The inaugural Royal Navy Sport Reception was held at the Royal Maritime Club in Portsmouth to celebrate Royal Navy personnel and their contribution to sport.
The evening was a celebration of sport in the Royal Navy and the incredible sporting careers of 7 serving personnel from across the force.
Award winners had citations read by a member of their respective association and were presented with their trophies by the guest of honour, Cdre Kris Nicholson.
WO1 Andy Page was recognised for his outstanding contribution to Volleyball within the Royal Navy, one that spans four decades, competing at every level that the Armed Forces has to offer, and covering activity on court as a player, on the side-lines as an official and a coach.
Joining the Navy aged 17 in 1981, Andy began training with the unit team at HMS Collingwood and within a year he had been selected to represent Portsmouth Command and selection to the Royal Navy senior squad followed in 1982.
Andy’s contribution to Royal Navy sport is remarkable. He has played, coached, toured, taught, developed, and refereed over a period spanning 40 years, all balanced against an equally impressive career in the Royal Navy and the pulls and pressures of domestic life. A true ambassador of the sport, his ongoing legacy is to provide sporting opportunities and rewards to multiple generations of the Naval Service. His playing career has seen him compete at the very highest Service Levels, and his record appearances for RN at the Inter and Crown Services is unlikely to ever be surpassed.
WO1 John Thacker received an award for his contribution to Royal Navy Judo. Having joined the RN in 1978, WO1 Thacker has been at the forefront of Service judo for his entire career.
In his early days serving on the Leander class frigate HMS DIOMEDE, he would lay out rudimentary mats on the flight deck to encourage the Ship’s company into the sport. Later, and after qualifying as a Submariner, he would continue to train either by himself or by practicing his groundwork with one other person in an area as small as 2m x 1m.
By the turn of the Millennium, John had already completed an entire career’s worth of judo, furthering the sport at every opportunity and he was now at the helm as the Secretary and de-facto Chair of the RN Judo Association.
The only service person to ever achieve his red and white belt, marking 6th Dan, John has competitively represented his Service and Country across 6 different decades and shows no signs of slowing down. In the past year alone, he has trained in the Kodokan – the spiritual home of judo in Japan, taken Gold at both the Czechoslovakia Open and Belgium International, Silver in Berlin, Nantes and St Dizier and Bronze in Bordeaux. This all-in addition to refereeing at this year’s Inter-Service Championships and conducting technical gradings for some of the younger judoka in the Association. Having reached the pinnacle of Warrant Officer 1 in his professional career and the pinnacle of 6th Dan in his judo career, he remains a true example and inspiration to all.
WO2 Billy Rodgers received the prestigious recognition of Outstanding Contribution to Royal Navy Sport for both 2023 and the last 30 years in the discipline of Nordic Skiing and Biathlon, having made remarkable contributions to the sport, exhibiting exceptional skills, unwavering dedication, and an unwavering commitment to the growth and development of Nordic skiing and biathlon.
After first representing the RN as a Marine in 1993 he went on to win twice in 4 years at the Inter-Services. After an operational pause, he returned to biathlon in 2000, this time as a competitor but also as the coach. Whilst coaching the team for 3 years up to the Inter-Services, he personally won the British National 10km, 15km and 30km titles. The Nordic team last competed as a full-time entity in 2002/03 season where the RN Biathlon team won every competition and were the first ever team to win the SAS Cup as Best Service team by 5 points, the lowest ever recorded.
WO Rodgers has consistently demonstrated exemplary performance as an athlete, coach, and ambassador for Nordic skiing and biathlon. Their outstanding achievements in the field are commendable, and they have been a source of inspiration for aspiring athletes. Over the years their numerous podium finishes and championships stand as a testament to his extraordinary perseverance to maintaining RN participation in Nordic and Biathlon.
CSgt Grant Oseland was honoured for his exceptional and enduring commitment to Royal Navy (RN) Sport, specifically in the discipline of paragliding, throughout his distinguished career. Joining the Royal Marines in 1997 and embarking on his journey into free flight in Sep 2002, he has displayed remarkable dedication to RN sport.
An active, loyal, and steadfast member of the Royal Navy Hang-gliding and Paragliding Association (RNHPA), Oseland has made significant contributions to the advancement and safety of the sport. He has represented the RN since 2004 achieving the RN Team Champion title 3 times, and the Inter-Service title in 2022 and 2023, plus Captaining the team to victory in this years Inter-Services. Not to mention representing the British team and numerous achievements outside of the RN which have put him in a strong position for potential representation in the British Team in the upcoming 2024 Paragliding World Cup.
