Darren Cates, (front row, first left) RMC-C. Director of Athletics and his staff hosted the Commandant, Commodore William S. Truelove last week.
The Commandant spent some time with the Athletic department at the Field House. During the visit, the Athletic Staff raised a broad range of issues for discussion prior to many of the group heading down to the gym to watch the Cadets do the PPT.
The Athletic Department have had another excellent year coaching, mentoring and leading the various IM, Varsity, PE and Rec Club Programs. RMCC is very lucky to have such an accomplished group of athletes who help the Cadets achieve excellence in fitness – an essential life skill for success as an officer in the Canadian Forces.
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Cadets Spend Fly Day in the Sky Over Kingston
By 25495 OCdt Joshua Thomas – Photos By: Chad Blundy
The RMC Flying Club held its annual Spring Fly Day on the 28th of March. The event was highly anticipated by over 20 participants as it was postponed earlier this month due to bad weather. Although the day’s forecast included sustained winds of 15 knots gusting up to 20, RMC pilots ensured the safety of all those involved.
The fly day consisted of 10 one hour flights in a rented Cessna 152 (2 occupant) and Cessna 172 (4 occupant). Chad Blundy, Rec & IM Assistant Manager was also given the opportunity to participate in this activity and provided the pictures.
The Flying Club would like to thank Kingston Fun Fliers (O.F.F.) for their support of RMC’s future pilots by providing the club with aircraft for the Spring Fly Day. The Club looks forward to working with O.F.F. in the future to provide cadets with the opportunity to take to the sky.
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RMC Debates at UofA
By: 25243 OCdt David Reid
The RMC Debate club of the Royal Military College of Canada sent one team and one judge to represent the College at the prestigious and highly competitive National Debating Championships, held on March 19-21 at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB. The team from RMC placed 35th in Canada. In addition, NCdt Reid (25243) placed 54th out of over 110 speakers, and OCdt Hotson (25192) placed 85th. RMC also fielded a senior judge in the person of OCdt Hou (24742). The RMC team was noted throughout the tournament for its high standard of decorum and professionalism, and elicited much acclaim from across the debating community for its exemplary deportment. The National Championship marks the culmination of a very successful tournament season for RMC Debating, and all members of the club are eagerly looking forward to next year’s competitions.
On behalf of the club we would like to thank the Athletic Department and the Unit Fund for the financial support that enabled us to participate in this prestigious event.
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(M) Rugby Head South for the Easter Weekend
59-0 for West Point and 30-15 for Navy
Each spring the men’s rugby team makes the important drive south to West Point and Annapolis to what has become a heated rivalry and friendly exchange. The exchange is one of the most important pieces of the RMC rugby calendar, it serves as a barometer for the team and individual players allowing us to measure where we are as a unit and highlights our weakness that will we need to be addressed in the fall when we enter once again into our OUA league season.
The tour provides a raison d’être for the teams long months of indoor training in the field house and the countless individual hours in weight room.
It allows for alumni to reminisce about long ago days in far off places when their bodies did not ache each morning upon waking.
And finally it serves to introduce and bond the future generations of our prospective countries to each other on the field of competition where hard work and skill tell no lies.
The two games in three days serve to highlight several challenges that RMC face each year on the Easter tour. RMC will not have played a game since Nov 11th, restricted to practicing indoors in the field house, our timing and edge will always lend itself to skill fade. Where our American opponents are at the end of their regular season and two weeks away from their national tournament having just returned from a European tour, will always look sharp.
The US academies teams are full of large men, on average 25 to 50 lbs larger than their RMC counter parts. Physics plays a significant role in rugby and when our largest man and team captain IV Simon Johnson (Belleville ON) went down early in the first match with an ankle injury’s the pack weight took a hit and the laws of science took over in the scrum contest.
When our team came off of USMA warrior field having very much look liked they had just played a rugby game; LCol John Reffenstein former RMC coach who accompanied the team on the trip made the quote of the week “well boys you just played the United States Army”. The lads felt every bit like they had.
Both Army and Navy held a post match reception; the usual speeches and awards were given out. II Justin Sim (Abbottsford BC) was named man of the match for the West Point game. This match was a big step for Justin as he was all over the field making havoc of the opposition’s breakdown.
In the Navy game II Chris Pratt (Victoria BC) was chosen as man of the match leading the RMC back line in attack and using his leg to secure field position throughout the match. For several other RMC players this tour was a coming out event with II Sean Powell (Calgary AB), II Ben Apedaile (Calgary AB) and I Liam Ryan (Ottawa ON) all playing large minutes and making significant contributions.
While the scores were never going to be what we wanted the benefits to the team and nation were never in doubt.
Asked about the scores, Coach Sean McDonaugh replied. “We were the first team to keep West Point under 64 points all year and to be fair if we played Navy again this coming Saturday the score would be reversed.
Up next for the men in red and white is the annual team banquet where we will say goodbye to our graduating seniors Kyle Harbottle, Simon Johnson, Nick Villa and Derek Caman.