In 2008 the Navy enjoyed one of its most successful years in sport for a long time.  It sent two members to the Beijing Olympics where Lieutenant Peter Reed won a Gold medal; it provided four members of the GB Bobsleigh team in the World and Europa Cup series of races; Lieutenant Lucy Abel won the ABA and European Union boxing titles and came 5th in the World Championships in Beijing; LPT Sean Coyle won the Silver medal in the World Powerlifting Championships in New York; Cpl Greg Barden RM and Logs Josh Drauniniu played for the England Rugby 7s team in Dubai ; Mne Chris Sherington took the GB Judo Heavyweight title; the Swimming Team won a total of 40 medals at the GB Masters Short Course Championships at Sheffield; and the RN won 16 Inter Service championships in a range of sports.

 

 

To give a feel for the variety of sports which the Navy has to offer (currently 39) and to gain an appreciation of their successes, the following calendar of sporting highlights has been compiled:

 

Skiing/Snowboarding.  The 2008 Navy Championships was held at Les Menuires attended by some1200 personnel.  CPO Mick Arrowsmith participated and went on to be a member of the GB Snowboard squad.

 

Combined Services Sports Awards.  The 2008 awards were presented by the Duchess of Cornwall and the Navy had a strong showing with Lieutenant Keith Bowers RN taking Official Of the Year for his major contribution to Fencing while the Royal Navy Time Trial Team took the Team of the Year Award having dominated Inter Service cycling for the last three years and for being ranked 3rd best team in the UK.

 

Indoor Rowing.  A team of 11 rowers from the Indoor section of the RNRM Amateur Rowing Association took part in the World Indoor Rowing Championships in the United States.  All the team performed well but there were two particularly fast times achieved by Lt Cdr Neil McMullum who took 5th place in the 30-39 age group and POPT Dick Treacy who took 8th in the 40-49 group.  Neil’s result followed a silver medal in the British Championships and a bronze in the European.

 

Cresta Run.  The Navy team retained the title that they won in 2007 and Lt Cdr Angus Essenhigh was the individual winner.

 

Ice Sports.  The Navy Bobsleigh Team had another outstanding season and swept the board.   In the IS individual Bobsleigh, they placed 1,3,4, and 10 and easily took the team trophy.  In the British championships they won both the 2man and 4man events. 

 

Outdoor Hockey.  The Navy spoilt the Army’s party as they hosted the Inter Service Hockey championships at Aldershot in their centenary.  Continuing their recent run of form (4 wins out of 5), the Navy Senior and U/23 teams played magnificently to secure their respective Inter Service titles.  

 

Half-Marathon.  The Inter Service Half-Marathon Championship was held in conjunction with the prestigious Fleet Half-Marathon.   On-form Navy runners made short work of taking the Inter-Service title in both the Seniors and Veterans events.

 

Rugby Union.  The Navy Rugby Union team beat the French Navy and Irish Defence Force in two close fought matches.  The RN took on the French at the home of Stade Francaise where they secured an 18-13 win.  The Irish Defence Force gave the Navy an equally tough test before the RN emerged as 23-20 winners. 

 

Netball.  The Navy Netball teams had their best results for a long time at this year’s Inter Service Championship beating the RAF and drawing with the Army. 

 

Football.  The RN Women’s Football Team had a good season with a win against the RAF and a draw against the Army in the Inter Services.   The Men had looked strong going into the Inter Services with a good 2-0 win over the Civil Service, but could only manage a 1-1 draw against the Army and lost 2-0 to the RAF.

 

Cycling.  The Navy Time Trial team retained the Inter Service trophy at both 10 and 25 miles. 

 

Tennis.  After 11 years, the RN Tennis Team finally clinched victory in the Inter Service B Tennis Championships. 

 

Rugby Union.  In the opening match of the Inter Service Championship, the Navy Senior Team gave a dazzling display of fast and open rugby when beating the RAF 67-12.  Mne Greg Barden was top scorer with a fantastic 5 tries. 

 

Marathon.  The Navy team cleaned-up in the London Marathon with its first 3 runners taking all the podium places in the Inter Service championship.  Top RN runner,Cpl Mark Croasdale, ran 2.32.31 to finish 75th in the main race. 

 

Boxing.  With no RAF boxers making the finals of the Inter Service Boxing Championships, the night turned into a gladiatorial combat between the RN and the Army.  With 12 weights being competed, the Navy was immediately disadvantaged by lacking representatives in 4 of the lighter weights.  In the contested bouts, the RN showed its fighting spirit by winning 5 out of 8.

