Almost 400 military and civilian personnel attended HM Naval Base Clyde’s sports facility on Wednesday, September 7, for the site’s Navyfit Festival.
The event, which was organised by physical training instructors from HMS Neptune, introduced personnel to the huge variety of sporting and leisure activities available to those at Clyde as well as providing advice on how to eat healthier and look after their well-being.
Petty Officer Physical Trainer Horseman, who arranged the event, said: “We were really pleased to see so many people come along to the Navyfit Festival.
“Our aim was to make it as fun as possible and show that, no matter your ability or current fitness level, there’s a sport or activity out there for you.
“Our aim is to make Physical Development as attractive and accessible as possible to Service personnel, MOD employees, Maritime Reservists and families.
“We hope that those who attended will leave with the fitness bug and make a few positive tweaks on their way to an altogether healthier lifestyle.”
Among those at the Festival was the lead Desk Officer of Naval Sport, Rowan Taylor, who had travelled from HMS Temeraire in Portsmouth - the Navy’s centre for physical development.
“There are currently 39 different sports associations in the Royal Navy and it was great to be able to highlight some of the wonderful activities and facilities available,” he said.
“The Navy has sports enthusiasts at every level from grass-roots to elite Olympians. If there is a sport or activity that someone fancies doing then we will try to arrange it.
“Navyfit is all about using sport and physical activity to promote our key values,” he continued.
“Many of the activities require courage, commitment, determination, resilience, integrity and loyalty.
“These are the same qualities that are required to serve with the Royal Navy.”
There were some 18 different clubs, organisations, and health advice stalls to choose from during the Clyde Navyfit Festival.
Chefs were on hand to let visitors taste some healthy snacks and there were even some delicious smoothies which participants had to mix themselves using a blender powered by an exercise bike!
Other activities included: HMNB Clyde Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club, HMS Neptune Field Gun Crew, Helensburgh Golf Club, Neptune Diving Centre, Fly Fishing, indoor rowing and the Royal Navy Telemark Skiing Association.
Sixteen teams, including representatives from submarines, small ships and the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth took part in an outdoor 5s competition, which the Queen Elizabeth crew won.
Also represented was HMS Neptune Sailing Centre, which has been on the go at Faslane since the 1950s and offers Naval Base personnel and their families the chance to experience sailing and power boating.
Weight and blood pressure checks were being carried-out throughout the day as well as oral hygiene advice courtesy of the Medical Centre’s dental department.
Representatives from the Civil Service Sports Council, the Charity for Civil Servants, Prostate Scotland and the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) also attended.
Captain Craig Mearns, Captain of HMS Neptune, said: “This was an outstanding event, which was really well supported from a wide cross section of the Naval community in Scotland, including the Civil Service and our industrial partners.
“Sometimes we forget what is available to us and what we should be doing to look after our health.
“This was an excellent reminder and I hope that it will encourage more people to make the time to take advantage of the sporting and recreational opportunities available and follow the healthy lifestyle advice on offer.”
