Issue 81 - Sept 19 RAF Mountain Mania in Lousã Trombones for Toes to Bar Victory 1 for Rugby 1 Whole Force Union Women Teamwork on the Thames 2 3 RAF ACTIVE CONTENTS 10 EX HOME RUN A cycle ride to freedom – remembering the Great Escape. 14 ‘WHO RUNS THE WORLD? GIRLS’ RAF Rugby Union Women’s winning the Inter Services Championship 18 Mountain Mania in Lousã Mechanical faffs, crashes and many many olives... mountain bikers take to the hills of Portugal with Emanuel Pombo - pro enduro and downhill racer! 4 4 22 FROM MUSIC TOAn MUSCLE article following Neil Wharton, Principle Trombonist from the Band of the Royal Air Force College through his recent CrossFit and Weightlifting success. Send us your articles: 36 RAF Active publishes every 3 months, Feb-Apr, May-Jul, Aug-Oct and Nov-Jan. Let us worry about the deadlines, A Look Inside... we just want to hear from you. Send your article to any of Sports Parachuting the editorial team, thanks! 38 RAF rallies to produce top results Clare Law and Ady Warrant in their quest for RAF Motor Sport rally glory 44 BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU 28 Jon Maflin shares on RAF What’s On? Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 34 42 CHALLENGE EAGLE - A Look Inside… Whole Force! RAF SUB AQUA Whole Force team take on the Thames with Challenge Eagle and 5 some water-based activities. 5 RAF Active Editorial Team Editor-in-Chief Deputy Editor-in-Chief Rachael Lee Andy Knaggs RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] Specialist Sub-Editors Air Sports Editor Ball & Racquet Sports Editor Cycling Editor Kevin Morley Gapped Andy Knaggs RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] Equitation Editor Winter Sports Editor Fighting Sports Editor Kev Sing Chris Challenor Andrew Jackson RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] Land Based Editor What’s On Editor Motor Sports Editor Leigh Posthumus Chris McNarry Gary Hignett RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] Running/Athletics Editor Water Sports Editor Triathlon Editor Calum Ferguson Rob Davies James Deytrikh RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] Features Editor Deputy Features Editor Dave Walker Andy Pawsey RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] Management Team If you would like to join the RAF Active team and encourage others to get out and make the most of what the Service has to offer, then just send an email to our OIC, Stu Clarke at RAFActiveMag+[email protected] Director Officer-in-Command AM Julian Young Stu Clarke RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] Webmaster Secretary/Treasurer Distribution Manager Gapped Phil Major and Jon Bailey James Illingsworth RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] RAFActiveMag+[email protected] Inclusion of advertisements within this magazine does not imply endorsement of the advertised product by RAF Active or the Royal Air Force. Personnel should conduct appropriate research before purchasing or using any products advertised in this magazine. Personnel are advised to use only supplements and products that are approved by Informed Sport (www.informed-sport.com). Consumption of contaminated or banned substances Submission by service personnel, whether intentionally or otherwise, may contravene MOD regulations and could result Deadlines: in action being taken against the individual in question, up to and including discharge from the Service. Articles should be submitted to © This magazine contains official information and should be treated with 6 Commercial discretion by the recipient. The opinions expressed in the articles in this 6 Sub-Editors for consideration publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy Military and views, official or otherwise, of the RAF. No part of this publication may before 05 Oct 19 for Issue 82 P U B L I S H I N G L T D be reproduced without the permission of the editor. No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in this magazine can be accepted by Director:& Katie Mordue the publishers or printers and all advertisements are included in good faith. Creative Director: Kerry Wells Published by Commercial & Military Publishing Ltd, 5 Carisbrooke Court, Advertising Sales: Heather Branchflower Buckingham MK18 1TU. [email protected] www.candmpublishing.co.uk RAF Active Editorial Team RAF Active where to find us RAF Active Editor think one of the best things about sport is that it pushes us to be our I best. It makes you want to cycle harder, get that extra training session in and practice as much as you can - to be the best that you can possibly be. That is certainly true in the stories in this issue. The RAF Rugby Union Women Facebook @RAFActiveMag Facebook won the Inter Services Championship, the first time since they formed in 2000. An amazing outcome, but one that was a result of hard work from the whole team. For