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46 NAVY NEWS, JANUARY 2010
Kayaks’ Needles work
PADDLING in the shadow
of the unmistakeable
outline of the Needles,
these are ‘delegates’
of the fi rst RN/RM sea
kayak symposium.
The aim was to give RN and
RM paddlers the British Canoe
Union qualifi cations which will
● Lt Kirsty Archibald fends off the unwanted attention of two RN allow them to develop as potential
men during the Inter-Service canoe polo championships sea kayak expedition leaders
Picture: CPOET(WE) Daniel Patten and coaches, writes WO2 ‘Batch’
Batchelor RM.
Ladies reclaim
The sport is an approved
adventure training activity, but
it suffers from a severe lack of
qualifi ed coaches and leaders
canoe polo title
throughout the Forces – and in the
RN and RM in particular.
This is a crying shame, as most
RN and RM bases are close to the
THE RN Ladies swept (and paddled) to victory at the Inter-
sea, making it an activity that is
Service canoe polo championships at HMS Temeraire.
easily accessible and also extremely
After 2008’s defeat to the Army, the team were out for
cheap compared to sailing. And
revenge – fielding their strongest side in more than a decade.
– just like sailing – sea kayaking
Canoe polo is a fast aggressive game – usually played in a
provides a way of delivering basic
pool – with fi ve players on each side.
seamanship knowledge, expedition
Buoyancy aids and helmets with face guards are worn for
planning, navigation by map and
protection, as tackling a player can involve some ‘contact’ and
charts, along with all the other aims
often results in capsizing the opposing player to retrieve the
of adventure training; teamwork,
ball.
courage, leadership, physical and
In 2008, the Army achieved a clean sweep, winning not only
mental endurance etc.
the individual team events for both men and women, but also
It was amazing to hear how many
the Inter-Service trophy as overall winners – the fi rst time the
people wanted to develop as sea
Navy had lost this event in 13 years.
kayakers but just couldn’t fi nd the
Lt Helen Coxon lead a team of strong experienced players,
time due to work commitments.
that included a new entrant at Dartmouth and a PO PTI who was
In the end, 16 paddlers
representing the RN at Polo for the fi rst time.
volunteered to be ‘students’ on the
The team not only won the ladies event, but also managed to
symposium.
draw with the RAF Men’s A team – something which not even
The courses delivered included:
the Navy men’s B team achieved.
two JS Sea Kayak Progression
Unfortunately the RN were unable to fi eld two full men’s
groups (BCU Four-star Leader
teams, leading to a diffi cult choice of handing over the trophy to
Training & Assessment and BCU
the Army before the competition began or reducing the Men’s
3 Star Sea Kayak) and a JS Sea
A Team to only four players, and augmenting the Men’s B team
Kayak Foundation group (BCU
with one of the ladies. In fi ne Senior Service tradition, the two
2 Star).
sides gave them a fi ght.
The 360˚ coastline of the Isle
As seems to be the case every year in this closely-fought
of Wight ticked all the boxes
competition, it all came down to the last game: Lt Matt
for training opportunities and
Twiselton captained the RN A against the Army A, led by Capt
accommodation – the latter at
Benn Kerr-Shaw.
Jersey Camp in Porchfi eld.
Despite the Navy’s depleted numbers it was all square at half
Activities during the week
time with two goals apiece and the Navy dominating play.
included basic skills and rescues in
The RN then took the lead early in the second half, raising
Freshwater Bay, a paddle across to
hopes of a victory against the odds.
Lymington then back to Shalfl eet,
Unfortunately the Army came back and, despite a brave battle
playing in the tidal race at St
by the Navy, snatched victory in the dying minutes to win 4-3
Catherine’s Point, an open canoe
and take not only the individual team event, but also the Inter-
day for two-star students, a night
Service trophy.
paddle in Cowes for four-star
students, cave exploration, seal
Gig gong goes to Culdrose
launching down Scatchell’s Beach
(a remote beach south of the
Needles only accessible by boat)
and a journey around the Needles
A TEAM from RNAS Culdrose took the Inter-Service gig rowing title in with ice creams on Totland Beach.
