SPORT
Meanest of marathons
If First can do it, so can you WHEN a last-minute change to his programme meant that the First Sea Lord had an unexpectedly clear diary, he knew what he would rather be doing. Admiral Sir George Zambellas, President of the Royal Navy Lawn Tennis Association, joined fellow players in the annual Navy Tennis Championships at Burnaby Road, Portsmouth. For the first time ever, there was a novice draw attracting 17 newcomers to competitive tennis – the Admiral among them. While the tournament was held over four days the novices played on two days and, leading from the front, the Navy’s chief played six novice singles matches in one day, winning three of them. Winner of the men’s novice was ET(WE) Richard Trelease, while winner of the women’s novice was Lt Liz Benmayor. In the main draw, the women’s final saw Musn Alice Hudson prevail over AB Lauren Parker. In the men’s singles, Cpl Nathan Jackson won the thrilling final against Surg Lt Paul Jones. The women’s doubles was won by AB Parker and Lt Katie Steele, the men’s doubles by Lt Hamish Coles Hendry and Cpl Jackson, the veteran’s singles by Lt Col (Rtd) Stewart Barnes and the veteran’s doubles by Lt Col Barnes and Cdr (Rtd) Joe Collicutt. The mixed doubles was won by AB Parker and Lt Coles Hendry. The floodlit astro turf courts on Burnaby Road are free for use by all personnel and can be booked through the Naval Base central booking service 9380 20120 (02392 720120). There is also free coaching for Navy personnel on Mondays from 6pm. If it’s wet, then try the Portsmouth Indoor Tennis Centre – serving personnel get a 50 per cent discount for court hire.
l First Sea Lord Admiral Sir George Zambellas played six matches in one day
Navy miss out on top polo trophy
ROYAL Navy polo players put up a tough fight against an Army side containing Prince Harry for the Rundle Cup, the highlight of the Services’ Polo season.
The one-goal senior RN team of Cdre Adrian Aplin, Cdr Al Wilson, Lt Cdr Steve Spiller and Lt Hiro Suzuki faced a three-goal Army side of Maj Rupert Lewis, Capt Harry Wales, 2nd Lt Rishi Ahluwalia and OC Paddy Self. After a combined Services team, which included L/Cpl Max Kamper of the Royal Marines, was defeated by a visiting South Africa squad for the Indian Cavalry Officers’ Association Trophy the main event of the afternoon got under way in front of a crowd of 6,000 spectators at Tidworth, home to the Combined Services Polo Association. The Army, odds-on favourites, faced a disciplined and wellstructured Navy team keen to avenge last year’s defeat. From the outset the crowd was treated to a fabulous display of polo with individual flair and
l Prince Harry’s Army team emerged victorious against the Royal Navy at Tidworth Picture: CPOA(Phot) Rob Harding outstanding teamwork featuring strongly from both sides. Both sides were neck and neck up to the last chukka, when the Navy conceded a penalty, allowing the Army to increase their lead by two goals.
The Army went on to finish victors 7-4½. The prestigious trophy was awarded to the Army captain by Vice Admiral Sir Phillip Jones, president of Navy polo, and Jeremy Hackett, sponsor of the Rundle Cup.
Best playing pony was presented by Tristan Young of Gore, sponsor of the RN Polo Team. Cdr Wilson, Navy polo club secretary, said: “It was a hardfought game but the Army proved they were the stronger team today.” Navy polo goes from strength to strength with officers, ratings and other ranks taking up and enjoying what is a hugelyaddictive sport. The annual Navy and Army Cup was first played in Malta in 1909, instituted by the island’s Governor, Sir Leslie Rundle, and supported by the then Prince George of Wales, later to become King George VI. The Royal Navy won the first cup and the Army won the last time the match was played in Malta back in 1966, after which it moved to the UK. The Navy won the first recorded match in the UK in 1976 – a team including the Prince of Wales. Outstanding scores include a hat-trick by the Navy in 1994–96, but the honours are now about even.
