with at least four competitors each time. Come May, the team was in full swing and training hard which showed at the LONDIST triathlon hosted by 1 Coldstream Guards, where the team prize was whipped away due to a last minute ‘change’ on how they were going to score the teams; not bitter at all. With the Army tri squad attending all the big meets the kit and equipment can be quite daunting but, fortunately for us, we had SCpl Spink and his trusty yellow Raleigh, do not let the 1980’s vintage bike fool you, for he certainly put a few people back in their box! The HCR triathlon team is getting bigger and better and, with the purchase of new equipment and bikes, will open its door to more members of the Regiment, allowing the team to continue heading upwards.
Tpr Greenlees, LCoH Perry, LSgt Davis, SCpl Spink, and the author
The South American Open: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by Lance Corporal of Horse M Stock, The Blues and Royals
I
n September 2014, with help from the Army sports lottery and the Regiment, I was given the opportunity to travel to Brazil and represent the Army in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the South American Open. I flew out early as I was lucky enough to attend a ten day training camp, at Grappling Fight Team HQ in Rio de Janeiro. The ten days were some of the toughest but most rewarding training sessions I have had on the mats, as the level of technical ability and conditioning was unlike anything I had experienced in the UK. Not to mention that the classes were run by a sixth degree black belt and it wasn’t uncommon to have 20 or
LCoH Stock and his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructors during his build up training
so black belts on the mats each day. After being put through my paces for ten days, I felt ready, if a little sore, to test my hand in one of the three biggest tournaments Brazil has to offer. The South American Open has 400 competitors across different weight classes and attracts lots of sponsorship interest. I weighed in and took my place in what is appropriately named the bull pen to start warming up. After a short while my name was called and, with some pre-fight butterflies, I took to the mats for my first fight. All the hard work at the ten day camp had paid LCoH Stock in action at the off, as I managed to beat South American Open in the Second Round my first opponent with an arm lock submission after four minutes, but with little time to that went in my favour for being the celebrate or catch my breath, I was being more aggressive. ushered to another mat for my second fight against a local guy that had plenty And so it was into the quarter final. of support in the crowd. Unfortunately, on this occasion it was the end of the road as after a few This fight was a lot tougher than the mistakes I found myself in deep water. first and going down 3 points in the My opponent tried his hardest to first minute, I had lots of catching submit me and after what seemed like up to do but, with some courage and an age he managed to claim the win by determination, I managed to pull it back submission. and won 5/3 on points at the end of the fight. The third fight was by far the This was an opportunity of a lifetime and closest with the score level at the end of I am happy with a quarter final finish in the fight. It went to a referee’s decision one of Brazil’s biggest tournaments.
Household Cavalry Sports Round-up ■ 77