Oseland's sportsmanship and conduct have earned him immense respect both within the UK and international flying communities. His advocacy for the sport, safety, and fair competition have resulted in his being a credible and trustworthy voice across the paragliding community.
Lt Cdr Jill Monnox joined the Royal Navy as a YTS WRNS Writer in 1985, Lieutenant Commander Jill Monnox quickly proved to be a talented sportsperson: representing at establishment and regional level across a wide range of disciplines, including athletics, tennis, swimming, hockey, and netball.
Unsurprisingly as a gifted athlete Jill sought a Branch change and subsequently passed out of TEMERAIRE as a Physical Training Instructor in 1989. At HMS COLLINGWOOD 1992-1994 as the WRNS PTI she demonstrated impressive leadership, generating high performances from her teams to win the 3 major ladies inter-cup series of netball, volleyball, and hockey. In fact, it was her new sport of volleyball that elevated Jill as a player to representing the RN and selection for Combined Services.
In 1999 she commissioned as a Warfare Officer; alongside the professional challenges of being a junior officer at sea, she decided she would refocus on equestrianism. Jill went on to compete successfully representing the Royal Navy in show jumping and dressage with her three horses Ellie, Rebus and Sonny.
As an active RN Team rider, Jill committed to contributing to the running of the Equestrian Association by becoming the Secretary in 2002 – a role which she continued to fill until this year and has remained a vital mentor to the new RNEA Sec.
Jill is described by the RN Equestrian Association as “One of a kind. A complete sports enthusiast during her RN career and a tour de force in RN equestrianism for over 20 years in the saddle and as part of the essential machinery, without which our high-risk sport could not operate. Her exceptional contribution as an official, and the successes she has achieved as a competitor, are true testament to the many personal sacrifices she has made and her sheer determination.”
Cdr Charlie Yemm has been at the heart of Royal Navy and Armed Forces sport for over three decades as a player, volunteer and official. What is remarkable is not just her longevity, but the range of sports that she has been associated with, from hockey and tennis to cricket and kayaking. She is a true all-rounder who continues to have an enduring, positive impact; be that grit and determination on the sports field, encouragement of new players, or as a committed administrator.
Charlie has represented the Navy in seven kayaking disciplines, canoe polo, cricket, and hockey and with it seen huge success across the board, notably the success of the women’s canoe polo team who have won the Inter-Services for 20 successive years. Not to mention, crossing the line of the 125 mile Devizes to Westminster endurance race as the second military mixed doubles team, earning RN and UKAF caps as a batter and wicket keeper in cricket and representing the RN and UKAF hockey team at Senior and Masters level.
Charlie has also been a huge figure in bringing on the next generation and has been instrumental in the development of players, as well as taking on the role of Chair of Women’s Hockey. Cdr Charlie Yemm is an exemplar of sports participation and leadership for all Naval personnel. That she has made such a telling contribution to Service sport while maintaining an operationally focussed professional career as a front-line Warfare Officer is truly inspirational.
Cpt Ray Holyer joined the Royal Navy as a Junior Probationary Medical Technician (JPMT) in December 1969 for Physiotherapy Training. Ray progressed through the rating structure and was promoted to the Officer Cadre in 1985, finally leaving the RN in 2007 in the rank of Captain.
During the summer of 1971, Ray umpired at many RN establishment and US Portsmouth cricket matches, culminating in a late season RN U25 Fixture – and so the umpiring career of Ray Holyer commenced.
Ray passed his Oral Umpire Examination in 1973 and became a Full member of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (ACU&S) in August 1975. By that time Ray was umpiring many Full and U25 RN Fixtures and in 1976 umpired his 1st Combined Service Match from whence he went on to umpire many more including against Full Test member countries when they played the CS. Since then, Ray has umpired at a plethora of US Portsmouth, RNCC/CA, RN U25, Full RN and CS cricket matches as well as 31 Inter-Service matches. As an umpire and physiotherapist Ray was selected to travel on 5 CS Tours abroad and a further 5 RN Tours abroad.
Recognised for over 50 years’ service to RN and UKAF cricket, Ray has made an outstanding contribution to the sport within the RN and UKAF.
The 7 personnel who received awards were recognised for their incredible service to Royal Navy Sport and unwavering commitment to develop sport as an integral part of service life.
Royal Navy Sport now looks forward to the RN Sports Awards in November, where personnel will be recognised for their achievements across several different categories.
