NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2010 47
Navy edged out
Sultan’s
fencers
in charity thriller
rattle their
sabres
HMS SULTAN’S fencers
enjoyed a highly-successful 2009
THE ROYAL Navy slipped
– but they have vowed to compete
just as hard this year.
to defeat in a charity football
The team swept the board
match – but everyone early on at the RN Fencing
involved was a winner.
Championships, and continued
The game was in aid of
their winning ways at the Inter-
the Bobby Moore Fund, in
Services.
On that occasion they beat
● Navy novices in action at HMS
honour of one of England’s
Drake
both Army and RAF teams to be
greatest captains, who died of
crowned the best three-man team
Close –
bowel cancer at the age of 51. in the Forces.
And the venue was Wembley In addition, LMEA Gemma
Stadium – a huge consolation for Wollaston won Master
but prize
the losers, among the lucky few Swordswoman (best in all three
who can say they have played a weapons) and Lt Caila Barnett
competitive match at the ground. brought back two Plates.
The Navy’s opposition was a The hard work and dedication
goes to
combined Army and RAF side, of the team saw Lt Barnett and
with both teams featuring veterans, LMEA Wollaston being selected
senior, U23 and U19 players. to represent the Combined
Pompey
England hero Sir Trevor Services in Canada, where they
Brooking was there to greet the found the standard of fencing was
squads, and veteran referee David considerably higher.
Ellery took charge of the match. Fencing against the Royal
A PACKED card featuring The Navy, starting as slight Military College in Canada was
boxers from the Royal Marines, underdogs, raced from the blocks, a fantastic opportunity to interact
Portsmouth and Plymouth with LPT Steve Young (York) with other military personnel and
Commands ensured a compelling flashing a shot narrowly wide in learn more about the culture of
evening’s entertainment as HMS the first minute. the Canadian military.
Drake hosted the Navy Novice In pouring rain both sides Strengthening ties with the
boxing championships. contributed to an entertaining Canadians, civilian and military
With some contestants battling first half-hour, with the Navy, alike, proved to be a valuable
through quarter and semi-final managed by Capt Steve Marr experience, and they said they
qualifiers, the finals themselves RM (Excellent) and captained look forward to building on that
saw ten contested bouts. by PO Phil Archbold (Dauntless) relationship in the future.
The featherweights provided dominating. On top of all of that, Lt Barnett,
a fine display of mature Efforts by Lt Fraser Quirke CPO Dave Gregory, LMEA Jamie
technical boxing as AB Crabtree (Richmond), Cpl Adam Fowler Jones, LMEA Wollaston, LMEA
(Portsmouth) started on the front (FPGRM) and LPT Young Karl Wollaston and ET(ME) Alex
foot against Mne Salero (RM), threatened to break the deadlock, Kelday entered the Royal Navy
throwing a multitude of shots and the reward for their efforts Knock Out as two three-man
and combinations whilst Salero came in the 32nd minute when teams.
threw quick counterpunches and a deep cross to the back post was More than 20 teams took part in
displayed fast footwork. delightfully volleyed into the net the two-day event, and once again
With little to choose between by Young. : LA(PHOT) Keith Morgan● Navy stalwart LPT Dave Berry (white shirt) evades a tackle Picture Sultan’s hard work and team spirit
them, Crabtree claimed a close Wholesale changes at half time was demonstrated with the A team
majority decision. saw the initiative swing towards
and the Senior Service found had the Navy defence in trouble, telling blow with ten minutes to
winning gold at this prestigious
In the lightweight contest AB the combined team, and the white-
themselves 2-1 down. and with the keeper and defenders go, when a fast, accurate cross was
event, bringing the trophy back
Stenning (Plymouth) looked the shirted Navy found themselves
With all hands to the pumps it struggling to reach it they fouled deflected into his own net by the
after eight years away.
stronger boxer from the first bell, fighting a rearguard action.
was the Navy who scored next – a the oncoming striker. lunging Logs Gordon Benjamin
The achievements of Sultan’s
but Mne Armstrong (RM) kept Their defence was breached
deep ball from the beleaguered The penalty was duly converted, (Nottingham).
fencing team is not only a result
calm, frustrating his opponent and on the hour when a cut-back
defence caught the Army/RAF but just three minutes later another The Navy stormed back in the
of the team spirit and the many
using superior fitness to gain a cross was rifled past Cpl Graham
unawares in the 64th minute, long ball, this time from Mne Dan dying minutes, with Benjamin and
hours of practice, but from the
majority victory. Murphy (45 Cdo RM).
and under pressure from the Boere (ASC Bovington), found Hebditch being denied by good
support from everyone in Sultan,
The light-welterweight category The Navy hit back immediately
industrious C/Sgt Richie Hope Young on the edge of the box. saves, but it was not enough to
to whom the members of the
saw AB MacDonald (Plymouth) with a snapshot from Mne Ben
(CTCRM) a defender stabbed the Jinking towards goal, he was prevent a narrow victory for the
squad extend their thanks.
keeping the shorter Mne Darling Hebditch (40 Cdo RM) which
ball into his own net. felled by the keeper and Dan Army/RAF team.
