2009-Inter Station-Results
ROYAL AIR FORCE SWIMMING ASOCIATION INTER STATION SWIMMING, DIVING AND WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS NOVEMBER 2009
The RAFSA Inter-Station Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Championships were held at RAF Cranwell on 19 – 20 Nov 09. The Mounsey Trophy was awarded to the Station that achieved the highest total number of points in the combined swimming and water polo competitions. The format of the swimming competition was altered this year with a reduction in the distance of some of the races and the introduction of new races. The main emphasis of the championships was encouragement of maximum participation at all levels. It was also decided that the RAF Individual Championships would be held at the Inter-Regional Competition in 2010 where there will still be the standard swimming distances. Another change in the format saw the introduction of a novice diving competition to try and attract new members to the sport. A successful diving workshop was held, hosted by existing members of the team which is a credit to their dedication and support.
The current Operational tempo remains high but the competition was still admirably supported with 15 stations being represented. Some stations were unable to raise a full team but were represented by individuals and it is these individuals who should be commended for their courage in turning up to compete, with many new competitors attending for the first time. The competition was an overall success, with a huge number of competitors in the men’s competition and teams readily supported from as far as Cyprus. The following competitors are to be congratulated on setting new records at the championships: SAC N Barber (RAF Cosford), Cpl R Davidson (RAF Coningsby), OC Burtcheall (Individual), OC Black (Indivdual) and finally OC Smith (Individual) setting two new records.
The first discipline to be decided was the water polo; just 3 stations were able to field full teams, with a 4th Scratch team, not to be included in the overall competition but allowing those individuals without a team to play. In previous years RAF Waddington had proved to be an unstoppable force, however with the fluid movement of personnel within the Service, RAF Akrotiri travelled from afar with what seemed on paper a winning team. The first match saw a very close competition between Cranwell and Waddington, Waddington took an early lead, however not to be out done, Cranwell fought back to clinch the victory in the end. Match 2 was not so closely contested; RAF Akrotiri headed by two of RAFSA’s most experienced players Chris Jones and Trevor Downs, took an early lead, with the score 3 – 0 at half time, although Cranwell came back with an early goal in the second half it was a futile effort. Cranwell fought hard but Akrotiri was too strong a team. The 3rd match was neck and neck in the first half with goals scored alternately by both Waddington and Akrotiri, both teams played admirably but Akrotiri proved their strength and clinched the victory 6 – 2. The final was a repeat of the first match and although Cranwell had strength in numbers, the depth and quality of the Akrotiri team was demonstrated once again extending their victory to 7 – 1 overall. The overall results can be found below but all players should be congratulated for their valiant efforts and for those who played as part of the scratch team congratulated for their willingness to play. The second discipline to be decided was the diving. The novice competition was held on the 1m springboard, with each diver required to perform 3 dives. The female event had just the two competitors. SAC Carrie Blyth (RAF Cottesmore) won the event with Cpl Rachel Davidson (RAF Coningsby) in second place. Three competitors contested the male novice event, Fg Off Adam Grant (RAF Waddington) took the top spot, Cpl Nathan Miller (RAF Kinloss) second place and SAC Daniel Baldwin (RAF Leeming) completing the group in third.
The Ladies open consisted of both springboard and highboard events, each requiring 5 dives. In the Springboard event, SAC Sally Raimondo (RAF Coningsby) was on form taking first place with SAC Charlotte Bennett (RAF Benson) in second only 6 pts behind. Fg Off Liz Herbert (RAF Cranwell) completed the trio with a good set to take third. The highboard event was to prove even closer with gold going to SAC Raimondo just 2pts ahead of SAC Bennett. The men’s open event was to be an all Waddington affair. Again, contested over both springboard and highboard, Chf Tech Kev Davidson stole the show taking both titles. SAC Richard Ellender took second place, and returning to the boards after some time away was Cpl Paul Taylor in third spot for both events.
The Champion Diver awards were presented to SAC Sally Raimondo, with a combined score of 280.80, and Chf Tech Kev Davidson, with a combined score of. 460.80. The third and final discipline to be decided was the swimming competition. This year saw the introduction of a new format, to encourage maximum participation at all levels. There were a record number of male competitors with up to 4 heats in some events. The female event was not so well represented but there were still some excellent swims, with new records set in the 50m Backstroke by Cpl R Davidson (RAF Coningsby) and 50m Breastroke by OC Black (Individual). It was nice to see some old faces, showing they still have a competitive spirit, with a win in the 4x25m IM by Flt Lt L Searle. In the male competition OC Smith (Individual) was an unstoppable force in the breastroke competition breaking both records in the 100m and 50m events. Fg Off Nick Harris (RAF Corsham) maintained his un beaten record winning both the 800m Freestyle and 100m Butterfly. It was great to see so many Officer Cadet competitors taking great courage in attending. The results of the swimming events and the overall swimming results can be found at Annex A.
RAF Cranwell were the overall winners of the Mounsey trophy in a surprise result from the previous 8 years.With the current Operational climate the Championships were an overall great success, enjoyed by all who attended and participated. I would like to give credit to all swimming OIC’s for their sterling efforts in encouraging maximum participation from their stations and sending teams to the championships.
The Championships would not have been possible without the hard work and effort of a few special individuals: Huge thanks must go to Fg Off Nick Harris and Flt Lt Lorna Searle who without which the championships would not have run so smoothly on the day. FS Paul Kendall for providing the swimming officials, Cpl Mick Whitely and FS Kev Davidson for their continued commitment in organising the water polo and diving events. SAC Sally Raimondo for her expert photography and BAE Systems for their continued support to the RAFSA diving team. To all the swimming, diving and water polo officials and other individuals from RAFSA, it is the continued support from within the organisation that makes the championships a success. A full list of these individuals can be found at Annex B. I would like to finally thank Cranwell for hosting RAFSA and the championships once again, especially: Jude Shave and the Home for Sport staff; Paul Mumby, the accommodation manager; Nick Dagley, the Sgts’ Mess Manager and James Boulmer in graphics for their continued support to RAFSA.