Back to Library Journals

RAOC Gazette - page 21

Image details

Corps RAOC
Material type Journals
Book page
Chapter head
Chapter key
Chapter number
Full title RAOC Gazette
Page number
Publication date 1981
Real page
Colour No
Grey No
Early date 1981
Late date 1981
Transcription RAOC TRAINING
CENTRE
ARMY CHAMPIONS
FOR the second year in succession the Training Centre has
swept the board in the squash world. On Saturday, 4th April
1931, they won the UK Major Unit final, sponsored by Soldier
Magazine, by beating the Royal School of Military Engineering
Chatham, at Aldershot, by four rubbers to one. The match was
watched by a capacity crowd and they were rewarded with some
excellent games considering this match came at the end of a
long eight month season. The team beat 1st Battalion Welsh
Guards, Headquarters UKLF and 39 Engineer Regiment on
the way.
The following Friday the team
left Blackdown at 0400 hours,
v
despite Staff Sergeant Coufbeck s heavy sleeping, and went off
to RAF Lyneham to fly to Gutersloh. The team eventually
arrived at Bielefeld at lunch time ready for the Army final on
Saturday 11 th April against the 4th Division RCT team,
After a training session in the afternoon the team got to-
gether for a quiet glass of Herforder and a chance to discuss
tactics.
The final was at 1430 hours on Saturday at the Ripon
Barracks courts and the team was delighted to be met by
Brigadier Skinner who was at the courts to present the prizes
at both the minor and major unit finals.
In the end the RAOC side won again by the convincing
margin of four rubbers to one but the score does not do credit
to our opponents. Three of the matches went to five games
and proved to be a very exciting and fitting end to the season.
In his address Brigadier Skinner praised the skill of the players
and the importance for Army Squash players to retain the
sportsmanship on court for which they are now renowned.
The Training Centre side this year was: No. 1 String
Corporal Clark Adam REME Apprentices College, No. 2
String Staff Sergeant John Wallis Training Systems Advisory
Branch, No. 3 String Lieutenant Colonel John Woodliffe Head-
quarters RAOC Training Centre, No. 4 String Staff Sergeant
Doug MacLean RAOC Apprentices College (Doug was also
team Captain), No, 5 String Staff Sergeant Alan Coulbeck, Em-
ployment Training School and No. 6 String QMS[ Ron Spree
APTC, Training Battalion and Depot.
The team was then invited to a celebration glass of cham-
pagne at the Brigadier's home before going to town for another
Herforder and a debrief session. Sunday saw the team back at
Blackdown via Lyneham feeling rather quiet but very pleased
with themselves. Needless to say the team won the South East
District league and knockout cup for good measure. All in
all, not a bad season.
Aimy Squash Champions.
Standing left to right: Lieutenant
Colonel J . A . Woodliffe, Staff Sergeant D. MacLean, QMSI R.
Spree and Corporal C. A d a m .
Kneeling left to right: Staff
Sergeant J . WaMis and Staff Sergeant A . Coulbeck.
INTER-CORPS BADMINTON
DOUBLES TOURNAMENT
THE withdrawal of travel and subsistence allowances for all
Corps sport led to the cancellation of the Army Badminton
league programme for 1980/81. However, this restriction was
relaxed and allowed an Inter-Corps Doubles Tournament to be
held at Aldershot.
On day one of the competition the RAOC—with a depleted
team which necessitated the hasty recruitment of Sergeant
Mayoh from Employment Training School and Private Doe
from 6 Field Force Ordnance Company (both without com-
petition experience)—were unfortunately drawn to play Royal
Signals and RAPC, the strongest sides in the tournament.
In a very evenly contested first match the Corps team beat
the RAPC by five games to four, due to the efforts of Sergeant
Burke and Corporal Nonis, the number one pair, who won all
their games convincingly, and Staff Sergeant Orszewski and
Sergeant Griffiths who won two out of three.
The games against the Royal Signals were close and exciting
but, despite Sergeant Burke and Corporal Nonis still being un-
defeated and the spirited play of the number two pair of Cap-
tain Palmer and Staff Sergeant Orszewski, the Royal Signals won
by six games to three.
On the next day RAOC, now up to full strength with the
arrival of W02 Ferguson, comfortably beat the Royal Engineers
and REME by winning each match by six games to three and
finished as runners-up to the Royal Signals. A very com-
mendable performance by all the players concerned.
During the tournament Corps Colours were presented to
Captain Palmer (Team Captain) and Sergeant Burke for their
fine efforts during the 1979/80 season.
The Corps team comprised:—Captain Palmer, 7 Field
Force Ordnance Company; WG2 Ferguson, ASA Kineton; Staff
Sergeant Orszewski, RMAS; Sergeant Burke, ACfO Birming-
ham; Sergeant Griffiths, TSAB; Sergeant Mayoh, ETS; Corporal
Nonis, Training Battalion and Depot and Private Doe of 6
Field Force Ordnance Company.
ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL
RAOC a — REME 1
Lieutenant Colonel J. A . Woodliffe, Chairman of Army Squash
presents the UK Soldier Magaxine Cup to Staff Sergeant D.
Mac Lean, Captain of the RAOC Training Centre T e a m .
THE Corps scored a memorable victory over a strong REME
team at Bicester in the Stanbois Cup. This was in fact the
first time the Corps has won the handsome trophy since 1963.
The match was played in extremely poor weather conditions,
high winds and driving rain, but in spite of this both teams
played neat and attractive football. REME included in their
line up a number of Combined Services and Army players whilst
the Corps produced a happy blend of aged experience and
youthful zest.
The Corps started confidently with the wind behind them
and James soon established himself in midfield. Both he and
Dineley tested the goalkeeper with long swirling shots and it
Book number R0250