Royal Air Force News Friday, December 26, 2025 P26
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Sport
Army shaken to the Corps BOXING
BOBSLEIGH
SPRINT START: Cartagena and Hall
Top support for Corporal
FIGHTING FOR PRIDE: RAF and Army boxers gave their all in the ring at RAF Brize Norton
Daniel Abrahams THE HIGHLY anticipated RAF vs RLC Fight Night proved a resounding success for the hosts at Brize Norton, winning five out of the evening’s eight bouts. Cpl Ben Gurnell, RAF Boxing coach, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of the fighters, the fans and everyone behind the scenes who made this event extraordinary. The energy in the arena was incredible and tonight proved once again why
boxing continues to captivate audiences.” The action-packed evening saw home station fighter AS1
SKELETON
DAREDEVILS: RAF skeleton camp personnel in Sigulda, Latvia
Travas Stock take the first bout, before AS1 Lilly Surridge beat her Ring Amateur Boxing Club opponent to make it two wins out of the two for the hosts. It took until bout six for the Service to secure another win as AS1 Jerome Smith (RAF Wittering) won his clash with a Royal Logistic Corps opponent. Coningsby fighter AS1(T) Mason Slender won the next before Brize fighter AS1 Charlie Topp closed out the evening with another victory.
IT WAS a family affair for RAF/ GB bobsleigh star Cpl Alex Cartagena as he raced as part of the two-man bob team with Brad Hall in Innsbruck, Austria. The aviator was roared on by mum Gill and sister Sofia for his two runs, which saw the duo finish in 17th place, +1.81 seconds behind the winning German pairing of Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer on 1 minute 45.08 seconds. Cartagena said: “It was a complete surprise to have my family there. It was a tough weekend. The track was short, and the times were another step forward for me. “My family now have a better idea of how difficult this sport is. It’s hard for people to understand what is involved. I had a day off before the racing so it was great to be able to spend some time
FLYING THE FLAG: Alex, Gill & Sofia
with my mum and sister. “I cannot wait for my dad to be able to get out to see me in action, hopefully at the Olympics if I am selected.” ● Follow Team GB on Instagram @britishbobsleighandskeleton.
Latvian liaison for RAF sliders SERVICE ICE sports stars held a first joint training camp in Sigulda, developing and coaching Service and Latvian sliders. It saw RAF and New Zealand skeleton star and coach Flt Lt Rhys Thornbury train 20 Royal Air Force sliders, eight new and 12 development athletes, alongside six Latvia Air Force personnel. The event was run in conjunction with the British Embassy in Latvia, through defence attaché Sqn Ldr Steve Priestnall. Thornbury said: “The
Latvian personnel, who were novices to the sport, slid over a three-day period, and it was a brilliant piece of defence engagement. “Our personnel performed around 300 runs over the full two-week camp and there were some noticeable achievements. “The Latvian Air Force engagement was brilliant and something that hasn’t been done before. It was great to build relations with another NATO partner using sport as the link.” ● Follow RAF Skeleton on Instagram @raf_skelton_ team.
SLIDER: Adrenaline rush