48 NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2010 Next month The loneliness of the long distance climber...


PRESERVING a split second in time, this still image belies the fact that Surg Lt(D) Lucy Matthews is nimble – and extremely fast. For this shot captures the


VING a split secondin


Devonport-based dentist on her way to bronze in the women’s international speed climbing event at a three-day contest in Edinburgh. Eight members of the Climb


farewell to a Naval icon: souvenir supplement


‘Go out from the Ark’ –


Navy team headed to the International Climbing Arena in the Scottish capital, which was hosting two events: the Inter-Service and European military championships, writes Surg Lt Stephen Glennie, RNRMMC sports climbing representative.


So aside from the usual foes from


the Army and RAF, there were climbers from Belgium, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Romania and Spain to compete against. The Inter-Service event represents the high point of the competitive climbing calendar with three disciplines covered: lead, bouldering and speed climbing, making for an action-packed competition. A strong Royal Navy and Royal


intelligence team at the hub of RN operations


Data day affairs – the new


Marines team was fi elded, despite set-backs due to both injuries and operational commitments, resulting in several trophies won. During the qualifying stages some competitors struggled with the pressure of the surroundings and the tactics of climbing in a competition, which are very different to a leisurely weekend climb. Impressive performances were made by Mne Mikey Lewis, nearly climbing the 6b qualifi er route despite only starting climbing six months ago. The Royal Marines also showed


how tough (or maybe stupid!) they are as one continued to climb despite a broken wrist. Sgt Lee Jones was heard to say “it’s a bit sore” despite looking like he was about to faint with pain... Tricky fi nal moves at the top of the qualifying routes left some competitors a little frustrated, but there was still all to play for in the speed climbing. With some expert tactics and


training, the RN speed climbing team, consisting of Mikey Lewis, Ollie Horst and Lucy Matthews, missed out on fi rst place by half a second.


Other results included Lt Will


Are you Havana a laugh? HMS Manchester pays historic visit to Cuba


Plus


enjoys a trip to the jungle


matelot, get me out of here – HMS Portland


I’m a


Batho achieving a very respectable seventh in the British open men’s category and Lucy nearly topping the British women’s fi nal to take third in the Inter-Service women’s category. She also fi nished second in the British women’s bouldering. The event was an outstanding success for the RNRMMC, fi nished off in style with a curry supper and a night out to show the European competitors the joys of Edinburgh. You can watch a video report of the contest at www.bfbs. com/news/scotland/climbing- competition-forces-fi nest-40660. html and peruse the full results at www.ukclimbing.com/news/item. php?id=58633


The RN Ice Hockey Association season faced- off with a clash against the Milton Keynes Jesters at the rather unsociable


hour of 11pm. There were a few die-hard


supporters at the Planet Ice rink in Gosport but otherwise it was quiet and eerie as the teams stepped on to the mist-covered ice, writes Lt Adam Lappin. The game started at the usual high tempo and the Jesters caught the RN Kings out in the fi rst minute with a quick wrist shot sailing past stand-in goaltender AET D Jones (Heron); as an


Late late show on the ice


outfi eld player he stepped between the pipes for only the second time in an offi cial fi xture. This was followed by both teams trading shots for the best part of the fi rst period but Mne B Hubbs (fresh from Afghanistan with 40 Cdo RM) showed that he had not lost his touch after a seven-month absence by hauling the RN level after latching on to a perfect through pass from AET A Buckle (815 NAS) to fi re past the MK goaltender. The second period opened


with Jesters taking the lead again before ET(WE) P Shaughnessy (Portsmouth Type 23 Pool) guided in a rebound after a hard shot fi red in from the point by Steve Baker.


The Jesters went in to the dressing room at the end of the second period with a 3-2 lead but a player down after an innocuous challenge by James Morgan near the boards resulted in a Jesters player taking a trip to QA Hospital with a dislocated shoulder. Within seconds of the puck dropping to start the third period, ET Shaughnessy weaved past the Jesters defence to level the score three apiece. Team manager Kevin Cave made it 4-3 to the Navy after receiving a weighted pass off the boards from Lt Lappin (Nelson) to break away on goal and put a wrist shot just inside the post of the Jesters’ goal.


This breakaway would be


repeated at the end of the game when the Jesters pulled their goalie off the ice to add an extra attacker in an attempt to level the score. In doing so they left an empty net and Cave was faced with the much easier shot on goal with no-one around him... The result could only be likened to a “hit the corner fl ag” moment in football as he missed the goal in spectacular fashion.


And with that the score remained at 4-3 to the RN Kings in their fi rst victory of the new season.


The second match was also a


late start (10.45pm) in the same venue, this time against local rivals


Published by Navy News, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth and printed by St Ives (Roche) plc.


the Solent Spartans. In a growing trend, the Navy


went down to an early goal but almost instantly replied with a strike from ET Shaughnessy. This would be the Navy’s last goal of the fi rst period and the Spartans went to the dressing room with a 3-1 lead. The Spartans controlled most of the action in the second period but some impressive play by and goals from ET Shaughnessy and ET (WE) L Frost (Liverpool) and a good marshalling of our defence by Cpl J Underwood (RM Poole) meant that the teams were equal on scoring terms in the second  Continued on page 47


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