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42 NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2009
London dock
the chance
A SHELTERED harbour in South Wales or on the
East Coast of Scotland, or maybe a lazy river in East
Anglia, is where it all started.
It all got a bit more serious in the waters of Bristol, or perhaps
Nottingham.
And by the time the whole show moved on to London and the vast,
historic Royal Victoria Dock there was an awful lot more than pride at
stake.
The beauty of the Sea Cadet Corps National Combined Regatta is
that, in theory, every cadet stands a chance of making it through to the
big stage.
In practice, of course, there are the thoroughbreds of the competition –
those units, districts and areas who
steamroller their opponents as they
add to their illustrious records.
But there are others for
whom a place among the elite
at the Nationals is a fantastic
achievement, or who can look
back with pride at running the
favourites close in the area and
district competitions.
The setting for the Nationals
is impressive, and the scale of the
‘stadium’ is matched by the scale
of the logistics required to ensure
the event goes off without a hitch.
The man responsible for that is
Lt Cdr (SCC) Phil Patterson RNR,
HQ Staff Recreation Officer.
“In plain terms, I co-ordinate
all the administration, logistics,
communications – everything
there is to bring an event like this
together,” said Phil.
He finds an appropriate venue,
books it, finds accommodation,
organises staff to run and officiate
at the event and makes sure the
equipment is all there and ready.
In terms of people it is a
question of liaising with the areas,
the end result being 453 cadets
aged between 12 and 17, and 153
members of staff, turning up for a
smooth-running competition.
2009 was the fourth time the
ExCeL had been used, and the
routine is now established.
Everyone’s a winner, but
not everyone get a prize
JUST competing at the National Poole Cup), Open Girls (Ulster Cup)
Combined Regatta in London is and Junior Boys (Nottingham Cup).
an honour – but not everyone takes Their win in the Open Girls was
home a prize. particularly emphatic, finishing 27
Stonehaven dominated the points ahead of their nearest rivals,
pulling (see p45), winning the Northern Area.
Ridgewell Cup for Junior Boys The Junior Girls title (and Barbara
and the Hornblower Cup for Open Simpson Cup) went to the North,
Boys, also helping Northern Area but with the South West taking
to take the overall pulling title and second, they were clear winners of the
the Dawson Trophy, with the North Armitage Trophy for paddlesports.
West taking second place. Portsmouth took the honours
Port Talbot took pride of place in for the South in the Pulling Boat
the Girls Junior, winning the Wain Handling (Mitchell Trophy), also
1999 Cup, while Henley took the finishing second to Maryport of
Girls Open and the Burton Cup. (North West) in the Sailing Boat
The Yole rowing did not count Handling (P&O Trophy).
towards the main points tallies, but With Gravesend winning the
was still fiercely contested. Power Boat Handling (the Stirling
The Open Mixed Cup went to Wheel), the South were comfortable
Romsey, of Southern Area, while winners of the Stena Sealink Trophy
Neath (South West) won the for overall boat handling.
Junior Mixed Cup. And when all the results were
The overall Yole trophy, the in and the points tallied, it was the
Narvic Cup, was shared by North teams from the South who were
West and South West Areas. celebrating as their area took the
Turning to the paddlesports overall regatta title, and with it the
competition, it was the South West Navy League Cup.
teams which turned in the headline In second place were the North
performances, winning three of the and Northern Ireland, with the
four events – the Open Boys (Mike South West coming in third.
● Clockwise from top right: Competitors head off towards the City
skyscrapers at the western end of the Royal Victoria Dock; cadet helpers
line up on a pontoon; sailing boat handlers go through their paces; kayak
crews wait for a race to be called; a paddlesports race passes under the
footbridge; true colours – from left, the Henley girls show off a new version
of the Southern Area kit, while representatives of the North, Northern
Ireland, Eastern, London, the North West and South West demonstrate
their support; pulling crews from the South (dark blue) and North West
go head-to-head; two ‘spectators’ enjoy the sunshine; kayaks line up at
the pontoon before a race; a Northern Ireland competitor prepares her
kayak for a race; paddlesport crews on the pontoon in front of ExCeL
042-045_NN_oct.indd 1 22/9/09 11:34:33
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