NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2011


43


Setting new benchmarks


BRITAIN’S former strongest man Neil Elliott demonstrates the push element of a record- breaking ‘push-pull’ weightlifting event at Faslane.


the RN’s first ‘push-pull’ competition north of the border, with Mr Elliott – also 14-time Scottish shot put and discus champion – guest of honour, kicking (or rather lifting) off proceedings. Ten competitors lined up for two events – the bench press and the dead lift, each contest split into weight and gender categories. It was the ladies who began the bench press with LPT Reggie Cawley setting an RN record in the 63kg class after she managed to lift 50kg. LWtr Eloise Smith in the 80kg class soon


The base’s Sportsdrome was the setting for


followed Reggie’s example and set a record for her weight and junior age group by lifting 30kg. Meanwhile AB Michelle Brennan made it a hat-trick for the ladies with a 40kg lift. The women’s achievement was made all the more impressive by the fact that none of them had much previous lifting experience. Next it was the men’s turn in the bench press and AB Andy Burn kept the momentum going with a 100kg lift in the 67.5kg category – another RN record for a junior lifter. Although the sailor’s achievements were impressive, it was left to strongman Neil to demonstrate how a professional does it. Giving an exhibition lift, he pressed an enormous 210kg in the 125kg class, leaving the spectators agog. Even though the dead-lift event was new to


many of the athletes taking part, all of them put in a sterling effort. Both LWtr Smith and AB Brennan stepped up to the mark and set RN records.


Money for old rope climbing


ROYAL, climb that 30ft rope. Roger.


PTI Sgt Sam Sheriff (pictured here by LA(Phot) Andy Laidlaw) did just that, scaling 3,000ft in 100 stages using a 30ft-rope in the gym of 45 Cdo in Arbroath. It took the NCO three minutes


And again. Roger. Ok, another 98 times now. Er, roger.


shy of 11 hours to complete the challenge – and enter the record books.


One week before the 30-year- old from Bridlington completed his marathon climb he could be found in the chimpanzee enclosure of Edinburgh Zoo (yes, really...) where he received one or two theory lessons from some undisputed masters of rope climbing. He may also have picked up some dietary tips during this visit because when climbing, Sam maintained his energy levels by eating large quantities of bananas and sweet potatoes. As well as staking his place in the record books, the key aim of Sam’s climb was to honour his fellow Royals. The event was the latest staged by the men of 45 to raise money for the Woodlands Garden Project, converting part of the RM Condor site into a focal point for remembrance and refl ection in the Commando.


the right balance between commemoration and celebration and it has an area that is suitable for young children, some of whom have lost their fathers. It will also provide an


The intention is to strike


The competition was rounded-off by another exhibition from Mr Elliott who pulled an amazing 280kg in the dead-lift. Picture: LA(Phot) Stu Hill, FRPU North


Cumberland’s magnifi cent 7s


WHILE Britain froze HMS Cumberland’s rugby side headed to the greenest part of the UAE to take part in the Al Ain 7s


Classic Competition. Under coach CPO Dave Sibson,


the frigate’s team, the Fighting Sausages were drawn in a group with Dubai Harlequins and Dubai Wasps, beginning the tournament against the former. The game started at a frantic pace with Cumberland settling in early to the quicker paced game and scored no fewer than three tries in quick succession. The second half began with Harlequins scoring fi rst with a good breakaway try, however this was answered with a further two tries from Cumberland to make the fi nal score 31-7. Next up the Wasps,


whose


team included former Samoa and London Wasps prop Trevor Leota; heavier than he was at his prime the ex-international bounced off a few tackles and showed deft skills however the youth and power of the now-gelling Cumberland squad produced a good all round performance with the game ending 57-0.


invaluable tranquil location for those carrying unseen mental scars to refl ect and adjust to life back home after operational tours. The downside is that the


Arbroath commandos require around £175,000 to complete the garden; Sam’s exertions have managed to shave nearly £3k off that total. “This was a tremendous feat of endurance and a truly remarkable achievement,” enthused 45’s Commanding Offi cer Lt Col Oliver Lee. “Work has now started on


the Woodlands Garden and this fundraising activity, and many like it, continue to make a signifi cant contribution to this project.” If you’d like to support the project, visit www. bmycharity/100ropes.


This meant a top-place fi nish in


the group, lining up a semi-fi nal against Dubai Exiles as the contest moved into the knockout phase. After a nervous start, Cumberland were 5-0 up at the break. Good pressure ended with a score for AB(CIS) Taff Hughes. Nerves now settled,


the


second half saw the experience of Cumberland’s Navy Squad members ET(ME) Sleeman and LS Nial Copeland come to the fore as the scores came thick and fast, zeroing the Exiles whilst amassing 24 points. To the main pitch and the Classic Cup Final against the Dubai Hurricanes, a very well drilled and young side used to the weather and conditions A ten-minute fi rst half brought a brace for Cumberland one each


the Corps’ right wing along with the eagerly-anticipated duel between young loosehead Mne Josh Terry propping against Naval Air Command’s experienced John Court, who was returning from a lengthy lay-off.


