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Royal Gibraltar Regiment’s success at Inter-Services Rowing Championships

Friday, June 13th, 2008

HQ British Forces Gibraltar
Rowers from the Royal Gibraltar Regiment have just returned from the UK after a hugely successful visit to the Inter-Services Rowing Championships, held in Peterborough.


The Royal Gibraltar Regiment Coxed Fours crew winning with ease during the Inter-Service Rowing Championships, held in Peterborough UK in June 2008Representing the Army in five races against the Royal Navy, the RAF and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the RGR crews won in three of their five events. They were successful in the Senior Double Sculls, the Senior Coxed Fours and the Senior Eights.

“We have always sent at least one crew to represent the Army for the last fifteen years”, said Captain Stuart Bensadon, the team’s captain.


“Our main rivals are usually Sandhurst who usually include a few international oarsmen in their crews. But this is the first time that we’ve won both the Coxed Fours and the Eights in the same year.”

“The guys didn’t have much chance to train in Gibraltar before we left”, added Stuart.


“So once we’d arrived in UK we started on an intensive programme of 20 – 25 kms every day.”

Two members of the RG crew took a clean sweep of gold medals. Privates Jonathan Falero and Nicholas Podesta won the Double Sculls and were members of both the Coxed Fours and the Senior Eights.

“The Army gave us a lot of support from their boathouse at Eton”, said Stuart adding:


“Their facilities are of Olympic standard.”



The Royal Gibraltar Regiment Senior Eights approach the finishing line during the Inter-Service Rowing Championships 2008, held in Peterborough UK in June - The RGR crew (nearest the camera) inch ahead of the RAF crew (middle) who themselves are closely pressed by the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (far side)The team even managed to return from UK with a suntan as the races took place during a prolonged spell of hot, sunny weather.

In the week prior to the Inter-Services Championships, the RGR team participated in the Army Rowing Championships where they won seven events and came second in a further two events.

Summarising on their rowing successes, Captain Stuart Bensadon concluded:


“Private Luke Holden had never even been in a boat before last week’s Army championships but he and Lieutenant Jamie Allen won the Novice Doubles.

And the Commanding Officer doesn’t know yet, but the Dutch military have invited an RGR crew to go over to Holland later this year to take part in some of their events”

Crews:

Coxed Fours: TBA
Senior Eights: TBA

Source: HQ British Forces Gibraltar - Media Ops Press Release - Ref: SIG/06/06 - 13 June 2008

Related Articles and Links:

Royal Gibraltar Regiment

British Forces Gibraltar - Community Website

British Army Sport and Adventure

Defence Internet | Defence News

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UEFA President declares GFA will be a full member of UEFA

Thursday, September 7th, 2006

Gibraltar’s bid for UEFA membership • ‘This is something that goes beyond the purely sporting issue and into politics’ says Johansson • Opposition welcomes Gibraltar Amateur Rowing Association (GARA) success

F Oliva reports


Gibraltar Football Association (GFA)Gibraltar’s admission into UEFA is now taken as a foregone conclusion in Spain, according to some of the most influential news media in the country.

Reports about the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision backing the local application for membership, yesterday spread like wildfire across the leading sports dailies and media in the country.


Lennart Johansson - President of UEFA says this is not a sports issue and is more the responsibility of the Spanish Government and not UEFAMeanwhile UEFA president Lennart Johansson last night declared that Europe’s soccer ruling body will not take into account any possible complaints or threats from Spain following the decision by CAS. Mr Johanson is quoted as saying:


“This is something that goes beyond the purely sporting issue and into politics. There is nothing we can do about it, and following the decision by the Tribunal for Arbitration and Sport, Gibraltar will be a full member of UEFA.”

It is understood that Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Angel Villar was informed of this possibility, at a recent meeting of the UEFA executive committee earlier this summer. Sr Villar has declined to comment on the latest developments.

CAS is the highest sports tribunal in Europe and there is no mechanism for appeal against its decisions.

Media Interest

The Cadena Ser flagship sports programme ‘El Larguero’ was preparing a feature on the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) application last night, and seeking an interview with president Joey Nunez to explain the favouble CAS ruling.

Meanwhile the breakfast radio ‘tertulias’ linked Spain’s European Championship qualifier against Northern Ireland that was played yesterday, with the failure at this summer’s world cup tournament in Germany, anticipating a future world cup qualifying tie versus Gibraltar with a mixture of incredulity and sarcasm.

For its part Canal Sur yesterday quoted a spokesman for Foreign Secretary Miguel Angel Moratinos saying that Spain will do “whatever is necessary,” so that UEFA’s current regulations are applied and Gibraltar’s admission is not allowed. It said the Spanish Government had yesterday been notified of the CAS ruling instructing the UEFA executive committee to consider Gibraltar’s admission on a provisional basis at the forthcoming meeting in October. The last hurdle Gibraltar would have to clear to obtain full membership status, is the approval of the UEFA congress that will take place in Germany in late January 2007. Sr Moratinos spokesman added:


“Spain will examine the ruling closely, will defend its interests and do whatever is necessary to uphold the existing UEFA regulation.”

The regulation in question which was introduced at the time of the GFA application in 1999, says that only states that are recognised by the United Nations can be accepted as members of UEFA.

Opposition Angry at Spain

Meanwhile, the GSLP/Liberal Opposition has welcomed the news that the Gibraltar Amateur Rowing Association (GARA) has been admitted as a full member of the European Federation.

Congratulating GARA for their achievement they believe the European Federation will open new avenues for further success.

“It is regrettable that on the eve of this announcement, the Spanish Foreign Ministry said that they will do whatever is necessary so that UEFA does not allow the Gibraltar Football Association to join as a member,” says the Alliance adding that it is totally inconsistent for Spain to threaten further action against Gibraltar in one sport when they have just had to concede our membership in another.


“While it is not clear what Spain will do, it will be recalled that in the past the Spanish Football Federation has threatened to withdraw its clubs from European competitions if Gibraltar is admitted.”

The Opposition is urging the Spanish Government to “stop politicising the issue and to accept that Gibraltar sportsmen and women have the same right as everyone else to represent their country in international events.”

From The Gibraltar Chronicle - The Independent Daily First Published 1801

Related Articles and Links:

UEFA Official Website

Gibraltar Football Association (GFA)

Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

Consejo Superior de Deportes

06 September 2006 - Opposition welcome CAS ruling

05 September 2006 - GFA release July CAS ruling

30 August 2006 - Spain keeps pressure up as UEFA seeks to oust Gibraltar

25 August 2006 - GFA edges closer to UEFA membership, says Spanish press

05 December 2004 - Gibraltar Football Association - Why is FIFA and UEFA barring their membership?

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