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RAOC Gazette - page 111

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Publication date 1981
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Early date 1981
Late date 1981
Transcription SPORTS
REPORT
IIVTER-UNIT SAILING
COMPETITION
TWELVE TEAMS from RAOC units in the UK took part in
the inter-unit sailing competition at Netley using the facilities
of the Army Sailing Association Club House. Sailing on South-
ampton water is tricky for many because of the strong tides,
and in addition the winds were light each morning, becoming
quite brisk by the end of the afternoon.
Winners—COD Bicester.
MARATHON
MEN
MARATHON running has really taken off at the Apprentices
College. Already established marathoners Captain Andy Jelly
and Lieutenant Mick Bott are the heart of the team with
Lieutenant Barry Johnson, Sergeant John Hladkij and Corporal
Dave James completing a five man squad.
The London Marathon saw Bott, Jelly and Johnson in
action. Bolt achieving an excellent time of 2.29 minutes gaining
one hundred and tenth place. Jelly was right with him until
a strained thigh muscle caused him to slow down to finish in
2.38 minutes and three hundred and sixty third position. John-
son ran a personal best of 2.42 minutes getting four hundred and
sixty third place.
Brigadier Cook and W/Private Sharon Price in the lead-
he assures us.
>r so
Last year's winners and runners-up, — DSCS and COD
Bicester,—were placed in separate groups for racing on the first
day. The reason for doing this soon became obvious because
each team (COD Bicester A and DSCS) won all of their races
in the first round. COD Bicester came first and second in all
five races, but DSCS dropped one point. The COD Bicester B
team consisting of Corporal Harden and Holt and crew also
did very well, coming second in their group,
Everything was on the final afternoon where again the
DSCS and COD team won their first two races, so that there
was eventually a race off between the two teams. Although
Brigadier Cooke and crew got off well clear of the others,
Captain Harris became mixed up in a covering battle with
Captain Atkey.
With about one hundred yards to go, he
broke clean although in the meantime Brigadier Cooke had
dropped back to help. The final position on the line, with only
seconds between all four boats was:—(!) COD Bicester, (2)
DSCS, (3) COD Bicester, (4) DSCS. Corporals Hardon and
Holt in the meantime had won their race so that the over-all
result of two days' needle-sharp racing was:—(1) COD Bicester
A Team, (2) DSCS, (3) COD Bicester B Team.
It was a very proud Captain Harris who collected the large
life-belt, which is the trophy awarded annually to the winners.
The helmsmen cannot win races without good crews, and although
they had a great deal of work to do Privates Powell and Price
worked very hard and looked very pleased when they received
their prizes.
Lieutenant- Johnson first vereran.
Tnjuries and work commitments prevented both Jelly and
Bott competing in the Inter Services Marathon. The three man
team consisted of Johnson. Hladkij and James. On a cold windy
day the cream of the Services Marathon runners set off from
RAF Swinderby. The Apprentices College team keeping to-
gether up to ten miies when James slowed, at twelve Hladkij
dropped back leaving Johnson to push on at a steady six minute
mile pace.
The eventual result was Johnson twenty two (IOth Army)
and first veteran in two hours forty minutes, James ran two
hours fifty five minutes with Hladkij finishing a brave three
hour two minutes. The team prize went to 3 Para with the
Apprentices College gaining a fourth place, a fine result.
How many other units can boast five sub three hour mara-
thoners on its establishment?
S3 —
Book number R0250