Page 129 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2015-16

a stretching session and then into some drills concentrating on lessons learned.
A couple of late arrivals to the tour appeared on the training ground, clearly it was appropriate to ne them and work them twice as hard to make up for time lost!
Day 5: Was all about shape, with and without the ball as well as some pressing drills; this was going to be important if we were to have a successful season in the top tier of Army football.
Focus was on the big game ahead that evening, against Glacis United FC. A team made up of mainly Spanish footballers. Unfortunately, the game resulted in a 1-0 loss; however, there were many positive aspects of the performance.
Day 6: Was a well-deserved rest day, an opportunity for the team to relax, unwind and do a little bit of AT/water sports.
The end of tour awards were presented prior to a nal night squad meal and a few sociable drinks, Sgt (SI) Neil Craven picked up the much-deserved player of the tour award – well done!
KAYAKING
WO1 (SMI) DP Herbert RAPTC
Overall a very useful and worthwhile tour, as a team we have developed and bonded and are now ready for a tough but exciting season.
Massey Div 1 Season to Date
As I write this, the RAPTC FC are in with a real ghting chance of staying in Massey Div 1 next season. A couple of notable wins, the REME in particular, has seen the team competing for a mid-table nish.
We are already in the early planning stages of a 2017 tour to Thailand; a full update will follow in next year’s journal.
Without change from the normal paddling tempo, this has been another great year for the sport being represented by members of our Corps members at high levels.
Slalom
Sgt (SI) Mudge represented the Corps in the Army Slalom championships and through determination managed to achieve a very credible 3rd in the team competition but due to an equipment failure was unable to capitalise on his hard training and nished 6th in the Mens K1 open. Due to his overall outstanding performance Sgt (SI) Mudge was selected to compete in the Inter- Service competition where he was able to show his true merit by nishing 3rd in the K1 Open and 1st in the Team event – awesome achievement.
Marathon
WO1 (SMI) Herbert represented the RAPTC and ASPT this year winning the Army K2 Marathon Trophy but nished a disappointing 4th place in the Inter-Service Championships. Capt (MAA) Reese could not compete in the army championships but did race K1 and nished a well fought 2nd place. Due to these and other outstanding results the Army won the Marathon trophy by its largest margin in over a decade.
Sprint
In the Men’s K2 1000m WO1 Herbert with Maj Burt (AGC) claimed 2nd. In the Men’s 1000m K4 with a composite crew WO1 Herbert
gained a 2nd. In the Men’s K1 200m Capt Reese continued his dominance and gained a hard fought 2nd place. Men’s 500m K4 saw Reese & Herbert team up with Burt and Stuart-Hill and earn a hard fought 1st place. The nal event was the men’s K2 500m Capt Reese crewed with Capt Goodall (RA) and nished 2nd, WO1 Herbert continued his enduring partnership with Maj Burt and nished a disappointing 4th. These awesome results ensured the Army won the team trophy.
Devizes To Westminster A Horrible Challenge Or A Race?
Over the Years the Devizes to Westminster canoe race (DW) has drawn in a unique following and a hardy bunch. Over recent years the DW has seen many talented RAPTC instructors and Of cers give the race ago such as Capt Lee Crompton, Capt Lisa Dunne, WO2 Tony Richardson, WO2 Jay Gordon, to name but a few.
At Easter 1948, 4 scouts, all aged just 17, set out on the rst DW run. Great interest was generated nationally, with progress reports and photographs appearing in the national press, and the local cinema in Devizes interrupting programmes to give reports of their efforts. At the nish a large crowd turned out at Westminster Bridge to see them successfully complete the challenge in a time of 89 hours and 50 minutes. Later that year several crews tried to make the run, but were defeated by thick weed on the canal. It was therefore determined Easter was the best time for DW.
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Herbert and Burt near Newbury