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.
Navy players Kyp Bridgen, Jon Humphrey and Ben Chambers joined Life Members and Sponsors at the 2019 RNRU Golf Day
Historical Editorial from the Extensive Archives of Alligin Photography
Life Members and Current Players Unite at 2019 Golf Day
The very challenging Jack Nicklaus course at St Mellion International Resort was once again the backdrop to the annual Royal Navy Rugby Union Golf Day as three current players joined with three Life Members to cross the divide of differing rugby generations under the glorious Kernow sun.
The day remains a perfect blend of serious competition mixed with conveniality, dubious dits and laughter as the ten teams of four take on the course through the Texas Scramble format.
As ever Paul Barrington provided the trick shot wizardry to get proceedings underway in the time honoured manner where players chosen ramdomly by Paul (from Alan Chirch's post-it notes) were encouraged to take centre stage and put their golfing talent on show and under the discerning gaze of their peers.
And unusually for Paul he struggled at the end of show cricket!
As a photographer, who is not a golfer, it was once more a delight to walk the wonderful course after a couple of years break and marvel at the unerring accuracy that golfers can find water rather than the fairway!!
Geraint
Dave Hambrook, one of the Navy's most capped centres, was renown for the speed at which he went to ground (and in years past, the speed at which he bounced back up). Now he is more content to take the chilled approach to life.
Bob Gray, a former treasurer, and now both a Life Member and valued sponsor of Navy Rugby shows fine form from the first tee.
Tim Harris a former Chairman of both the Union and the Youth set up, fresh from a starring role in the Sopranos was in determined mood.
Paul Barrington shows how you can get a flatter drive if you tee the ball a little higher.
Kyp showing good hand eye co-ordination as he tries Paul's method to make more use of prescious practice time - use two clubs concurrently!
Aidan Riley, Assistant Director of Navy U23s, being shown how a slight adjustment to the feet can help prevent excessive draw from the tee.
Ben Chambers pre match nerves were nothing compared to those he experienced as Paul demonstrated his accuracy from the tee in a unique style.
But Ben demonstrated great skill to race to the win in the end of show cricket face off of cricket bat v golf club.
It's not often that Paul comes off second best but it was a noteable scalp the the Navy players contingent.
Ben continued his good form into the day's play.
Whilst Kyp was eager to be as precise and as accurate as ever.
Jon is uesed to being accurate from either golf or kicking tee............
but struggled on the tenth and had to go 'off piste' to recover his ball.
Aidan continued with his supervisory skills, honed in his Assistant Director role whilst.............
also proving to be a very capable competitior himself.
Dave Hambrook helped his team to a very creditable 2nd place but htey were pipped to the post by the overall winners........
Paul Harrington's team who were last out on the course but first in the club house. Congratulations.
And, a final word of thanks
to Alan Church, now the longest serving Secretary of the Union who, along with his team, made it all possible.
More Images Available
If you wish to see more images from the day they are available on Alligin (UK) Limited's new Digital Asset Management System by clicking here:
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.
