46 NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2009
Novices lead
Trafalgar defeat for French
The things
resurgence people will do
A DAY of strong and gusty
winds, with occasional
for a medal...
sunshine, greeted rowers from
all three Forces at this year’s marina Continued from page 48
Joint Services Regatta.
my 30-metre waterproof watch
The event was held at Dorney
actually wasn’t. From that point I
Rowing Lake, Berkshire – the
had no idea what the real time, or
location for Olympic rowing
race elapsed time was: we set off
events in 2012.
at 6.10am (apparently).
The Royal Navy rowing squad
There was no starting gun, but
coped well with the diffi cult
as soon as I saw the other 1,500
conditions on the water and
people swimming in the same
avoided capsizing, although
direction, I joined them.
members of the other Services
This was going to be the fi rst
were not so lucky, including a
time I’d swum 2.4 miles. After
crew who had only been rowing
the fi rst fi ve minutes of people
for a week. swimming over me I got into a
In particular the Royal Navy rhythm.
novices did very well proving After 1h 48m I got out of the
that recent grass roots rowing water. I could physically feel the
has been profi table. The sport blood drain down from the top of
is open to all those who would my body and down to my legs.
like to give it a go as much as I walked to transition, got into
it is for the more experienced my bike gear and then really
oarsmen and women out there. started shivering.
The men’s squad won the I got on the bike and it felt like
novice fours and pairs events,
it had square wheels and every
and teamed up with rowers
nut and bolt was loose. After
from Welbeck College to win
half a mile, I and the bike settled
the intermediate fours as well.
down. It was a three-lap course
In resurgence, the women
and after an initial downhill there
also won their novice fours
were two steep climbs one after
and pairs events in grand style.
the other.
The women’s Inter-Service
After that the next section
fours event, although won by
was exposed and very windy but
the Army, saw a plucky fi ght to
settling on to the aerobars helped.
the end between the RAF and
I had strapped my Garmin
RN crews, with the RAF taking
GPS to the handlebars and used
second place by the narrowest
that purely as a timer. The ride
of margins ahead of the never-
was fairly uneventful and I fi nally
say-die RN women.
ADMITTEDLY, not as crushing as
teams came out for what would shape up to be star goalkeeper LS(CISSM) ‘Nobby Le Chat’ fi nished pedalling after 7h 53m.
Not disheartened, in the that one, but still sweet...
a fabulous second period. Clark, who slotted the kick calmly past the It wasn’t until the last three
women’s open eights race When HMS Trafalgar was enjoying an
Blistering runs down the right from LET waiting keeper. or four miles on the bike that I
(again won by the Army) a operational stand down in Brest, the ship’s
‘Zooie’ Twycross lead to decent attempts on It was 1-1 and with full time approaching thought about the marathon.
determined RN crew who had
goal by CPO Douglas and Trafalgar’s XO Lt
company were challenged to a football match
both sides pushed harder. It was also at this time that my
not rowed together before the
Cdr Scott Johnson. The French defence kept out efforts from left knee started to ache. After
by their hosts, the crew of ballistic missile boat
It was Le Triomphant who broke the Trafalgar attacking midfi elder AB(SSM)
race took second place, well
about 400m of the run it really
Le Triomphant.
deadlock, however, after AB(CISSM) Miller Greensmith, while the Brits only managed to started to hurt; this was the fi rst
ahead of both the Sandhurst With the French Navy beaten by the RN in
fouled in the penalty area. hold on until the fi nal whistle thanks to some time I thought I wouldn’t be able
and RAF crews. This bodes well the rugby union (and the national side defeated
Trafalgar were 1-0 down, but not out. Showing amazing tracking back by defensive LMA to fi nish.
for the 2010 rowing season. by England in the Six Nations) there was some
great resolve and fortitude AB(CISSM) Chris ‘Basketball’ Bastianpulle. I pressed on, stopping
During the break in racing national pride to regain.
‘Ronaldo’ Ovel slid a great ball forward to Not content with a draw both sides agreed to occasionally to stretch out. The
for lunch, the RN put on a lively Good job Traf were ‘up for it’ then.
the XO, who was bundled over by the French fi nish the match with a penalty shoot-out. With run was fairly fl at. Ten miles from
series of exhibition Cornish gig LET Jackson lead the Brits on to the pitch
defence right on the edge of the area. the French goalkeeper distracted by some fancy the reservoir to a park outside
racing events, seeing gig crews where they were greeted by outstanding support
A free kick was awarded much to the footwork and pulled faces, Trafalgar achieved a Bolton town centre, eight miles
from HMS Raleigh and BRNC from the rest of the ship’s company.
displeasure of the crowd. AB(SSM) Launce 5-3 victory on penalties. back the way you had just come
Dartmouth competing for South
The fi rst half was a fairly subdued affair as a took it, laying the ball to AB(CISSM) The day ended in victory but everyone knew then turn and run back to the
West area supremacy before
result of Traf acclimatising to the Brittany heat Puddephat who fi red it straight into a French it was a hard-fought and closely-won match; the park, out of the park and into
offering others a chance to take
and recovering from an active night out. hand resulting in the award of a penalty. next visitor to Brest had better start practising Bolton itself.
to the water and give gig rowing
After a much-needed half time break, both With the ball on the spot, up stepped Traf’s no w. During the run my brain had
a try. just three commands: run, walk,
To widen the Navy’s rowing drink. Nothing else mattered.
