Navy News
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.
A combined Royal Navy team, from HMS Sultan and fellow training establishment HMS Collingwood, took on personnel from the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), MOD Lyneham.
The competition was played out in a highly electric atmosphere, with the Show including a display by a Corps of Drums from the HMS Sultan Volunteer Band and a parade of the fighters.
The Boxing Dinner provides the perfect platform for novice boxers to take those first steps into a competitive boxing ring. In total, nine action packed bouts were on the card with one all female Navy fight, in addition to the eight Army vs Navy bouts, all consisting of three, three-minute rounds.
The fight of the night turned out to be the clash between Able Rating Samuel Cole (Collingwood) and Craftsman Thomas Hutchinson (REME).
With all the results in, the evening’s top performer award was presented to Leading Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) Jake Murray (Sultan) who had overcome the challenge of Lance Corporal Bradley Greenwood (REME). This was the boxer’s third time success at a HMS Sultan Boxing Show, having represented the Establishment previously in 2016 and 2018.
The Defence College of Technical Training oversees both the Air and Marine Engineering training at Sultan and the training of REME engineers at Lyneham. As the evening drew to a close, the Commandant of the College, Air Commodore Adam Sansom was invited to present the winning team with the trophy. With the balance of bouts tied at 4-4, it was the Royal Navy team who had previously won the Show who retained the trophy.
All the boxers fought with great bravery and, considering it was a lot of their first bouts, showed a great deal of skill and class in the ring.
Leading PTI Joel Kirby
Sultan Boxing Squad Coach, Leading Physical Training Instructor Joel Kirby said: “They put all the hard work in during the weeks leading up to the competition and performed well under the pressure of fighting in front of a crowd of over 500 cheering spectators. I couldn’t be prouder of our Navy boxers. The preparation for the Show has revealed a lot of talented boxers at Sultan with huge potential, not limited to those who made it into the ring. I hope they all decide to stay in the sport, as they could have great futures in the sport, should they desire it.”
Bout results (winners in bold):
Image credit: PO Photographer Nicola Harper
Direct from the front-line, the official newspaper of the Royal Navy, Navy News, brings you the latest news, features and award winning photos every month.