Wednesday 17 Jun 2009
ARMED FORCES SURRENDER TO NETWORK RAIL
- Region & Route:
- National
Who’s tougher? The Army, Air Force or Navy? None of them – it’s Network Rail. So proved our apprentices in the prestigious annual Junior Leaders Field Gun Competition, held at HMS Collingwood in Gosport, Hampshire.
In the ultimate battle of strength, endurance, speed, accuracy and team work, Network Rail apprentices came out on top. The competition is open to ages 16-25, with each crew of 18 required to run, dismantle, reassemble and fire the antique 12-pounder field gun – equivalent in weight to a small car – in the shortest possible time. The NR team gunned down 12 other teams from the three military services and other organisations such as the Prince’s Trust and local colleges.
Two of our teams comprised apprentices currently studying at Gosport, while the third was made up of the class of 2005 – our first apprentice intake, who are all now working full-time within the company. And it was the old boys who took first place, beating another of our teams into third place as well as two-time winners, RAF Cosford.
Bill Alexander, national apprentice manager, said: “I’m so proud of our boys. It shows they are really well drilled and of the highest calibre. They put themselves through a gruelling training regime to be ready for the fight. They were so proud when they won there were tears of joy.”
Notes to editors
More information on Network Rail's advanced apprentices scheme here: www.everydaybrilliance.com 2009 Old Boys winning team: Kyle Bates – Retford Lee Colbert – Peterborough Kyle McCarthy – Lincoln Lee Baldo – Stoke Adam Collett – Saltley Tom Edge – Stafford Tom Forbes – Preston Rob Johnson – Llamdudno Dan Knight – Carnforth Michael McNulty – Chester John Saggers- Norwich Ben Clarke – Orpington Andy Greenhead – Ashford Dan Mahoney – Croydon Aaron Harris – Port Talbot Jamie Savage – Derby Chris Cook – Stanford Le Hope Jack Goodenough – Eastleigh Team Reserves Stephen Wilks - Knottingley James Lally – Sandwell Greg Murray – Glasgow Richard Chapman – Ipswich Matthew McDonald – Derby Mark Warren – Orpinton Liam Murphy AshfordContact information
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