the Off-Road team it was training with a professional downhill racer, testing their skill on the mountain bike as they manoeuvre down technical tracks at speed. Working to gain those vital seconds over their competition, the difference between 1st and 3rd Exploring waterfalls in Bali Twitter @RAFActiveMag Twitter place. toe (literally) into the Thames, building But as we all know, it’s more than rafts as well as better relationships within just sport! In the last few editions I a Whole Force team. Another set of ‘Active’ mentioned getting active, regardless of adventures, from bikes to barbells to what that looks like to you personally. Brazilian Jui Jitsu. The RAF Rugby 7s switched the fast pace of the pitch for road bikes on Meanwhile, I have been on my own the ‘Great Escape’, in honour of the adventures, not nearly as exciting but courageous accomplishments by pushing my physical limits all the same. airmen 75 years earlier. For a group Determined to not sit on the side lines, I @RAFActiveMag from Abbey Wood it was dipping their took on the many, many stairs to enjoy the beauty that Bali had to offer (and I paid for it later) but also, I have had the privilege to Instagram spend three weeks at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Stanford Hall (the new Headley Court). What an amazing Online place! Facilities and staff from every Sports Federation page where the specialisation working together to help online versions are hosted people get back to the best mental and www.rafsportsfederation.uk/ physical condition they can, not just the raf-active-magazine/ wounded and sick but the injured. As always, we want to hear all about your adventures, wherever in the world they take you. Walking in the Lake District, adventuring racing in the desert or your own personal adventure...share it with us at RAF Active. Contact the Specialist 7 7 Sub-Editor, email [email protected] or follow is @RAFActiveMag on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Rachael Around the RAF bases Editor-in-Chief Get your free copy on the bases The never ending staircase! Over 20 Years Military Publishing Experience Commercial Craftsmanship and Quality Military &P U B L I S H I N G L T D Publishing just got that bit easier From A4 to A5 size, finishes to suit every taste and budget, stitched or perfect bound we can talk you through the options. Print runs of 200 copies up to 10,000. One-off Events Pewter Giftware – Hand Made in the UK Families’ Day We can engrave with crests, badges and Programmes text for an occasion Calendars • Quick delivery / turnaround – next day Sporting Events (including engraving) is possible • MOD license holders • Perfect for awards, trophies, leaving gifts and celebrations www.wentworth-pewter.com [email protected] 0114 2447693 Journals Magazines Books MILITARY CLOTHING & End of Tour Specials EQUIPMENT Museum Brochures Flyers MILITARIA VICTORINOX SWISS ARMY KNIVES Call 0792 984 3354 8 CLOTHING ACCESSORIES For a No Obligation Quote 8 SURVIVAL/ ADVENTURE & ACCESSORIES Email: [email protected] www.thegreenbarn.co.uk www.candmpublishing.co.uk 01223 264839 www.tenerifebiketraining.com CYCLING TOURS • TRAINING CAMPS A family business run in Tenerife by the Delgado brothers Commercial MARCOS & ALBERTO Publishing just got that bit easier Join the conversation: www.tenerifebiketraining.com www.facebook.com/TenerifeBikeTraining @tenerifebiketraining [email protected] WHAT´S INCLUDED Guided rides Hotel accommodation Half board Transfers Support van Hire bikes Experienced mechanic Paella party A memorable Training Camp Not just Tenerife but tours to: Mainland Spain: 9 La Vuelta tour. 9 Crossing Pyrenees tour France: Email: [email protected] The Alps Italy: www.candmpublishing.co.uk Dolomites tour Tenerife highlights: Call for more info: Volocano tour Marcos Delgado (+34) 600 238 697 Challenge tour Alberto Delgado (+34) 653 395 775 * New Riders tour * EX HOME RUN by Nick Monahan A GREAT ESCAPE TRIBUTE n the night of in reconstruction projects at the camp 24 March 1944, over the past 12 Oa daring mass years, had always escape was made from dreamt of leading Stalag Luft III ... known a team back across Europe to British forevermore as ‘The soil, albeit in far Great Escape’. Seventy- more favourable six allied airmen broke circumstances! The from the famous team comprised several former tunnel ‘Harry’ though Spitfires 7s team- 73 were recaptured mates, no longer and of those 50 were able to play the fast, executed on Hitler’s open format of the orders. game but, despite the unbecoming lycra, equally eager Exactly 75 years later a team of to take on the veteran RAF Rugby 7s players challenge. honoured their endeavour by The Great cycling back across Europe from Sunset Trees Escape story has 10 the camp, near Zagan in what 10 captured the ARDUA EAGLE and some of is now Poland, making a ‘home Berlin and the Berlin Airlift.