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A selection of latest stories that have been published on the Royal Navy Rugby Union website or the History of Navy Rugby by Alligin Photography website.
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First Royal Navy Team to complete the Talisker Whisky Transatlantic Challenge
Historical Editorial from the Extensive Archives of Alligin Photography

Navy Beat Army in 37 Day Thriller

 
In last year's Army v Navy match programme there was an article featuring the impending challenge facing two capped Navy Rugby players - Matt Harvey & Hugo Mitchell-Heggs - who along with fellow submariners - Callum Fraser & Dylan Woods - were planning to compete as the 1st Royal Navy team in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.  To add a little piece of traditional Army v Navy rivalry they would also be in a direct head-to-head challenge against the British Army entrant, Force Atlantic.

This, the lastest newletter from History of Navy Rugby, is an update to the story and I am pleased to say that both teams successfully crossed the finishing line in Antigua and can now count themselves as successful trans-Atlantic rowers.  Their achievement should not be undermined and some may say that there need be no further qualification to detract from this.  But for those that ask - and purely as an information service - we can report than the Navy beat the Army across the line.

What next?  Well HMS Oardacious do have further plans but whilst we await for them to be announced we can report that their boat is to be renamed and in this year's Talisker Challenge, Team Commando Spirit will be following their oar strokes from La Gomera to Antigua.  Team Commando Spirit include Gaz Evans, Callum Macrae and Tristan Lark, all capped Navy Rugby players and Jan Hicklin a former Team Manager with Navy Rugby. 

It seems that just as in the past there was a strong affiliation between Navy Rugby and Field Gun then there is now a growing affiliation between Navy Rugby and trans-Atlantic rowing.  Naturally we will seek to capture some of the story as they write anouther chapter in the History of Navy Rugby.

 
Geraint
The launch event and blessing of HMS Oardacious was held alongside HMS Victory - so apposite as the team were to finish their challenge in Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua.

Army v Navy Match 2019 - HMS Oardacious article


Below are the opening paragraphs of the article that appeared in the match programme:
 
Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick..................Beneath the West Stand, the final warm up completed; a moment of silent reflection; the changing room is quiet.  Surrounded by team mates who have spent weeks together prepearing for today.  Out into the tunnel.  The anthem is sung.  To the roar of the 82,000 crowd the match begins.  If you play well the affirmation is instant, the noice levels rise, perhaps a chorus of "Heart of Oak" sounds out.  If the game turns the Navy fans go silent and all that is heard is Army noise.  For eighty minutes the physical, brutal encounter is full on, but sport is also a mental challenge, and that drive, the desire, the cause, fuel the mind as the body is pushed further and further into physical debt.  By the end lungs are burning, the body racked by subdued pain.  Over the next couple of days, as the adrenalin subsides, only then wil the real pain in the body be felt.  For over 100 years this has been the story of players at the annual Army v Navy match.

Splish, Splash, splish, splash, splish............. The Atlantic is calm, only the rolling swell gives a hint of the power she possesses.  Her waters continually lap against the hull of the small rowing boat.  Two of the four are rowing as part of their two hours on, two hours off routine.  The splish as the oar catches the water, breath exhaled as the power transferred and then both body and oar recoil for the next stroke.  Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, the steady progress is recorded on the tracker as the 3000 miles from the Canary Isles to Antigua count down.  There is no crowd, there are no instant accolades.  Long periods spent in silence, the body aching, but though this is one of sport's most brutal endurance challenges it is more the mental endurance than physical prowess that defines the athletes.  On board HMS Oardacious the mental resilience remains strong.


The full article can be read by clicking HERE  HMS Oardacious were raising money for charity and also to highlight #mentalhealthawareness

Preparations

Preparations for the event included various tests undertaken at the Institute of Naval Medicine.
A charity dinner at RNC Greenwich's famous painted hall both to raise funds for charity and thank the sponsors.
Also on hand was Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, to give some words of wisdom from his considerable experience of the Atlantic.  As he said - it would be easier if you used a sail!!

Training on the Clyde

The Race

The boats at the start in La Gomera - Image courtesy of Atlantic Campaigns
Pre race promotional image - Hugo, Callum, Dylan & Matt - Image courtesy of Atlantic Campaigns
Early Days - Image courtesy of Atlantic Campaigns
Later Days - Image courtesy of Atlantic Campaigns
Final Day - Achievement acknowledged by those onboard the 27m Oyster superyacht Lush as HMS Oardacious approach the finishing marker buoys.

The Finish

La Gomera - Antigua
37days 6hours 40 minutes
2734 Nautical Mikes
First Royal Navy Team to Complete the Challenge
Beat the Army by 7hours 13minutes
Callum and Matt
Hugo and Dylan
The Team Works
The first two capped Navy Rugby players to row the Atlantic.  And for those who are pedantic about these things Matt was first across the line followed by Hugo!  (Hugo claims Matt had a head start at La Gomera)
Just before the team stepped ashore - Image courtesey of Atlantic Campaigns
On the finishing line podium - Image courtesey of Atlantic Campaigns

The Future

Team Commando Spirit


We are reliably told that it was Jan Hickling who was the drive behind the idea and the team formation.  Having trekked to Base Camp of Mount Everest it is alleged he wanted the next challenge to be one where he could sit down all day - and so the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2020 came calling!!!
Jan Hicklin, right, team manager for the successful Navy team in 2010.  Image taken after the match against the RAF with his training guru Bill Parry. Image Navy Rugby
Putting in the hard yards and...........
inviting Bill to keep up with the endurance athlete that is Jan Hicklin
Responsible for team cohesion and discipline, Gaz Evans.  Motivation is apparently to lose weight (there are easier ways - Ed!)
In Team Commando Spirit collours as Gaz helps the Royal Marines in an Inverdale Trophy win over the Fleet Air Arm
1st capped in 2005 Gaz has 30 Navy caps at Number 8, hooker, loosehead prop and tighthead prop. Image Navy Rugby
Callum Macrae is the only back in Team Commando Spirit. But as a hard running, hard tackling centre he was never happier than when mixing it with the forwards.  10 Navy caps, also 1st capped in 2005. Image Navy Rugby
Always serious about match preparation Callum fueled on a banana post Navy v RAF whilst Jan Laity suggests there are other ways to refuel and rehydrate. Image Navy Rugby
Why the rowing challenge?  Again unconfirmed rumours suggest that Callum, after many injuries, finally wants to get some strength in those shoulders of his!!
Few photos exist in our archive of the fourth crew member, Tristan Lark.  2 caps in 2008, Tristan went on to provide conditioning advice at the top end of the Game after he left the Royal Marines.  A quiet man but very determined and motiviated.  If he sets the standards for the team then Jan, Gaz and Callum are going to be in for a very hard few months before the start line in La Gomera, December 2020.  Image Navy Rugby

Follow Team Commando Spirit

You can follow and support Team Commando Spirit via their website by clicking HERE

Twitter: @TeamCS2020
Instagram: @teamcommandospirit

Facebook: @TeamCS2020

Congratulations to HMS Oardacious

Good Luck to Team Commando Spirit

All images Alligin Photography unless stated.
History is about people not about dates and data.  The History of Navy Rugby website remains dedicated to bringing you the stories behind the players, officals and administrators that made the Union what it is today.  The views are those of Alligin Photography alone.  We remain proudly unofficial.
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