Sailors from HMS Atherstone Pick Up American Gauntlet

Six sailors from Gulf-based minehunter HMS Atherstone have picked up the gauntlet thrown down by their American counterparts to race in a gruelling endurance event: a 70-mile swim, run and cycle around Bahrain.

Six sailors from Gulf-based minehunter HMS Atherstone have picked up the gauntlet thrown down by their American counterparts to race in a gruelling endurance event.

The team from the Crazy A – one of four Royal Navy minehunters based in Bahrain – will run, swim and cycle against the crew of the USS Warrior in the Half Iron Man 70.3 event run in the kingdom for personnel based there.

The 70.3 in the title is the distance competitors must cover: a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and finally a 13.1-mile half marathon, organised by the Naval Support Activity, which is the large US base in Bahrain.

Accepting the challenge for the Senior Service are Atherstone’s Commanding Officer Lt Cdr Justin Hains, his deputy Lt Jason Dawson, gunnery officer Lt Chris Musgrove, coxswain PO(D) John Carroll, marine engineer PO(MEM) Steve Shaw and diver AB(D) Dan Mullens.

The team have a mix of experience – some seasoned triathletes – and some enthusiastic newcomers to the field of endurance sports.

“The event promises to be a real test of grit and endurance, especially given the heat and our busy programme at sea which seriously limits the training which can be undertaken – but as they say no pain, no gain,” said Lt Cdr Hains.

Via their Virgin Money Giving website, the Crazy As are raising money for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, but on the days of the race they’ll also be collecting for the RIA Institute in Bahrain which supports local children with special needs.

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Naval Today Staff,November 5, 2012; Image: Royal Navy