Page 164 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

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RAPTC ATHLETICS – A DECADE OF FITNESS
SSgt (SSI) D Hammond RAPTC
Avery different year in contrast to the 2019/20 season, with the COVID 19 global pandemic putting a stop to much of
the competitive sport and fitness many of us look forward to.
Firstly, The Team would like to take this opportunity to thank Lt Col (MAA) G C Hendrickson MBE RAPTC for his outstanding commitment during his tenure along with supporting the Team as the Presiding member before handing over to Maj (MAA) S Chappell RAPTC. We all wish you and your family the very best for the future.
The last decade has seen the RAPTC Athletics team gain real momentum and much of this has been down to the hard work and commitment of several key personnel involved in the sport. This abstract is dedicated to those that have represented the Team over the last decade and is opportunity to highlight some of the incredible accolades achieved with some of the athletes across the RAPTC.
Maj (MAA) S Chappell RAPTC
For some Corps Instructors, Major (MAA) Steve Chappell is commonly known for his gymnastic background. That said, Major Steve has been involved in RAPTC Athletics for a number of years. As a multi-eventer, he has competed at Army Level in Decathlon with his biggest achievement being the Inter-Service Decathlon Champion in 2007. In 2010, he represented Great Britain (Masters), at the European Indoor Masters Athletics Championships in Ghent; in the Pentathlon event, he finished in 7th place in what was a strong field. His score of 3195 points, over 5 events, sits as the 7th best of all time for a GB male athlete over the age of 35. Away from multi-events, he has been the Army Pole Vault Champion on several occasions and runner up at the Inter- Services Championships. As an RAPTC Athlete, he has earned valuable points for the Corps team in both track and field and cross country.
Major Steve’s commitment to athletics has been steadfast with him currently being the Army Athletics Male Team Manager, where over the last five years the team have been successful in winning the Inter-Service Championships. For RAPTC Athletics, he has been the Secretary, Chairman and now presently holds the position of President.
Capt (MAA) K Haniver RAPTC
Transferring into the then APTC in 2005, the female A&XC team had some fierce competitors. The likes of WO1 Sue Sharp, WO2 Michelle McBride and SSgt Lisa Clash (RIP) were well established athletes and massively supportive to those newly badged female members of the Corps. Sue and Michelle, the dynamic duo in Army and RAPTC Athletics mentored many an athlete throughout the years, both of which were incredibly
enthusiastic and dedicated when representing the RAPTC. The age-old quote many of us have grown familiar with “I will bring my spikes just in case I am needed’ is something that has stuck out for Capt Kelley Haniver throughout her RAPTC career.
In 2008, after watching WO2 Issy Menzies train on a warm weather camp for the London Marathon, Capt Kelley rose to the challenge alongside SSgt Shan Mansfield the following year and trained hard to earn an elite start at the London Marathon, something which has always stood out as a special moment when wearing the athletics vest. In recent years the ethos of the female team has been excellent. Trying to support events with our small numbers is always difficult but the members are generally happy to lend themselves to all events to get a point on the board. Running the 5000m and then doing shot put is not the usual combination of events, I’ve just had a knee op but will jog round, or having ‘a go’ at the pole-vault to get a point and then equalling the Army record (SSgt Sue Blake) is not generally heard of. These are some of the crazy and talented things the team does. Esprit de Corps!
Capt (MAA) C McMullen RAPTC
Capt Carl McMullen has been an athlete on the track for almost 30 years and has been fortunate enough to compete at all levels from England/GB Junior, GB U23 and Senior teams. He was very lucky to have won many junior National titles over 400m hurdles and Long Jump and achieved success in national relay teams where he still holds the British 4x400m relay record. This record is currently the longest standing British record still intact today. Now a seasoned Masters athlete, Capt Carl still maintains his spot on the Army Athletics team and is very much looking forward to handing over that spot to anyone willing in the 2021/22 season! Having joined the Army in 1999, he quickly established himself on the Army team winning Athlete of the Year in 2000 for his events that that year’s Inter-Services.
Capt Carl re-ignited his athletics career in 2016 by moving away from his much-loved event, the hurdles and decided to concentrate on the Decathlon. After a silver in the Inter-Service Decathlon he decided to move into ultra multi-events competition to challenge himself further. The Double Decathlon consisting of 20 events over two days is held annually around the World and Capt Carl achieved World Championship wins in 2017, 2018 and 2019 picking up 5 world records in the process. His domestic titles included 13 British Masters titles and several runners up medals in many disciplines in the years 2016 – 2020.
Capt Carl achieved other accolades as an ‘older’ athlete of which he is very proud. He won the RAPTC Littlehales Trophy in 2017, Army Athlete of the Year once again in 2018 (18-year gap between them!) and most importantly to him – RAPTC Sportsman of the Year.
Capt (MAA) C McMullen RAPTC Maj (MAA) S Chappell RAPTC The APTC Women’s Team (circa 2006) – from Left to right: Sue Blake, Shan Mansfield,
Kelly Haniver, Lou James, Sue Sharp