Page 50 - RADC 2017

WO2 Blackwood running to victory in the 5000m Veteran’s race
2017 AMS Athletics
Championships –
RADC Athletics Team
Maj Sarah Armstrong, RADC
Building on the success of 2016’s AMS Athletics Championships, the RADC athletics team came out in force at this year’s event to represent the Corps over
a wide variety of running, jumping and throwing disciplines. Over the 2 day competition, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, our athletes demonstrated
not just their athletic prowess, but gave a fantastic display of RADC team spirit.
Although still one of the smallest teams
at the event, our team made up for it in enthusiasm and determination punching well above our weight in the final team standings. Our ladies team finished a respectable
10th out of 17, and our men’s team not far behind, placing 14th out of 17 despite being only three men strong.
Our distance runners took to the stage early in the morning, to avoid the heat, kicking off with 12 and a half laps of the track in the 5000m. Maj Gibbs pushed hard in the men’s event giving the team great opportunity to cheer as the laps ticked by. Next up on the track, WO2 Blackwood
stormed to a surprise victory in the 5000m Veteran’s event giving the team our first
podium finish of the day.
The middle distance races followed
close behind. Maj Gurung dug deep in
the 1500m but couldn’t quite make it into the points in a strong competitive field. Maj Armstrong tackled the 800m kicking hard
in the final straight to secure another 1st place finish for the team. In an awkward timetabling clash the ladies 1500m followed close behind leaving Maj Armstrong to step up on tired legs managing to hold on to 2nd place for the team.
In the sprint and jump events our athletes gave plenty for our supporters to shout about with LCpl Lawati, LCpl Hull, Cpl Bell, LCpl Marcus, LCpl Vernon and SSgt Beckett all driving hard in their respective event heats. Their steely looks of determination (some caught on camera!) demonstrating the effort our athletes channelled into their performance. LCpl Rogers, competing for 5 Armoured Medical Regiment tore apart the opposition in the 400m and 400m hurdles, gliding through the heats to reach the finals, where she delivered impressive 1st place finishes in both events.
In the throws, LCpl Lawati threw a remarkable round in the men’s javelin final to clinch a 6th place finish and valuable points for the RADC men’s team. SSgt Beckett then demonstrated strong technique to
48 RADC BULLETIN 2017
LCpl Vernon sprint to the finish as last leg of
the 4x100m relay
Maj Armstrong in the 800m
SPORT