14 NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2009
Challenge leads the way
A FLAGSHIP training event continues to attention to events at Crowborough, and this Tony Matthews, supported by a team of all
go from strength to strength with a record year saw Maj Gen Simon Lalor, head of the ranks and rates, who have spent eight months
number of entries this year. UK’s Reserves and 125,000 cadets, on site. planning the Challenge.
The Crowborough Challenge started as “What I have been impressed with is the “Leadership in the field is one thing, and
a single-unit event, organised by RNR unit intensity of it,” said Maj Gen Lalor. “The that’s what we are seeing loads of here, but
HMS President, over a decade ago. tasks are not easy and nor should they be. there’s a tremendous value to be had from
This year saw all 13 RNR units, plus “I think the training value is right up there, leadership in the office, where the senior
six URNUs, field over 200 personnel in a so congratulations to everybody involved in officer or senior rating has to flex his muscles
competition which provides a tough Command, the organisation.” and make something happen,” said Admiral
Leadership and Management challenge. Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey.
Teams camped out in the Pippingford Park Massey called in for the second year running. “I have to say HMS President, as ever, has
training area in Sussex and on the first day “What comes through really forcibly from done a cracking job here.”
faced eight different problems designed to this is the degree of teamwork and the sense of Commodore Maritime Reserves Cdre Chris
test mental and manual dexterity. ethos – we are the Reserves and we have a role Steel said: “This weekend is a perfect example
There was also a sting in the tail – just to play, we are good at it and we are prepared of what employers get back from the reservists
when teams thought they had finished they to train, work hard, have this kind of parallel that they employ – these people are developing
had to dash round the site to gather parts of a career and take it really seriously,” he said. some fabulous team-working skills.”
code which together formed their ticket out. “Apart from all that, what you really see in By the end of the event 106 Reservists
Sunday’s informal programme still brought people’s eyes is that this is fun as well.” had passed their RN Fitness Test and the
out the competitive element as teams tackled He also acknowledged the work of the team from HMS Scotia, led by Lt Katriona
the assault course and played volleyball. organisers – Lt Cdr Ant Chapman, exercise Fletcher, had lifted the Crowborough
● A team from HMS Forward (Birmingham) with their (unintentionally)
Senior officers have started to pay closer director Lt Jo Young, Lt Greg Young and WO Challenge Cup as overall winners.
submersible raft during the Crowborough Challenge
● RN Reservists rapid
roping from a Lynx
helicopter with RFA
Mounts Bay forming a
suitable backdrop off
Bournemouth beach Reservists
perform to
big crowd
IF YOU want to raise your
Reservists and cadets while also King Alfred (Portsmouth), HMS
profile you could do worse
offering a wide range of training Sherwood (Nottingham) and
than perform to a large
opportunities. HMS President (London).
For the 30-plus New Entries – RMR personnel were
crowd. those who have been in the RNR predominantly from RMR Bristol
And as crowds go, 1.34 for less than three months – that but RMR London and RMR
million people is pretty large.
meant lectures and basic training Scotland were also involved.
So various elements from
to prepare them for life on board The Navy were further
the Maritime Reserves and
a military ship. represented by the Black Cats
Cadets, predominantly from
Their programme included Lynx display team, the new
the South-West and South of
life raft drills, first aid, weapon Royal Marines Band from HMS
England, together with regular
handling, fitness training, a tour Collingwood and landing craft
RN personnel, were handed the
of the landing ship and a visit to from 1 Assault Group RM.
perfect opportunity to show their
Cattistock. RNR and RMR recruiters were
worth at the Bournemouth Air
More experienced Reservists also active ashore in the extensive
Festival.
augmented the ship’s ‘Navy village’ while Reservists and
They weren’t there simply
communications teams and ran cadets took a leading role in the
for the popular two-day show,
the amphibious operations. Beat Retreat each night.
as Commander-in Chief Fleet For the equivalent number of
Cdre Jamie Miller, the Naval
Admiral Sir Trevor Soar had asked RMR personnel it meant using Regional Commander who
the Naval Regional Commander the ship as a springboard for the planned and led the exercise, said:
for Wales and Western England to beach assault alongside their “This was a perfect opportunity
Soaring 170 metres, the
offer “all possible support to the regular colleagues, watched by a to draw together all elements
Spinnaker Tower offers
festival”. packed and appreciative crowd of regional activity, committing
spectacular views over
That support came in the along the promenade. the Maritime Reserves, Sea
form of 150 RNR and 30 RMR One visitor particularly Cadets and ships, aircraft, bands
the south coast. Travel
personnel, around 200 cadets plus interested in the activities of and recruiting assets to deliver
up to the three viewing
local recruiting staff, primarily the Reservists was Vice Admiral unparalleled training but also to
conducting training exercises but Dirk Debbink, USN Reserves, engage with a huge cross section
platforms where you can
many of them also taking roles in who spoke to personnel aboard of the public, entertaining them
‘walk on air’ on the glass
the show itself, a Royal Marine Mounts Bay as he toured the ship but also letting them find out
Band and the Royal Marine with Commander Reserves, Cdre more about what the Royal Navy
fl oor, learn about the
Commando Display Team. Chris Steel. does at home and abroad.
history of the harbour, and
Landing ship RFA Mounts Bay, This unique training opportunity “Many of the participants, both
the mounting base for the exercise, for the cadets and Reservists saw regular and reserve, had recently
experience the ‘wind in and minehunter HMS Cattistock
representatives at the events from returned from operational
your hair’ as view deck 3 is
provided the Naval backdrop for HMS Vivid (Plymouth), HMS deployments in Afghanistan and
the festival, which celebrated 100 Cambria (Wales), HMS Flying other theatres, and the friendly
open to the elements years of Naval aviation. Fox (Bristol) and HMS Forward positive welcome they received
The RFA hosted and (Birmingham), while support from the public was heart-
Enter our competition and you could be one
provided accommodation for the staff were drafted in from HMS warming.”
of ten lucky winners of a pair of adult tickets
to travel up the Spinnaker Tower.
Simply answer the question below, complete the entry
form and post to: Spinnaker Tower Competition, Navy
News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth, Hants. PO1 3HH
Or email your answer and details to:
bm@navynews.co.uk
Closing date: 30th November 2009
Question: How many viewing platforms are there at
Spinnaker Tower?
Answer ................................................................................
Name ..................................................................................
Address ...............................................................................
.......................................................Postcode ......................
Phone ..................................................................................
Email Address ....................................................................
Entries must reach the Navy News offi ce by 12 noon 30th November 2009. Ten entries will be drawn at 15.00 hrs.
Each lucky winner will be notifi ed by email, phone or post and will receive a pair of adult tickets by post direct
from the Spinnaker Tower. The decision of the judges is fi nal and there is no alternative prize. Employees of
Navy News are not permitted to enter the competition. ● Royal Marines Reservists stormed ashore alongside regulars in an amphibious assault exercise at
Bournemouth Air Festival
014_NN_nov.indd 1 20/10/09 15:26:02
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