Dartmouth, fi ghting off (not literally) the RAF, Raleigh and BRNC. There were also theory lessons
Dartmouth hosted the race, but it was the Cornish air station team including weather, tidal planning a swim in a cave, which led to my In the wake of the symposium, and, potentially, one to Vancouver
who got off to a good start and held a convincing lead all the way to and navigation. fi rst cave rescue in anger. another one will be staged (date Island in the summer of 2010
the line – despite one of the crew rowing on the non preferred side of The symposium was a great Additional instructors from Isle tbc), and there are also courses, (date tbc).
the gig. success with every participant of Wight Sea Kayaking (www. expeds and symposiums delivered Details from your nearest RN/
After a brief stop for refreshments the teams mixed crews for the gaining the next level of award iow-seakayaking.co.uk) included by the Joint Services Adventure RM canoe club or www.rnka.
return leg. required for their development in Owen Burson, Phil Hadley, the Training Centre (www.ahrc. co.uk.
A mixed crew of three Culdrose personnel-three RAF crossed the line Sea Paddling. I never missed out legendary Howard Jeffs, Tim co.uk). Alternatively contact me at
in first place on that return journey. on developing my own knowledge Stuart and Kev Richardson, who Future Sea Kayaking 10 Trg Bn REME: 94291 5412
The air station’s team is now in training for the gig world championships and experience, especially when L/ all loved working with bootnecks opportunities include an (mil)/01420 485412(civ) or
held off the Isles of Scilly. Cpl Steve Bright decided to take and matelots. expedition to Cyprus, June 14-23, bosrmcsm@seme.army.mil.uk
RRAF dominate 2009 on iceAF dominate 2009 on ice
THE RN Ice Hockey Association wound up 2009 a loose puck in the neutral zone, slipped through the
with the top-level team travelling to Dundee to take RAF defence and lifted the puck into the top corner
on the RAF for the high-profi le closing event of the on a breakaway to level the score at 1-1.
year, the two-day RAF Command Championships. The second period was pretty much all RAF, with
The RAF-RN clash has become one of the more long shifts by the Navy the main reason for poor
regular fi xtures of Services ice hockey, with the teams performance.
sharing an equal number of victories in recent years. Edwards was the main reason the RN stayed in the
The RAF got the better of the RN in their last match: his outstanding play limited the RAF to two
two meetings, edging a 6-5 win in Cardiff in May, goals and ensuring the RAF only took a 3-1 lead to
followed by an 8-6 triumph during their drive to the second intermission.
claim the Inter-Services trophy at the HM Forces After some soul searching in the dressing room and
Championships in Sheffi eld in June. a determination to keep shifts as short as possible, the
Operational commitments once again weighed very RN took the game to their opponents in the third,
heavily on the Navy squad, with over half of the regular generating some good scoring chances against the
RN representative level players being unavailable for previously untested RAF keeper.
the game. The hard work fi nally paid off when Mne John
On the opposing bench, the RAF had access to a Hanna (RMR Scotland) managed to slip the puck
full squad with most of their top-notch players dressed into the RAF net to reduce the defi cit to one goal
and keen to maintain their current win-streak against with ten minutes remaining.
the Senior Service. The short RN numbers came into play again in
Despite being undermanned, the Navy did well the latter part of the game. Tired legs meant the RAF
to fend off the strong RAF offence, with L/Cpl Carl managed to regain some of the momentum they had
Edwards (SFSG) excelling in the RN net, turning lost in the early parts of the third period.
away the majority of the 40 shots he faced. The home team scored their fourth and fi nal goal
The dark blues found it diffi cult to generate any from the face-off in the RN zone, when a shot from
sustained offensive pressure during the fi rst two the point managed to trickle through traffi c to beat
periods and would patiently wait to take advantage of Edwards. Despite a fi nal push, the Navy could not
the few opportunities that came their way. claw back the defi cit and the scoreline would remain
The fi rst period saw Edwards make some good unchanged at 4-2 to the RAF when the fi nal buzzer
early saves and the RN defence held tight against the sounded.
fast RAF forwards. RN keeper Carl Edwards was deservedly selected
The light blues eventually scored to take a 1-0 as the man of the match for the visiting side.
● Lt Cdr Al Bernard (front, UKHO), L/Cpl Carl Edwards (goalie, SFSG) and Mne Cameron (rear, lead but the sailors and marines did not take long to Training resumes for the team on January 12 in
UKLF CSG) defend the RN net in the 4-2 defeat to the RAF in Dundee Picture: Cpl Gareth Nutley, RAF respond. Mne Mark Wheeler (42 Cdo) pounced on Gosport. Details at www.rniha.org.uk.
NNEW 046_NN_Jan.indd 1EW 046_NN_Jan.indd 1 110/12/09 15:05:320/12/09 15:05:32
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