Marines take back Trafalgar Cup THE ROYAL Marines celebrated their birthday year by regaining the rugby league Trafalgar Cup. Victory over the Parachute Regiment meant the Commandos took back the cup after winning their seventh game in the series. With the match ball and cup delivered in true Commando style by Royal Navy helicopter, it wasn’t just the silverware they were playing for. Pride and bragging rights were at stake, with the cup having spent the past two years in the hands of the maroon berets. There was certainly no love lost between the two sides, with the Paras doing their upmost to spoil the Royal Marines’ party. Just minutes into the match the Paras put www.navynews.co.uk
the first points on the board with a try from Pte Stef Pieterson. The Paras were off to a flying start with the second try coming from Bdr Vunivesilivu before the Royal Marines closed the gap with a converted try. Pte Pieterson stormed in with a second try, converted by Cpl Bill Humphries, increasing the Paras’ lead to 14-6 by half time. After losing to their rivals for the past two years, the pressure was on for the Royal Marines to produce a telling comeback. And that they did, just minutes in with team captain Cpl Carl Gilson scoring the first try of the second half, converted by Mne Richard Cadywould. Further tries from Mne Gilmour, Mne Kamikamica and Cpl l The Royal Marines storm to victory Fairbrother sealed a 31-14 victory.
A ROYAL Navy officer has completed Scotland’s toughest ever footrace – the 110-mile Double Cateran Ultra in Glenshee. Lt Cdr Keith Mabbott (pictured) (COMUKMARFOR), based at HMS Excellent, Portsmouth, finished second with a time of 25h 6m, two-anda-half hours behind the winner, Mike Raffan. The mine clearance diving officer said: “It is without doubt the hardest physical challenge of my life so far. “As well as the obvious pain involved in running a long way, there are the mental games going on in your head, especially overnight. It’s hurting and you need to avoid telling yourself that you still have 80 miles to run. “At halfway I was vomiting and struggling to take on solids. Your body doesn’t want food but you know that without it you simply won’t finish. In some ways it’s an eating competition with a bit of running thrown in.” The Ultra began from the Spittal of Glenshee, taking in an anti-clockwise loop of the Cateran Trail overnight, before reversing the course for a second loop.
Three weeks prior to the Ultra, Lt Cdr Mabbott, 40, from Cheshire, took part in the ninth Hoka Highland Fling, a 53-mile race taking in the West Highland Way from Glasgow to Tyndrum, via the shores of Loch Lomond. He completed the route, which includes 2,200 metres of climbing in 9h 53m, finishing in 92nd place out of 614 starters, an improvement of two hours 15 minutes from last year. He is now looking forward to a period of rest before plotting an attempt on the 95-mile West Highland Way Race next year.
Racquet battle THE CHANCE to be coached by top badminton player Vernon Smeed attracted a dozen Royal Marines to join a tour of Cardiff. The Royal Marines Badminton Association also got the chance to watch the Welsh national team train. A league competition saw Musn Natalie Wade and Mne Henry Taylor battle for two new
racquets donated by Smeed, who was selected for St Helena at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Mne Taylor won but Musn Wade then beat him in a return match. The Royal Marines are always on the lookout for new players so if you are interested contact C/Sgt Steve Forrest on 01392 414452.
Royal support MORE THAN 100 competitors took part in the second Royal Marines Rehabilitation Triathlon at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines. The event, which was organised by physical training instructors at CTCRM near Exmouth in Devon, was for serving injured military personnel and veterans. Numerous high-profile visitors attended the event to show their support, including Prince Harry, outgoing Commandant General Royal Marines Maj Gen Ed Davies and the Naval Secretary Rear Admiral Jonathon Woodcock. Every Royal Marines unit was represented, and there were also contingents from the US Marine Corps and from the Royal Netherlands Marines Corps.
Navy sweep the board PO(PT) KARL Thorpe helps HMS Collingwood win the men’s category at the Forces Throwdown 2014 contest at Aldershot (above). He was joined by CPO(PT) Baz Sloan and Mne Michael Fleckney.
A team from NCHQ finished second and 42 Cdo’s team took third as the Royal Navy swept the board. RNAS Culdrose took the women’s title while the Fleet Diving Squadron won the masters.
CO puts new pitch to test
THE Commanding Officer of Britannia Royal Naval College, Capt Henry Duffy, has become the first to complete his Royal Naval Fitness Test on the establishment’s newly opened AstroTurf pitch. The pitch has been refurbished to FIFA standard with a new stateof-the-art third generation synthetic surface. With a longer pile carpet, filled with a combination of sand and rubber granules, the surface is as close as possible to natural grass and provides a safe playing surface, which won’t freeze in cold conditions. Cadets at the college will undergo strength and conditioning circuits on the pitch as part of their physical training syllabus. AUGUST 2014 : 39