At the end of June, the HMNB Clyde Field Gun Crew put on a show for Base staff, families, and friends when they completed their annual Public Run. This consisted of breakout where Cdr Batsford explained to the audience what each section of the run consisted of, followed by a run at full speed. The crew set a track record of 1 min 25.73 secs! This is a great time for this stage of training which I am sure we will improve on even more when the Crew gets to Collingwood (the track is definitely fast- er there too!).
This year there are 31 Royal Navy sailors and marines in the crew, which includes a medic, physio, track judges and timekeepers. Together they will compete in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity Field Gun Competition which starts at HMS Collingwood on 1st July, with the final on the Saturday 6th July during the site’s open day.
Cdr Gareth ‘Bats’ Batsford, the Field Gun Officer for Clyde, was there to support the team and watch their progress. Gareth says, “With just eight days to go until the Brickwoods Field Gun Competition, the crew remain in good spirits and are quietly confident of bringing some silverware home this season. This week’s public demonstration was the highlight of our season so far and it was a privilege to be able to invite friends, family, colleagues, and our sponsors along to see the progress we have made. “For the newest members of the crew this was their first opportunity to perform in front of an audience and is a vital part of preparation for the competition.”
Cdr Batsford also gave special thanks to the Crew’s sponsors without whose support we would not be able to put on events like this. Let’s hope we can bring it back to Scotland this year with a win from the HMNB Clyde Field Gun Team!
