Page 57 - Mercian Eagle 2014

thanked us and shook our hands and walked off into the clubhouse. I couldn’t wait to tell my father what I had done that day and he couldn’t believe what I was telling him. He was so envious of me but secretly thrilled for me that this was happening to his son, so he can brag to all the members of his local Golf Club. In the afternoon I played match play Golf for the AGA Army Marshalls against the Navy Marshalls; the Army won 9-5 which topped off a remarkable day.
It was the night before Day 1 of the Championship, and I was now confident of what my job role and responsibilities were for the next four championship days ahead. I couldn’t sleep due to the excitement and apprehension for what lies ahead. The team leader rang me and told me the players
I would be marshalling the following day.
To my disbelief I was drawn with Martyn Kaymer and Zach Johnson, both big contenders to win the British Open and both had a large public following.
50,000 people turned out for day 1 and it was daunting stepping out on the first tee with the grandstands full and fairways lined both sides 5 or 6 deep. I had family and friends texting and ringing me saying they had seen me on the BBC coverage. My father couldn’t get over the fact his son was stood next to some of the world’s best golfers on the British Open and was live on TV all around the world.
Day 3, I was drawn with golfing legend Tom Watson and former British number one Luke Donald. Again two very high profile players which put a huge responsibility on myself and the team, but by now I was comfortable with the job. Tiger Woods was
in the group behind and his following was just tremendous; thousands and thousands of people were following him round the course making my job very difficult as I tried to give my players the best playing environment and allow
them to have maximum
concentration on
the game. 18 holes
complete and again I
got a thank you and
a handshake from
Tom Watson, a man I
thought I’d never meet
or speak to in my life;
he is a true sporting legend.
Day 4; the final day and Rory McIlroy had a six shot lead going in to his final round. He was the clear favourite to win, however, he had Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler hot on his heels and they had closed the gap to 3 shots with 9 holes to play. I had finished my round in the morning and , until the leading group reached the 15th hole, I could watch the drama unfold live as a spectator. Then
it was back to work and the preparations for the famous 72nd hole. The grandstands were packed, 8000 people surrounded
the 18th green and the fairways were 9-10 people deep all the way from the 15th tee, all waiting for the eventual winner.
The atmosphere was electric, cheers and gasps were heard all over the course. What a privilege it was to be inside the wire when Rory McIlroy walked down the 18th towards the green, it felt like being inside a coliseum in ancient Rome where the public were waiting for their champion. There was an eruption of applause as he chipped
out of the bunker on to the green, then it soon fell silent in wait for the putt; 10,000 people watching and you could hear a pin drop! McIlroy sank the putt and was the champion of the British Open, the crowd
went wild, camera flashes everywhere and a deafening applause and cheering broke
out. What an incredible feeling it was to be so close and inside the wire when McIlroy became the winner: something I will never, ever forget.
After the winners speech and pictures with the claret jug, the Marshalls got stood down from controlling the crowds and we finally had a chance to take pictures of our own, not just any old pictures but pictures on the 18th green and surrounding bunkers, in front of the score board with the winners score on something the public would never have the chance to do and those pictures and memories I will have forever. We got
a big well done from the organisers for another successful Open and to top off a remarkable week, we had a free glass of Bollinger Champagne.
It was a long tiring week but worth
every second. It was beyond doubt the opportunity of a lifetime and I never would have dreamed of doing something like that, but the dream came true, thanks to the Army, Mercian Regiment and WO2 Pointon. It will be something I will never forget I am truly thankful for the opportunity: it is up there with one of the best experiences of my Army career.
There was an eruption of applause as he chipped out of the bunker on to the green
Cross Country – Maj T E Kelly
Cross Country is not a sport which many men willingly enter into, not least of which when it takes place in the depths of winter; involves working significantly above ones normal heart rate and often has significant similarities with a stampede, out of control and dangerous. Notwithstanding, we do appear to have quite a talent
in this area; maybe it is the years of rapid and prolonged get aways from troublesome situations that has bred our championship winning team; the jury is out, but the fact remains the same, there is real quality amongst the junior members of the Regiment.
2 MERCIAN entered the Northern Ireland League and ran-in
first in the eight race meetings that we could contend; additionally we secured the Championship title run in Ballykinler, ‘The home of the Rifles,’ where six out of the top 10 runners were from the Bn. Success in NI is one thing but the real measure of a good team is success at the Army Championships held at RMAS. The race took place on an unnaturally cold day beset with chilling winds, driving rain and it was not uncommon for ice to pierce the air; training in NI had certainly prepared us well. The field packed out with 440 male runners from across the Army and with the sound of the hooter bedlam ensued. The course was waterlogged and difficult under foot but the team worked hard for one another and ground-out a solid result. It has been sometime since 2 MERCIAN has competed properly in the Army Championships and it was rewarding to see that months scrambling up and down the ‘Red Burn’ or depending on your perspective, ‘Deep Burn’ hill feature adjacent to camp had not been wasted. 2 MERCIAN finished seventh out of 27 Major Units and showed real quality amongst some of the junior members of the
squad. The championships at RMAS represent a real show case of sporting prowess from across the Army, they are hotly contested with Regimental pride driving men forward; in short, they are an honour to be part of and should be a MERCIAN objective to win.
The 2014/15 season will be interesting as the Bn is split between Chester and Cyprus, however, the aspiration is to compete in both arenas and build on the successes of last year by securing a top five place at RMAS.
Detailed below are the race positions for 2 MERCIAN:
LCpl Hesketh (35), Pte Hampson (43 – selected as an Army JNR Runner), Pte Grayley (57), LCpl Lycett (68), Pte Rowlands (76), Pte Horridge (109) Maj Kelly (116) LCpl Jennison (132)
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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