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The RAPTC Cross Country team has had a reshuffle in its appointments with SSgt (SSI) J McGrevey and Sgt (SI) N O’Brien taking over as Female and Male team captains respectively. WO1 (SMI) R Hughes handed over the reins of the Secretary role to SSgt (SSI) K Bowling. Over a busy period with personnel committed to exercises and deployments at the firm base and overseas, the RAPTC Cross Country Team has struggled to field teams consistently at Major events. Although on the individual level we have had some stellar performances.
SSgt (SSI) T Kirby has gone from strength to strength. He was selected for the Army Team during the Army Cross Country Finals at 3 RSME, Gibraltar Barracks on 24 Jan 24. After a two week overseas visit to Cyprus with the Army Cross Country Team in February, he ran the Nicosia 10km coming second with a PB of 33:49. After his triumph in Cyprus he was able to continue his great running form with his first time representing the Army Team in the Inter Service Cross Country Champs held at HMS Raleigh on 28 Feb 24, the Army Team beating the RAF for the first time in 13 years. The medals and personal bests did not stop there as he again
SSgt (SSI) T Kirby representing the Army at the Fleet Half Marathon
SSgt (SSI) K Bowling RAPTC
Army Inter Corps Cross Country Championships. From left to right: SSgt (SSI) Sadler, Sgt (SI) C McPartlin, SSgt (SSI) J McGrevey, Capt (MAA) C McMullen, WO2 (QMSI) S Irving, Capt (MAA) K Haniver, WO2 (QMSI) A Briggs, SSgt (SSI) T Kirby, WO2 (QMSI) C Morton, Sgt (SI) N O’Brien, SSgt (SSI) C Lawrence. Missing out SSgt (SSI) K Bowling – Sorry...
RAPTC CROSS COUNTRY AND ROAD RUNNING TEAM
represented the Army in the Fleet Half Marathon, where he was a member of the winning team and achieved a personal best of 01:11.36.
SSgt (SSI) J McGrevey was able to field a Male and Female team from AFC Harrogate to complete in the Cyprus 4 Day challenge. With the Female team
SSgt Bowling with the other Army Runners after the London Marathon
achieving a first-place podium finish and SSgt (SSI) Mcgrevey placing 2nd Female. Aside from taking teams to Cyprus she has represented her unit at the Regional league races and represented the RAPTC Female team at the Inter Corps Cross Country placing 2nd place within the female cohort.
The Army Inter Corps Cross Country Championships were hosted by Military Working Dogs (MWD) at St George’s Barracks on Wed 31 Jan 24. It was the closest we came to fielding a full team of runners in all categories, being 1 runner short in the Open Senior category. There were some exceptional performances throughout, especially SSgt Bowling who finished in 2nd place, SSgt McGrevey who placed 2nd in her age category and special mention to Sgt (SI) Lawrence who not only organised and delivered the competition but was a last-minute call up to compete for the RAPTC.
There was another great showing of RAPTCIs at the London Marathon, whether that was running, marshalling, managing or offering a well-deserved post run massage. SSgt Bowling was selected to run as part of the Army team, finishing in a PB time of 2:29:41. WO1 Davies continued to show his consistency, finishing in 2:38:09. Sgt McQuade 2:43:28, WO1 Hughes 2:55:23, WO2 Morton 2:56:12. Other notable performances include SSgt Lawrence who completed half the distance with a bergan, and the second half without. Sgt Hadley racing around in 2:51:13, and then starting his RAPTC Instructor Course the following day. Finally, those unsung heroes who helped with marshalling and post run admin: SSgt Barrigan, SSgt Lockey, Sgt Downes and Sgt Fife.
SSgt (SSI) T Kirby representing the Army at the Inter Services 10km Champs