None disappointed and although current Navy loosehead Kyle Mason made an impact when coming off the bench, he knows that the current crop of young props like Terry, Tom Blackburn and Kye Beazley are developing into real contenders for Senior representative honours. With Navy and Combined


● S/Lt Josh Gorst breaks away from the Dubai Harlequins in the opening round of the Al Ain 7s


Picture: LA(Phot) Jay Allen, FRPU East


for Copeland and ET(ME) Ryan Lovett without reply from the Hurricanes, but they were far from done. Two unanswered tries in the second period levelled the game at 14-14 and the tension rose. Great work and inter-passing


between ETME ‘Gail’ Porter, PO (AWT) ‘Taff’ Newall, S/Lt Josh Gorst and ET(ME) ‘Lily’ Allan saw Lovett score the winner in the corner – and hence win the tournament; Lovett was also named player of the tournament award.


This was not the only representation from Cumberland in the contest. Praise is due to the Cumberland Social side which struggled in the early exchanges but persevered to reach the bowl fi nal where Trevor Leota’s Dubai Wasps proved too strong. Back in the UK, 2010 closed with RNRU seniority looking to the Inter-Service championship. There was an abundance of


Portsmouth for the third/fourth spot and the fi nal,


at home to the RAF to seal the 2010 Inter-Service title before a number of the team turned out for their respective Commands during fi nals day. Both matches – Plymouth vs


between Naval Air Command and Royal Marines – provided proof that Navy Rugby is slowly growing its strength in depth. The Command matches were again invaluable for some of the youngsters to prove themselves against more established players. However it was also the opportunity for some ‘forgotten’ players to issue a reminder of their talent.


Portsmouth two such players came head to head: Portsmouth skipper Kev Macrossan has clearly worked hard on his fi tness and led the team from the front. However Gareth Cadmore,


rugby success that posed selection headaches for the Senior XV coaches to ponder before the fi rst fi xture away to Oxford University on February 2.


The successful U23 team completed a hard-fought victory


playing at No.8 for the West Country team, proved that he has added a harder edge to his undoubted ball-handling skills. During the fi nal the Navy


selectors had their fi rst opportunity to look over the exciting running talents of Mne Kamikamica on


In Plymouth’s victory over yet again,


Services lock forward Marsh Cormack missing the Command fi nal, U23 captain Mne Dennis Scotthorne took the opportunity to enhance his growing reputation with a very effective partnership with Stu McLaren in the Royal Marines’ second row.


Their strong lineout and work in the loose ensured that the Corps spent most of the game on the front foot. This in turn allowed one of Naval Air Command’s U23 backs, Aaron Hunt, to demonstrate that his defence has improved and could prove to be the physical presence that the Navy has looked for either in midfi eld or on the wings.


The marines ran out victors on the night and are the 2010 Inter Command (Inverdale Cup) Champions.


Finally – and coming full circle –


RNRU’s success was completed in Dubai where England 7s and Navy fl anker Greg Barden contributed to England’s tournament success. Not to be outdone on the


international front, the Navy women saw


‘Charlie’ Lewis


selected for Scotland against Spain.


With such a number of players obviously in good form it is hoped that 2011 will see RN rugby continue to produce exciting and winning rugby on the fi eld as it seeks to defend the Senior Inter- Service title and look to build on the very promising performance by the women’s team.


Chance to sail in Scotland


THERE’S the chance to sail a yacht around the stunning waters of western Scotland through the spring and summer. Joint Service Sailing Exercise


Scotwest 2011 allows personnel from all three Forces to gain experience, training and qualifications in a Contessa 38 yacht, HMSTC Gawaine. The yacht’s based in Faslane and it is from there that the exercise, run over 13 legs each of a week’s duration, begins on May 30 and ends on August 28. The first and last legs are


‘delivery trips’. In between, Gawaine will spend the bulk of her time between Ardfern Yacht Centre on Loch Craignish and Kyle of Lochalsh – regarded as one of the finest sailing areas in Europe. The yacht will be used


to provide training to RYA standards from ‘competent crew’ to ‘yachtmaster offshore’. Scotwest runs every year; in 2010 74 personnel took advantage of Gawaine – 37 gained yachting experience, ten achieved day skipper qualifications and 27 received a ‘competent crew’ certificate. There’s more info in DIN 2011DIN07-013, or contact PO Stephen Smith, Clyde Sailing Centre Manager, on 93255 3519.


Beware the deadly shins


THE RN ladies triumphed over Weymouth in their third representative match of the 2010- 11 football season. Despite dominating the game – and playing some first-class footie – the women missed a host of chances... until a fluke four minutes from time sealed a 1-0 win.


Albion’s CPO Becky Brown met a cross from PO(PT) Lisa Farthing. The Weymouth keeper fl ung herself across the goal to stop the ball, but fortunately for Brown, it came off her shin and went unintentionally in the opposite direction and into the goal.


This was by far the ladies’ best performance of the season with some great individual performances by a number of players old and new – and just the boost the team needed.


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