Page 158 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
ROYAL ARMY PHYSICAL TRAINING CORPS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
WO2 (QMSI) R Hughes RAPTC
RAPTC President Foreword
Capt (MAA) J W Foreshew RAPTC
2020 saw the retirement of Lt Col (MAA) Gary Hendrickson MBE RAPTC and the handing over of the reigns to myself as president. I would like to thank Col Jimmy on behalf of the X Country team for all his years of dedication to RAPTC Running and Athletics. He has been a part of the RAPTC and Army Cross Country for many years and his contribution to the sport will be missed. Capt (MAA) Kelley Haniver has taken over as Chairperson and WO2 (QMSI) Russ Hughes continues to do an outstanding job as Secretary.
Lt Col (MAA) Hendrickson, Col Jimmy Hendrickson’s last race in RAPTC colours (with a few other legends)
Sadly we lost the legend that is James Wood MBE BEM in 2020. Jim was always a loyal supporter of RAPTC athletics and running. Jim regularly attended events long into his retirement, enthusiastically encouraging athletes from all sorts of vantage points often running much further and probably faster than most! His support and drive for the sport over these years was legendary and he will be sadly missed by all members of the athletics fraternity.
Maj (Retd) James Wood
Secretary’s Report
WO2 (QMSI) R Hughes RAPTC
The Army Inter Corps Cross County Championships has been a long-standing Championship race hosted by the Army Athletics Associations. The RAPTC have been a dominating force over the years with many titles being won across all categories. 2020 seems to be the first year on record that the Championships have been cancelled, falling foul to the lock down during COVID-19.
With no races on the horizon the RAPTC introduced the first virtual 5km race series in April 2020 opened to all members of the RAPTC. 34 RAPTCIs took part with SSgt (SSI) Rob Davies taking the male victory with a time of 15 minutes 36 seconds and Capt (MAA) Kelley Haniver taking the female victory in a time of 19 minutes 33 seconds. This was followed by the RAPTC virtual 1-mile race, which was won once again by SSgt (SSI) R Davies and Capt (MAA) K Haniver in a time of in 4 minutes and 26 seconds, and 5 minutes 44 seconds respectively.
With the success of the virtual race series the Army Athletics Association adopted the format to introduce the Virtual Inter Unit and Inter Corps competitions, a number of RAPTCIs participated following strict social distancing guidelines. Over the virtual series the RAPTC Cross Country Team members have led from the front and achieved podiums in all events. Some of these results can be seen below:
• Inter Unit 2km Jun 2020
• 1st SSgt (SSI) Rob Davies RAPTC running a time of 5 minutes
32 seconds.
• Inter Unit 10km Dec 2020
• 3rd female Capt (MAA) K Haniver RAPTC running just over
42 minutes 28 seconds.
• Inter Unit 2km Jan 2021
• 1st Sgt (SI) Kim Bowling running 5 minutes 45 seconds.
With the virtual half marathon planned for Mar 2021 due to the Army Half marathon being cancelled because of restrictions.
2020 also brought good news for two members of the RAPTC team WO2 (QMSI) R Hughes and SSgt (SSI) A Woodman who were selected to represent Northern Ireland in the Anglo Celtic Plate 2021; a gruelling 100km race competing against the home nations. This is the first time that members of the RAPTC have been selected to represent Northern Ireland in an ultra-distance event.
RAPTC Runner Team Overview 2020
SSgt (SSI) A Woodman RAPTC
Preferred discipline: Marathon and beyond
When the world went virtual, I ran for the mountains. 2020 taught me if I’m going to race or time trial, I need other humans around me to push me to my limits. The year started out with such promise, a tour to South Africa where I pretty much ran, slept and ate; the dream! Followed by some good results at the various Cross-Country championships, but then all hell broke loose and coming within 6 feet of another living creature became illegal. All races cancelled, I made it all the way to Cyprus for a marathon to have to turn around and fly back the next day because the race was cancelled.
Then people started running ultra-marathons around their kitchen sinks, and the rise of the virtual race. One thing is for sure without competition next to me on the course, I’d just as well run in welly