In the 1955 my Dad came from Canada to train at Portsmouth and then took what he learned back. Then in 1965 he started to work on the Tattoo for our 100 year celebration in Canada and was a trainer for a show that travelled across Canada many times that year. I saw many shows and loved every time that cannon would go off! And of coarse he was the Blue Team.
The toughest, proudest men in the British forces. Absolute animals, when they came into the bar at Earls Court everybody left. What a shame it,s no longer continued
Bless them all, as a kid growing up in the 60/70s I knew all about the RN Field Gun Race, the history from The Boer War and why Devonport shouted 'Oggie, Oggie, Oggie!' My Mum and Dad both RAF veterans of WWII took me to The Royal Tournament twice in the late 60s and both times Devonport raced on the side we were sitting. I was a Devonport supporter from then as the MC encouraged all neutrals to cheer for the team nearest to them. The atmosphere and tension was amazing, it is such a shame it had to finish. We as a nation have lost too much tradition and are worse of for it.
I ran in Pompey 1956 crew at no. 2, looking back on it makes me realise just what camaraderie was in those days,would I go through it again....I would like to think so, but common sense prevails now
I completely agree, It does seem that "cadet command" is replacing it with kids and a lighter gun and limber, as wellington and Portsmouth now have crews. No one wants to take the risk of running original command anymore, which is a massive shame.
I have always marvelled at the teams of the Gun Run! Very well choreographed, indeed. Sadly the Run is no longer performed at the Royal Nova Scotia Military Tattoo, because of injuries in previous years.
Served with a few of them.....that was awesome. Kerry packer's words were so freakin true. A sad day for the navy and the public. "Burning.....2,3...... standby"
i would give any thing to take part in the acutal field gun. yeah the carpark fildgun is good. well i should know i broke my ankle doing it, yet still running on it the next day up untill the comp. 3other team mates went down. one streached tendons, one had thir apendics out. and another got ran over. but to be traind by the man in the video in the blue shorts and polo top was an honour. just waiting for it again this year. hopefully i wont try and flip the gun again. best sport in the world.
What did I think of this video? I'm an old sailor from the early 60s and we held these things as tradition, a way of testing ourselves and showing what we could do. I doubt the present day sailors would do the same but that is only because tradition means less and less for whatever reason. God Bless The Queen
Just a shame it's not in the original command competition anymore against the other 2 commands....think I'd join up again if it...unfortunately it never will....
No excuse for ending this - major failure by senior officers & or bureaucrats/politicians. This race is admired all over the entire world. This race has many purposes - all positive. This decision rates with the recent decision to leave the EN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the 1955 my Dad came from Canada to train at Portsmouth and then took what he learned back. Then in 1965 he started to work on the Tattoo for our 100 year celebration in Canada and was a trainer for a show that travelled across Canada many times that year. I saw many shows and loved every time that cannon would go off! And of coarse he was the Blue Team.
The toughest, proudest men in the British forces. Absolute animals, when they came into the bar at Earls Court everybody left. What a shame it,s no longer continued
Bless them all, as a kid growing up in the 60/70s I knew all about the RN Field Gun Race, the history from The Boer War and why Devonport shouted 'Oggie, Oggie, Oggie!' My Mum and Dad both RAF veterans of WWII took me to The Royal Tournament twice in the late 60s and both times Devonport raced on the side we were sitting. I was a Devonport supporter from then as the MC encouraged all neutrals to cheer for the team nearest to them. The atmosphere and tension was amazing, it is such a shame it had to finish. We as a nation have lost too much tradition and are worse of for it.
I Don't care where you are from. You can put up your best and they won't have a chance against these guys. These are the best.
I ran in Pompey 1956 crew at no. 2, looking back on it makes me realise just what camaraderie was in those days,would I go through it again....I would like to think so, but common sense prevails now
I completely agree, It does seem that "cadet command" is replacing it with kids and a lighter gun and limber, as wellington and Portsmouth now have crews. No one wants to take the risk of running original command anymore, which is a massive shame.
I have always marvelled at the teams of the Gun Run! Very well choreographed, indeed. Sadly the Run is no longer performed at the Royal Nova Scotia Military Tattoo, because of injuries in previous years.
Served with a few of them.....that was awesome. Kerry packer's words were so freakin true. A sad day for the navy and the public. "Burning.....2,3...... standby"
Portsmouth action field gun are recruiting for the 2014 season, Still running original command field gun
This is superhuman stuff for winning wars not for everyday use in business.
are these competitions going on currently? this is an awesome thing!
no they no longer happen on this level due to cuts and health and safety
i would give any thing to take part in the acutal field gun. yeah the carpark fildgun is good. well i should know i broke my ankle doing it, yet still running on it the next day up untill the comp. 3other team mates went down. one streached tendons, one had thir apendics out. and another got ran over. but to be traind by the man in the video in the blue shorts and polo top was an honour. just waiting for it again this year. hopefully i wont try and flip the gun again. best sport in the world.
It's awful that this was ended.. (also, wicked fart at 4:40)
Hearts of oak. Every one of them.
What did I think of this video? I'm an old sailor from the early 60s and we held these things as tradition, a way of testing ourselves and showing what we could do. I doubt the present day sailors would do the same but that is only because tradition means less and less for whatever reason. God Bless The Queen
sea cadets TS Vernon gun crew 1983 loved it very sad end
Just a shame it's not in the original command competition anymore against the other 2 commands....think I'd join up again if it...unfortunately it never will....
No excuse for ending this - major failure by senior officers & or bureaucrats/politicians. This race is admired all over the entire world. This race has many purposes - all positive. This decision rates with the recent decision to leave the EN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fitness 2024?
Old school:
Field Gun training
9 months and
5 Gun laps a days
Not politically correct enough for our modern times, so sad to see it ended.
BRING FIELD GUNS BACK!
I'd say that there's no one in the Navy now who knows how to do it.
Too sad to watch!