 

Powerlifting.  The RN/RM made a big impact at the British National Powerlifting Championships.  The two representatives from the RN/RM were LPT Sean Cole (67.5kg) and Mne Mark Flemming (75kg).   Both qualified for the European and World Championships and Fleming broke the BDFPA British Record.

 

Rugby Union. After the euphoria of a thumping win against the RAF, hopes were high for the annual Army Navy Rugby match  at Twickenham.  Sadly, although the Navy team is making great strides to close the gap, the professionalism of the Army proved too much for the dark blue and the final result was Army 22 RN 11.

 

Ice Hockey.  The Navy’s Ice Hockey team retained the British Armed Forces Ice Hockey title in its second year in the competition. 

 

Show Jumping.  The RN Show Jumping Team won the military class at Royal Windsor Show beating 25 other teams and was presented with the trophy by Her Majesty the Queen.

 

Mountaineering.  Surgeon Lieutenant Lara Herbert became one of the few women to reach the summit of Makalu, an 8463m peak in the Himalayas.  Lara was part of a Combined Services expedition climbing this mountain which is regarded as a stiffer challenge than Everest. 

 

Swimming.  The competition from the Army and RAF swimming teams was intense at this year’s Inter Service Swimming Championships, but  a depleted Navy team dug deep to secure another win.  This made it 10 wins in the last 11 years.  In the Inter Service Open Water Swim held at Lake Bala, the Navy were easy winners with the first 3 swimmers home.

 

Polo.  The Navy’s Polo team returned to winning ways to secure the Inter Service Championship by beating the Army in the Rundle Cup.  

 

Cricket.  In the Inter Service competition, the Navy ladies Cricket Team played magnificently to trounce the RAF by a 10 wicket victory and the Army by 44 runs to take the title for the first time.  However, highlight of the year for Navy Cricket was the Centenary Match at Lords against the Army.  In front of a crowd of over 6000, the RN Cricket team held on for a creditable draw.  The Army set a commanding total of 265 for 4 and the RN had reached 171 for 8 by the close.  The good news is that the Army/Navy match will be back at Lords on 6 August 2009.

 

Boxing.  At the women’s European Union boxing championships, Lieutenant Lucy Abel captained the most successful England ladies boxing team in history and won the first ever EU gold medal for England.

 

Beijing Olympics.  Lieutenant Peter Reed won a Gold Medal in the Coxless Four at the Beijing Olympics and remains a member of the GB team for the 2012 London Olympics.  Lieutenant Commander Penny Clark represented the GB Sailing Team in the Laser Radial class at the Beijing Olympics and had three top 3 finishes, but finally had to settle for 10th.  Undaunted she has declared her intention to be in the British team in 2012.

 

Cricket.  The Senior Men came within a whisker of winning the IS Championships.  Having bowled out the Army for 187, they scored 182 for 5 in 50 overs, narrowly missing out by scoring too slowly.  Against the RAF, the RN scored 244 and in return the RAF were bowled out for 187. 

 

Rugby League.  The RN Rugby League team had a fabulous Inter Service championship this year with outright victories for the Senior team, a win and a draw for the Academy team and the runner-up spot for the ladies who were competing in their first season.

 

Archery.  The resurgence in Naval Archery was confirmed by their win in the Inter Service event, bringing to an end a string of RAF victories.

 

Golf.  The Navy ladies’ team defied their handicaps and had a convincing win in the Inter Service Golf Championships

 

Rugby Union.  Two of Navy Rugby's most exciting backs (Greg Barden and Josh Drauniniu) had their potential recognised by being selected for the England Sevens team in the Dubai and South African legs of the IRB World Series Sevens Tournament.

 

Swimming.  The RN Swimming Team competed in the Great Britain Masters Short Course Championships at Ponds Forge, Sheffield .  A total of 22 swimmers represented the RN over the 3 day event producing an excellent total of 7 Gold, 12 Silver and 11 Bronze medals and set 33 new record times. 

 

Boxing.  Lieutenant Lucy Abel came 5th in the World Boxing Championships in Beijing following a narrow defeat in the Quarter Finals.

 

Indoor Hockey.  The Navy team followed up its Outdoor title by winning the Indoor Championship with the women finishing runners-up to the Army.

 

Sports Website – Details of sports, fixtures, results and contacts can be found on the Defence Intranet at