The Royal Tournament

[Stingo]

Ahoy there! Anyone remember this? New info at the link...

http://www.royaltournament.org/

Looks like they're trying to bring it back.

I used to enjoy the Field Gun race. Never got to see it live, is it still continued but not televised?

I went to see one of the last shows when it was a joint services tournament rather than an Army/RAF/Navy based one.

It was fecking AWESOME!!!

I saw it on the TV when it was last on. Shocking that they stopped it. It was impressive!

[Stingo]

Originally Posted by Mogs

I used to enjoy the Field Gun race. Never got to see it live, is it still continued but not televised?

There is a 'simplified' version done each year. The finals are held at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hants. This version is known as the 'Brickwoods' field gun competition and does not feature the bit with the sheer legs and travelling winches etc. To a purist this makes it a bit of a mickey mouse version - still a risk of doing some serious damage to the human body though.

Would be nice to see the real event brought back to life though.

See here...

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.5891

As a youngster my mum and dad took me a couple of times, really enjoyed it. Particularly enjoyed the motorbike stunts, battlefield re-enactments with tanks and commando absailing from the ceiling and also the side stands were really cool. You could hold a real machine gun or sit inside vehicle.

The link brought back some old memories.

Oh man - I don't know why, there was never any military history in our family - but we went every year when I was a kid... gave me the dream at aged 8 that I was going to join the Army. Proud to say I realised that one.

There are sooooo many things I remember - one year the Royal Engineers did a parody of the Royal Artillary's musical ride... only they did it driving JCB diggers (the effing big ones) it was pure poetry in motion.

I also remember the year they 'made a point' of so many regiments being amalgamated or disbanded - one of which contained a number of serving sniffer dogs... they did their display and as each made their final run through the obsacles (hoop of fire etc) they were individually announced over the PA and thanked for their years of service, each exited the area to the sound of "<name of dog> now forced into retirement at aged 6 (or whatever, they were all young though)". It was quite moving.

Then there were the Navy guys and their timed display through a load of rigging - aewsome balance and co-ordination.

Of course, the field gun run - I aways supported Portsmouth.


I personally think that whilst some may consider it politically 'incorrect' to have such a display of rampant nationalistic military pride... *&%£$%&**%()$£$%*^%$)£()£*%^&%*$ 'em.
Bring it back - BRING IT ON!

Performed there with the Royal Marine Cadet Corps (Band, and yes, I used to blow my own trumpet!)) on 2 occasions and went as a spectator on 2 or 3 occasions. Used to love the event.