If you would like to be part of
(RM) at bay with straight shots. was acrobatically saved by the
The match settled down again Boere despatched the penalty. Proceeds from the match will
the success story in 2010, give
Going into the last round the combined keeper, but play tipped
for the next ten minutes or so With all to play for it was the be presented to Bobby Moore’s
fencing a try on Tuesdays in the
bout appeared one-sided until the straight back to the other end until a deep cross from the right combined team which landed the widow Stephanie later this year. Brunel Boxing Gym at 1800.
Marine turned the pressure on his
tiring opponent, but MacDonald
had done just enough in the early
rounds to claim victory.
Two Royals contested the
Home teams in the medals
middleweight division. The
THE highlight of the RN and RM
flashy low hands of Mne Sharp
Indoor Rowing Championships
(Plymouth) meant he kept on the
was the men’s team relay, when
back foot whilst Mne Watts (RM
seven teams vied for glory.
Individual) held a tight guard and
The Sultan team – Lt Cdr Jules
searched for the gaps.
Stevenson, POPT Dick Treacy
Both boxers landed eye-
and LPTs Leon Taylor and Alfie
catching shots, but a
Hines – took gold, with HMS
majority decision went
Temeraire taking silver.
in favour of the Plymouth
Bronze went to another Sultan
man.
team, the Grubbers – a bit of a
surprise here, as it was the first
The team trophy was also a
time any of the Grubbers had ever
nail-biter, and the result could
tried a competitive rowing event.
not have been closer – the Royals
The event, at Sultan’s SARC,
had 15 points, with Plymouth and
also saw teams from Neptune,
Portsmouth level on 16.
Nelson, Collingwood, RMSM and
In a draw the decision lies with
Oxford URNU.
the most number of champions in
Male and female competitors
the final – which was also a tie.
raced in four age categories over
So, in accordance with the
2,000m, then formed male, female
ruling, the team trophy was
and mixed teams for 4km relays.
retained by the previous holders,
On hand to offer advice and
which meant the spoils went to the
assist Cdre Rymer in handing
Portsmouth Command.
out prizes was GB rower Adam
marina Other final results:
Freeman-Pask, a bronze medallist
Bantamweight: AB Stocker
in the lightweight men’s sculls at ● CPOPT Gary Aldridge (HMS Sultan) competes in the over-40s
(Portsmouth) (walkover);
two World Cup regattas. lightweight category Picture: LA(Phot) Darby Allen
Special Light Heavyweight:
Mne Lawley (RM) beat Mne
Mantova (RM) (majority);
Welterweight: AB Saundry Nelson win the hard way
(Plymouth) beat Mne Southon
(Individual) (majority); CULDROSE, Neptune, Nelson and hosts Heron Nelson started the final badly, losing at strings one
Light Heavyweight: Mne contested the Navy Cup squash title shorn of several and two, but caused an upset by winning at three,
Chappel (Individual) beat Mne top players. four and five to take the John Jacques Trophy 3-2.
Wheelan (RM) (unanimous); On paper, Culdrose looked strong enough to Some excellent squash was played throughout the
Cruiserweight: Mne retain the trophy they won so convincingly last year, day, including an exhibition match between reigning
Herdman (RM) beat AB Xuerub but further withdrawals at the last minute threw the Navy champion Capt Damien May RM (771 Sqn)
(Portsmouth) (majority); event wide open. and POPT Simon Backhouse (Heron) that displayed
Heavyweight: AB Brown In the semi finals Nelson, with two RN veterans squash of the highest order.
(Portsmouth) beat Mne and an U25 player in their team, proved too strong Lt Cdr David Cooke thanked Heron for hosting
Hemmingway (RM) (unanimous); for Heron, cruising to the final 4-1, while in the other the finals, and officials and players for their efforts.
Super Heavyweight: Mne Duff semi Culdrose proved too skilful for Neptune and Lt Paul Mitchell RN (PT&RO at Heron) presented
(RM) beat AB Scott (Plymouth) booked their place in the final 3–1. the trophy and glassware to Nelson team members
RSC2. Heron took the third/fourth place play-off 4-0. and mementos to the Culdrose team.
046-047_NN_feb.indd 2 22/1/10 14:29:01
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48