History Made At Collingwood Field Gun Competition

The annual field gun competition has taken place at HMS Collingwood in Hampshire. 

The event originates from guns being run cross treacherous terrain during the siege of Ladysmith during the Boer War.

Hundreds of spectators came out to watch 24 crews across all services compete.

The competition simulates the drill which would have been undertaken to bring a naval field gun into action during the march to Ladysmith. 

The challenge consists of various physical challenges like lifting the limber, swapping wheels over hooking and unhooking the gun. 

The competition is held in a tournament style, with multiple heats and then finals for various plates. 

But the main event is the Brickwoods Trophy.

The six teams that made it to the Brickwoods final were; HMS Seahawk, the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, HMS Collingwood A, Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth, Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport and HMS Sultan A.

In the beginning, it looked as though all teams were in with a chance of winning.

Slowly but surely the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) team looked to be slightly ahead and it was their team that crossed the finish line first.

However, fieldgun is based on timings, but also penalties received. 

REME won, but received several penalties, whereas HMNB Portsmouth finished third but had a clean run. 

After an agonising wait, history is made and REME and Portsmouth are declared joint winners.