Cheery Chiddingfold take up challenge

New gym equipment ensured the crew of HMS Chiddingfold were up for a challenge thrown down by HMS Temeraire.

Chiddingfold received a new rowing machine, weights bench and bike, as well as a challenge from the Portsmouth fitness establishment to compete in the bi-annual Cutter Rose Bowl.

Starting early in the morning due to the increasing heat in the Gulf, Crew 5 crowded around their new Concept II rower to begin their challenge, which states ships or units must submit their cumulative total best 20 1km row times.

The entrants are divided into January to June and and July to December contests to ensure two winning teams each year.

Twenty of the minehunter’s finest braved the elements and gave their best efforts under the watchful eye of the Correspondence Officer and Captain’s Secretary Lieutenant Christopher Keeble. 

Executive Officer Scott Hamer set an impressive early benchmark of 3min 0.9sec that remained unbeaten. The competition results were submitted and time will tell to see if Crew 5 managed the fastest 20km total out of the fleet so far this year.

Operations Officer Lieutenant Robert Stone-Ward said, “Such events are important in fostering and ensuring a team spirit as well as the enduring competitive nature within the Royal Navy that is so important in maintaining the RN’s ability to defeat the enemy.”