Plewes
placed within the leading group. Lovell: in his fi rst lap he fell and Team and ten minutes in front of
Both were lost to some clever
surplus strips, provided by the
RM, Surg Lt Alistair Lovell and
At around the hour mark it was broke his rear derailleur less than the Army’s A Team.
offspin from J Prinsloo and the
FA through the RNFA’s close
PO(AET) Simon Parker, and the
the turn of the next riders to take a quarter of the way round so he Each rider had consumed well
writing was then on the wall for
relationship with the Football
B Team had WO2 George Arey
the baton, with Maj Andy Plewes fi nished the lap by running the over 5,000 calories and collectively
the RN, again falling well short
Association’s international
RM (team captain), Capt Dan
of their target; the Army won by
department, to less-privileged
Pyke RM, WO2(ET)ME Paul going out for the A Team and hills and fl ats and free-wheeling they had travelled 253.75 miles
nations around the world during
Clarke and LLogs Rob Smith. LLogs Smith for the B. the downhills. and ascended from sea level to the
77 runs
their deployments.
At two o’clock a Le Mans-style Maj McCulley was fi rst back Incredibly, he still managed to height of Everest.
It was left to the RN ladies to
This is not only good for
start meant that the two riders having completed his opening lap complete the lap in a sterling time The B Team fi nished 24th in the
restore some cricketing pride in
the recipients; it also enhances
nominated to lead the teams out in 54 minutes (including the run) of 63 minutes. His next setback open category and fourth in the
the Inter-Services Twenty20 at
the global reputation of both
had a three-quarter-mile run and followed soon after by WO2 occurred a few laps later when one Services’ category.
Aldershot.
organisations. PROs and club
before getting on the bike and Arey, putting in a solid time of 58 of his pedals broke. “Events like this help to raise
The opening match of the
swingers, please talk to the RNFA
tackling the nine-mile course. minutes. 8pm came and it was time to the sporting profi le of the Royal
2009 competition between the
and see what we can do to help
In a show of ‘leading from And that’s how the next 23 hours fi t lights, looking forward to a few Navy and Royal Marines during a
RN and RAF produced 300
you raise the profi le of both
the front’ both team captains continued. The A Team lapped at dark laps. All competitors were very busy operational period,”said
runs, the highest of the day, and
the RN and football worldwide
volunteered/were nominated to between 43 and 53 minutes and required to have two separate Maj McCulley.
proved to be the closest and most
during your deployment.
competitive of the three games.
For more information, email
The Navy won the toss and
secretary@navyfa.com or visit
elected to field, which initially
www.royalnavyfa.com.
proved a sound decision mainly
due to some good ground fielding
■ WHEN recently-promoted
Portsea Community Football Global challenge begins
and catching and an impressive
Team realised that their fi tness
spell by AB V Maxwell who
required a little work before the
finished with 3 for 37.
AND so they’re off. from Headley Court who will come aboard depart before TV presenter Nick Knowles
new campaign in the Portsmouth
The RAF kept the score
Under leaden Solent skies, three Service next May to sail the yachts from Antigua to formally began the event, firing a cannon
Saturday Premier League, they
ticking over and a late batting
yachts departed on the Forces’ largest Charleston. The aim is to help them return at Southsea Castle.
turned to the RN for help.
rally ensured a respectable score
adventurous training exercise: a 13-leg to full fitness after suffering severe injuries, You can follow the yachts’ progress at
LPT ‘Shorty’ Short from
of 155 for 9.
round-the-world yacht race. either in the line of duty or in accidents. www.exercisetransglobe.com
Nelson gym and LH ‘Franky’
In reply the RN got off to an
Exercise Transglobe pits the RN, RAF That is one of three special legs in the
Powell from Semaphore
excellent start mainly due to
and Army against each other in identical global challenge: two stages are dedicated ● The RN’s Adventure leads the Army’s
Tower answered the plea: they
a quick-fire 36 by Maxwell of
Challenge 67ft yachts – Adventure, offshore races, the legendary Sydney- Challenger and RAF Discoverer as the
volunteered to take the group of
which 34 came in boundaries.
Discoverer and Challenger respectively. Hobart race at Christmas and Antigua Race Transglobe begins in the Solent
18 to 28-year-olds for their first
The game ebbed and flowed
Nearly 550 personnel from across the Week next spring. Picture: LA(Phot) Christopher Browne, FRPU East
‘bleep test’ of pre-season training.
three Forces will crew the trio during the A sizeable crowd gathered at Gunwharf
with wickets falling, enabling the
That proved a useful indicator
368-day odyssey, including the 12 patients Quays in Portsmouth to watch the yachts
RAF to have a real chance of
of their fitness for the team’s
victory.
coach Keith Ansell.
In the end a late rally by the
RN batters and some poor RAF
Deeps too strong
bowling (and some unfortunate
fielding in the final few overs),
for loggies
enabled the RN Ladies to achieve
a memorable victory off the last
ball of the innings with three
ROWERS from HMS Raleigh
wickets intact.
smashed last year’s winning time
Next up, the RAF were
at the Saltash Regatta by fi ve
limited to 84-5 by the Army, who
minutes.
promptly clocked up the required
Racing in Cornish gigs, a team
total in a little over five overs and
of trainee submariners from the loss of just one wicket.
Mackenzie Division took on a The final match to decide the
crew from the Defence Maritime trophy saw the RN batting first
Logistics School. and soon suffering at the hands
The crews of seven took to the of L/Cpl L Van Zyl (3 for 7) and
water at HMS Raleigh’s Jupiter L/Cpl Z Juries (1 for 6).
Point Sea Sense training centre to Excellent fielding and three
row a distance of approximately sharp run-outs restricted the RN
2.4 kilometres to the quay at to 44 off 13 overs.
Saltash. In reply, the Army started at
First across the fi nishing line a trot and finished at a canter
were the deeps in 14m 48, 28 in securing a notable victory in
seconds faster than the trainee determined fashion, reaching
logisticians of Ceres Division to their target in under four overs
lift the Prince of Wales Cup. for the loss of two wickets.
047_NN_August.indd 1 21/7/09 16:23:42
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