Are you man enough for field gun challenge
HAYLING'S new field gun crew are on the look out of more new members as they begin their preparations for their 2011 programme.
So do you have what it takes to be part of one of the most physically arduous and dangerous activities in the field of sport?
If so, you could be joining the team which is in negotiations to take part in the revamp of the Royal Tournament, which is planned for Earls Court in December 2011.
The crew were hoping to perform at the Hayling Carnival last month but are now booked to make their debut at the show in August next year.
The Portsmouth Action Field Gun team moved its permanent base to Mill Rythe Holiday Village in March, having been without a home for two years
They created a run where the lung-busting, muscle-aching and adrendalin-fuelled activity can be held. Regular public demonstrations of the art have been held there at weekends since the early summer.
The field gun is a tribute to the history of the Royal Navy's relief of Ladysmith during the Boer War at the turn of the last century.
The crew of HMS Powerful hauled the ship's guns up a hill to defend the town from attack during the South African war.
The Royal Navy used to equip three teams to take part in the annual televised Royal Tournament at Earl's Court up until it was axed in 1999.
Since then the Portsmouth Field Gun Association has kept the tradition alive.
But a series of problems over siting of the heavy guns and cables - which are used to haul the 900lb gun barrels, capable of firing 12 pound cannonballs and whose wheels weigh 120lb, over the course – have limited their activity until this year.
The team is trained by ex-Navy field gun instructor Peter Scott.
He said: "If one man messes up another man gets horribly injured, but there is no other buzz like taking part in the field gun run.
"We train hard two or three times a week – and our preparation for the displays is exhaustive. Everything can depend on a split-second decision."
Training starts in January and Mr Scott expects the team to be carrying out runs at at the holiday village on Tuesday and Thursday evenings as well as on Saturdays throughout May and June.
The plan is to switch to Wednesday and Friday evenings as well as Saturdays in July and August 2011.
You can find out more by calling Peter on 9278 1380. Got to www.pafg.co.uk for more information.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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