repertoire further, it was I was forced to use a run/walk
announced that the Navy’s fi rst strategy as I was so tired and my
coastal rowing boat had been knee was crying out for me to
cut and was to be delivered in XC ecstasy for RM stop.
good time to afford RN coastal Finally the end was in sight,
rowers the opportunity to
THREE green berets from the RNRM Cycling Association competed
the red carpet up to the fi nish.
compete at the next FISA World
at the fi nal round of the Southern Cross Country (XC) series in
This had a great atmosphere,
Coastal Championships, to be Pippingford, East Sussex – and all were placed high enough to fi nish
it was starting to get dark, the
hosted by Mayfl ower Rowing the series in the top 15 of their respective categories.
fl oodlights were on and the crowd
Club in Plymouth, on the 23-25 Even though Maj Andy Plewes suffered a puncture on the second
were cheering.
of this month. lap, he managed a top-20 fi nish in the race, giving him seventh overall
The man with the microphone
If there are oarsmen or in the XC Series.
called out my name and then
women out in the Fleet who Maj Steve McCulley (pictured left with a bloody knee following a tumble)
those words that I had waited
would like to row or scull, or claimed 14th in the fi nal round and 15th overall, while ex-marine Scott
14h 37m to hear: “You are an
indeed anyone out there who Easter, now an associate member, put in a great performance for third
Ironman.”
would like to give rowing a try, in the sports race and 7th overall in the series.
The cough hadn’t affected me
please contact the RN & RM
The Southern XC attracts up to 500 racers at each of its six races
and my knee soon recovered.
Amateur Rowing Association
spread across the South West, South and South East.
Would I do it again? Yes.
Secretary Lt Cdr Karen Allsford
Each race has a slightly different lap-length; on average a sports rider ■ Paul’s not the only RN ”
at karen.allsford580@mod.uk or
would complete three laps in approximately 1h 15m-1h 40m, while a triathlete who’s been in action.
9621 83455/0207 218 3455.
masters rider would complete four laps in approximately 1h 40m to CPO Scott Markham (MASF
2h. Culdrose) took fourth place in
Reservists
Riders can earn points from any round, but they have to compete in the Double Iron UK held over
the fi nal round and their fi nal placing is based upon the best fi ve from two days around Lichfield.
six results. As the name implies it’s a
take polo title
This year the RNRMCA MTBers saw racing action in Bordon, 4.8-mile swim, 224-mile ride
Ringwood, Pippingford (twice – different courses), Devizes and Alton, and double marathon – with no
with the Southern XC Champs (a stand-alone race) doubling at Alton breaks in between.
ON A warm but damp day at with a series’ race. The field consisted of 53
Tidworth, the reservist forces determined athletes and is
of the Army and Senior Service gaining a reputation as an event
– the TA and RNR respectively – to aspire to in the Ironman
met on the polo fi eld. fraternity.
It was expected to be a mud 110 in 100 The swim takes place in a 25m
bath but surprisingly was a fast- indoor pool. The 304 lengths
fl owing match with the Navy side
NOW by our reckoning it won’t be Fly Navy 110
were a ‘gentle warm-up’ to the
winning 4½ goals to 1½.
for a good decade.
main events.
The RNR unfortunately could
Unless you’re a naval hang glider. To celebrate
The bike ride followed a
only fi nd two players and were
the centennial of maritime fl ight, Lt Cdr Rob
14-mile loop (to be completed
supported by Gnr Nicky Hewer
Dowdell ‘climbed aboard’ the RN Hang Gliding
16 times, – most of it in a
RA from the Army and Lt Cdr Al
and Paragliding Association’s Moyes Litespeed
downpour) while the marathon
Wilson from the regular Service –
for a marathon fl ight.
comprised 42 laps of a 1.2-mile
both of whom scored the Navy’s
Actually, it was much longer than a marathon
course which passed ‘attractions’
goals.
fl ight – four times longer.
such as The Devil’s Staircase and
At the end of the match so Employing navigational techniques used by his Blair Witch Woods...
much goodwill and humour forebears a century ago, ie the Mark One eyeball The senior rating crossed
abounded that the fi nal result had and a map, the offi cer negotiated his way from the line in 25h 53m in his first
very little signifi cance. Builth Wells in Wales, past the busy airspace over attempt at this discipline (for the
After great camaraderie and Bristol, around the ranges of Salisbury and fi nally record, the individual times were:
backslapping it was thought the touched down at Fordingbridge in Hampshire. swim 2h 23m 28s; ride 13h 35m
event should become a permanent The fl ight took six hours and Rob, by day CO of 50s; run 9h 54m 31s).
fi xture in the polo calendar. 700W NAS, the recently-formed squadron which Low points were falling asleep
It is hoped that this will act as is paving the way for the next-generation Lynx, on the bike, nearly crashing into
a useful and important recruiting covered in excess of 110 miles. a wall, the rain, and pretty much
tool for both the TA and the He used rising columns of warm air (thermals) every lap of the double marathon.
RNR and encourage any serving to ‘power’ his glider from Wales to Hampshire, It obviously was far too easy
reservists who may wish to play reaching 5,000ft as he crossed the River Severn for Scott. Next year he’s entering
next year. (pictured right). a triple ironman.
046-048_NN_Oct.indd 1 21/9/09 15:13:42
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