Cadet Petty Officer Rhys Ellis, in company with Cadets Ellis, Fox K, Burley, Goodman and Jones C left Sherbourne at 17.30 on Fri 3rd Oct, as part of the Mercia District swimming team. Along with our District Officer, Team Manager S/Lt D.Fields, Asst Team Mgr PO Burley, Duty Driver CPO Rawlinson and CPO Sajid managing the male accommodation, we made good time in the trusty Unit mini-bus, getting to HMS Raleigh before 11. The remainder of the team arrived in TS Newfoundland’s mini-bus an hour or so behind us and the cadets settled down for the night. Girls in Vigilant block and the boys in Ganges.
Up early on Saturday for a 06.45 breakfast and pouring rain. Not the nicest of starts to a weekend! First race at 09.30 and continual racing until 16.00. The noise of Cadets screaming and shouting for Mercia team members - not from their Unit and in some cases they had not met before - working their hardest in the water was deafening. A really long day and despite the Cadets herculean efforts and some individual medals, Mercia did not come in the top 3. The District Officer watched every race and fell in proudly with his Cadets for the presentations
Dinner and change, then off to the disco for some chill time and then bed. Another early one on Sunday and we cleared the base by 09.15 for the drive back.
Although not the most successful of Sherbourne’s sojourns our young people showed some real determination, team spirit and pride. Many thanks you swimmers, the Team Manager and I could have asked no more of you and we were truly proud of you all...... Well done (and thanks for a fun weekend).
PO (SCC) Dave Burley
Assistant Team Manager
Mercia District Swimming Team
