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RAOC Gazette - page 179

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Publication date 1978
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Transcription Our intrepid marchers, W02 John Burrows and Sergeant
John Rice went off to the Nijmegen Marches again and
successfully completed the course once again for no less than
the eleventh time. They seem to get better at it as the years go
by and this year they took an RA colleague, W02 George
Eldridge (Ex RAOC Regular Soldier) with them and just like
' t h e old firm' he did not let the side down and completed the
march very comfortably.
We welcome new recruits Privates Shields, Cole and
Fogarty to the Stores Section and wish them well for the future
in the TAVR.
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SQUASH
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{Continued from page 133)
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1978
THIS YEAR, in spite of the questionable weather, the Corps
had a good tennis season. Led by Major WoodlifFe and Sergeant
Smith as our first pair and supported by W 2 Noutch, Captain
Young, Lieutenant Colonels Paviour, Robson, Pickard and
Roach, Majors Bracken, Rose, Maclagan and Private Storey, the
Corps side lost only to the RAPC—the eventual winners and
to the R. Signals. We were placed second in league, an im-
provement on last year, and hopefully we will be able to be-
come outright winners next year. Tt was delightful to have
Private Storey playing with the team which is in need of young
soldiers of his calibre. Hopefully, he has many years ahead
when he will be a considerable asset to our Corps side. Special
credit must also be paid to W02 Noutch and Captain Don
Young both of whom played exceptionally well as our second
pair when we defeated the RAEC in a ' key * match by six to
three.
The Corps Championships were held at the Officers Club
during the first week in July. Though the weather could have
been better we had an enjoyable tournament with two com-
petitors namely Sergeant Muggleton and Corporal Charlton
making the journey from BAOR. We also had strong represen-
tation from Kineton and the Robson and Woodliffe families.
The Mens Open Singles was a hard fought match in which
Corporal Charlton beat the defending champion, Sergeant
Smith, six three six four.
Corporal Charlton and Sergeant
Muggleton also won the Mens Open Doubles when they beat
Major Woodliffe and Colonel Paviour in two straight sets.
Sergeant Muggleton also won the Plate as well, so the BAOR
contingent certainly justified their mission.
However the WoodlifTe fortunes were to change when Mark
Woodliffe beat Colonel Clayton in the Mens Handicap Singles,
The Woodliffes also beat Majors Bracken and Field in the
Mens Handicap Doubles and as if this wasn't enough, Major
Woodliffe and Mrs O'Brien beat Colonel Elliott and Mrs
Futrell in the Mixed Doubles! Congratulations must also go to
Mrs Dennison and Mrs Bruce for winning the Ladies Doubles
and to Mrs O'Brien and Miss Robson for winning the Ladies
Open Singles and Ladies Handicap Doubles respectively.
CORPS
19?8
THE Corps Squash Championships 1978 are to take place at
Biackdown on the 25th, 26th and 27th October 1978.
Enlry forms may be obtained from Major B, L. Brett
Secretary RAOC SRC, School of Ordnance.
VETERANS
SQUASH—We
wish to canvas the Corps for
squash players who are forty five years old or over and stationed
in UK. Dependant on the response, we shall know whether
or not we can raise a team for a few unofficial, informal, friendly
inter-Corps Veteran matches in the coming season. Any players
in the older age group willing to perform, have a go, or what-
ever, kindly ring Colonel John Skinner (Lansdowne House,
Ext 7316) during the first fortnight of October.
SPORTS REPORT
TENNIS
CORPS
CHAMPIONSHIPS
SKI-ITSG
YOU will recall that each year Corps Ski-ing Exercises take
place in and around the Cairngorm Mountains (Inverness-shire)
to promote ski-ing throughout the Corps for all those stationed
in UK. Last year a Corps Ski Hut was opened and a very
successful season occurred culminating in the Army Ski Cham-
pionships (Scotland) in which members of the Corps had great
success.
This winter the training Exercise Knees Bend is to take
place between 1st January and 9th March. The Army Ski
Championships (Scotland) will be backed by Exercise Snow
Plough from 9th to 24th March.
The cost to individuals taking part in a two week course
in Exercise Knees Bend is just £16 plus the cost of his ski-
tickets. This is inclusive of equipment, instruction and food
and accommodation. The courses are open t o all members of
the Corps and to WRAC and other Arms attached to RAOC Units.
Should you wish to take part in Exercise Knees Bend the
course dates are as follows, and you must apply either through
your Unit Ski-ing Officer or by contacting: Major R. Frisby,
Secretary RAOC Ski-ing, Headquarters Scotland (Army), Edin-
burgh EH1 2YX. TeL: Edin Mil Ext 6317,
Courses.—1st to 13th January, 14th to 26th January, 28th
January to 9th February, 11th to 23rd February and 25th
February to 9th March,
WALK AROUND THE CLOCK
{Continued from page 136)
50 Command Workshop for second place; and would the
ladies from BMH manage to retain their narrow lead over Lik
Heep Club girls? With darkness came welcome relief from the
heat, and by 21.00 hours the clouds had returned bringing some
light rain. Team walkers relished the improved conditions and
lap times started to fall. F o r Brooks and Bailey, however, ;
the rain was a mixed blessing as weary muscles began to tighten
and cramp set in. For the first time it was Bailey who looked
to be suffering most and Brooks was beginning to pull him
back. Just after 03.00 hours on Sunday morning Bailey came in .
for a long rest and when he restarted found great difficulty in "•
moving at all. He struggled painfully round the track for one ;
more lap before collapsing. Brooks meanwhile had settled into ;!
a good rhythm and was steadily accumulating miles.
By daybreak SPSD had moved into second position in the r
team event and BMH ladies were holding their narrow lead
in the ladies section. Just after 07,00 hours, much to every*
one's surprise, Roy Bailey reappeared, clad in a pair of Union
Jack shorts, and tucked himself in behind Brooks, who by then
was fourteen miles ahead.
The final stage of the event had a carnival atmosphere
about it with hundreds of spectators cheering on the walkers.
As full time was called Brooks and Bailey were surrounded by
hordes of cameramen and reporters, and it was some time
before enough order could be restored for the announcement
of the results.
Brooks, under the most punishing conditions, had walked
nearly one hundred and two miles and Bailey eighty seven; the
main depot team covered one hundred and thirty seven miles,
six miles ahead of SPSD, and the BMH ladies one hundred and
fourteen miles.
The story doesn't end there. A few weeks later a reception
was held at Composite Ordnance Depot at which the Com-
manding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Hambly, presented
a cheque for £5,317 to the Chairman of the Community Chest
He also announced that the Depot will promote a similar event
in 1979. The winning team, all of whom will by then have
left Hong Kong, is nevertheless going to be invited to return
and defend the title (future COs and OCs of these stalwarts
please note!).
John Brooks, who started it all, has already said that he
will not make another attempt at the individual record. In
paying tribute to the main Depot team, who had set the right
pace for breaking the record had he been able to keep up, he
admitted that it was beyond his reach. No matter. A modest
man of great charm and humour, ever ready to help others*
he already holds a world record which will be difficult to beat
and by his endeavours he has brought enormous publicity and
prestige to the Army in general, and to the RAOC in particular-
Well done, John Brooks.
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR
NEWSLETTER ARRIVES ON TIME
THE 28th OF THE MONTH
148 —
Book number R0247