48 NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2010
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Time for thermals
Old order is
shaken up
YOU DO not need helicopters or a fast
by young
jet to fly Navy.
A piece of fabric and some stout string
contenders
will do the trick.
And if you can add stunning views as far as the
eye can see in all directions, so much the better.
MORE than 40 sportsmen and
The fabric and string might be stowed away
women converged on HMS
just now, but as we shiver through a cold winter
Temeraire to vie for the Royal
CPOAEA Stuart Martin of the Royal Navy
Navy squash titles, though the
Paragliding and Hang Gliding Club thinks it is a
turn-out for the Men’s Open and
good time to consider the joys of paragliding.
U25s events was disappointing.
“If there was one person that I could introduce
Last year’s open winner, Capt
to paragliding it would almost certainly be
Damien May RM (771 NAS)
Leonardo da Vinci,” said CPO Martin.
faced 11 contenders for his title,
“It is August 2009, more than 500 years
including a newcomer to Navy
after his death, and in the foothills of the Italian
squash, Mne Nick Jezeph (RM
Scott of the
Dolomites we found ourselves launching into the
Poole).
clear thermic air, to be held aloft by fabric and
It soon became apparent
string.
that these two were the likely
Antarctic – “Below is the vast plain of northern Italy
finalists, and that is exactly what
stretching southwards and, on a good day, it
transpired.
the Navy’s
is possible to see Venice, where the great man
In a pulsating, energy-sapping
himself lived for a time.
final, Jezeph got off to a flying
ocean
“He would have appreciated what we are
start taking the first two games
doing.”
but May clawed back taking the
survey ship
third and fourth as his opponent
The walled town of Bassano del Grappa
appeared to tire.
is less than 60km north east of Italy’s
Both were playing exhilarating
goes south
jewel, on the northern limit of the plain;
squash and May looked to have
a few kilometres away are the foothills of
built a winning lead at 6–3 in
the Dolomites.
the decider, but Jezeph gradually
These ‘foothills’ rise abruptly from the plains to overhauled the champion (seven
form a ridge across the northern horizon, rising to titles in the past eight years) to
3,000ft and concealing the imposing Dolomites take that game 9 – 7 and claim the
beyond. prize at his first attempt.
Last summer the club visited the area for a Jezeph later went on to claim
week’s flying, based in the village of Semonzo the U25 title, comfortably beating
west of Bassano, providing easy access to the Mne Craig Simms (RM Poole),
flying sites on the ridge and a landing field which he adds to the Combined
conveniently adjacent to a hotel. Services U25 crown in October.
The location is chosen for its reliable weather Simms took the Plate
and suitability for all levels of experience, and competition, defeating Lt Mike
the locals there treat the Navy flyers like old Felton (Nelson).
friends, providing such hospitality that it is hard The Ladies event was well-
to find any reason to go elsewhere. supported and a number of
So many hours of flying were had that some newcomers emerged, including
members doubled their airtime. S/Lt Danielle Hancock (RAF
Delta force
“Paragliding is quite possibly the most simple Cranwell), who beat the much-
and, some might say, the most pure form of
fancied reigning champion, Surg
– Royal
flight,” said CPO Martin.
Lt Cdr Kate Roue (Drake) 3–0
“Packed away in a rucksack and weighing
in the final.
Marines
about 15kg is everything that you will need to
Lt Cdr Robin Young (Nelson)
take to the sky.
had a busy programme.
lend a
“Just find somewhere to launch, shake it out of
The officer despatched last
the bag, get organised, climb into the harness and
year’s finalist Dave Milford 3–1 in
fly off the slope and go.
the Veterans final, then accounted
hand in
“The length of time spent airborne will depend
for Jack (Alfie) Halford 3–2 in
on your skill and the conditions, with the current
the Vintage event before turning
Nigeria
world record for distance standing at a little over
his attention to his Doubles
500km.
commitments.
“The club also has tandem
● Above: Sgt Grant Oseland RM
paragliders that are capable of
soars above the Dorset coast
Young and C/Sgt Neil Mansey
progressed steadily through
flying two people, either two
the competition, beating RN
qualified pilots or a tandem-
SRA chairman Cdr Steve Shaw
qualified pilot and a passenger.
● A late afternoon fl ight from
“The tandem is an ideal way to
Monte Meda in Italy by a Royal
(Collingwood) and Navy skipper
introduce someone to paragliding
Navy tandem paraglider
WO Pete Berrow (Excellent) in
the final.
without the need to become
qualified beforehand.
“It is quite possible that the
‘Fly Navy’ tandem spent more
time in the air than any of the
other gliders as it was used to
introduce lower airtime pilots to
flying conditions that they had not
encountered previously.
Positive
“The ‘Fly Navy’ logo became
a regular feature of the Italian
www
.navyrugbyunion.co.uk
‘airscape’ for that week.”
Response
Paragliding does require training
and it is regulated by the British
– assault
Hang Gliding and Paragliding
Association (BHPA) – see www.
troops test
bhpa.co.uk/
Paragliding and hang gliding
their
is recognised as one of the nine
outdoor activities under the Joint
Services Adventurous Training
mettle in
Scheme (JSAT) and, as such, is
well supported by the Service.
Norway
You can learn to fly at the
.............
........
Joint Services Hang Gliding and
Paragliding Centre at Crickhowell
Saturday 1st May 2010
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in Wales.
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Plus
Twickenham Stadium
For more details contact your
k off 3.00pm
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PT office.
Gates open 11.45am - Kic
yy
Gulf links –
bybybyb
Combined Ser
vices U23 v Oxbridge U23 - 1200
g
Award
Winners Blake and
Billy edged out in national fi nal
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the latest
Live entertainment from Classical Brit
York’
s Ro
yal Militar
y School Dover - 1420
r r
The
Band of the Duke of a
a
Matches a
t Kneller Hall - kick off 1030
Army
Women v Ro
yal Na
vy W
omen
stst
from the A FLEDGLING Royal Marines boxer lost his national from Oldham.
Army
Veterans v Ro
yal Na
vy Veterans
ships east
novice championship final by the tightest of margins. In a cagey bout, Elder showed considerable
L/Cpl Billy Elder, in only his first season on the discipline to frustrate his opponent, and with the
Tickets -
Adults £20/£18 Juniors £10 - Discounts for Families & Groups
RN boxing squad – and the sole Combined Services score at 2-2 going into the final round the title was
of Suez
representative in the finals – had a mountain to climb. still up for grabs.
re than ju
First he had to secure an inter-Service novice The judges scored the contest 3-3, and with the
Booking Hotline: 0844 8794 941
crown, which he achieved in some style. countback score also tied it was left to the five judges
www
.navyrugbyunion.co.uk
al Navy
245517 and the Roy Mo
rust, regd charity no.
249182.
rust, regd charity no.
Proceeds to the Army Rugby Union Tand Royal Marines Rugby Union T
He then required three more victories to qualify for to decide – and they gave it to the Oldham man by
the national final, where he faced a tall, rangy boxer 3-2.
Published by Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth and printed by St Ives (Roche) plc.
048_NN_feb.indd 1 22/1/10 11:36:04
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