The DS team arrived in Norway last night to begin preparations for the Club's Christmas holiday for deserving Royal Marine and Norwegian Commando families. A week of fun, festivities and relaxation begins.
We've had nearly 1000 people a day signing up to our Secret Group on Facebook. Bootnecks from around the world ready to find out more about the Club. Amazing to see the response. Thanks for your patience as we vet you all!
One of our passions is inspiring tomorrow’s Bootnecks. By involving RM Cadet forces in our events and having members of our club as RM and Sea Cadet instructors we can pass on valuable life skills and inspire the next generation.
The Guildford Cadet Unit provided valuable support to our World Record Speedmarch Team with water and nutrition points along the route and endless encouraging shouts of “Come on Royal”!
Eight serving and former Royal Marines smashed the Speed March World Record over the weekend, a record that’s stood unbroken for nearly 20 years.
The attempt started at 10 Downing Street at 4am on Saturday morning and finished in Pall Mall in a record time of 4 hours, 16 mins and 43 seconds. The attempt broke the previous world record set by 29 Commando Royal Artillery in 1998 by over 2 minutes.
A Speed March is a combination of marching and running and forms one of the four Commando Tests that every Royal Marine must pass to earn their green beret.
The Speed March World Record distance is a full marathon distance of 26.2 miles and must be completed carrying a weight of 40lbs or more. Importantly, every team member that starts must finish or the attempt doesn’t count. The team nature of the event is one of the reasons why the Royal Marines are world leaders in it.
Selection for this World Record attempt started back in March 2017, with a dedicated training programme and regular group progress checks, that resulted in the elite team running today.
Major Scotty Mills led the physical training programme and Ray Mead organised logistics on behalf of The Royal Marines Club.
The World Record Speed March was organised by The Royal Marines Club, a branch of the Royal Marines Association, in partnership with The Royal Marines Charity and commercial sponsors including Patron Capital, Captive Minds, High Performance Development and BMW Park Lane.
Roger Dobson, CEO of The Royal Marines Club says: “The atmosphere here is electric. It’s no wonder this record has stood for nearly 20 years and I’m in no doubt this team’s efforts today will last for many years to come.”
The Royal Marines Club was able to help find two bootnecks and two Nissan Navaras for the 'Extreme North' Driven to Extremes Expedition led by Mac Mackenney.
Driven to Extremes helps PTSD sufferers to build confidence and self-reliance through 4x4 expeditions. Participants are not only responsible for the vehicles but route planning, time management and team management.
The goal of the Extreme North Expedition was to reach the most northerly point of the UK accessible by vehicle. The route started in Glencoe and took in:
Glencoe: Jaw dropping landscape featured in the Bond film, Skyfall | Commando Memorial: WW2 training ground at Spean Bridge | North Coast 500: Voted one of the top 5 coastal driving routes in the world | Eileen Donnan Castle: Featured in the film Highlander | Applecross Mountain Pass: Greatest ascent of any road climb in the UK | Poolewe Loch: Formation point for the WW2 Arctic Convoys | Scapa Flow: Home of the British Grand Fleet during WW1 | Skara Brae: Europe’s most complete Neolithic village | Ring of Brodgar: Neolithic stone circle | Shetland Bus: Clandestine operation of WW2 | MOD Noup: Most northerly accessible point by vehicle – a restricted military road.
For further information see: www.driventoextremes.org
The Royal Marines World Record Speed March will take place on Saturday 21st October 2017. It will take place in London and will cover the full marathon distance of 26.2 miles.
The team will consist of 8 specially selected former or serving members of the Royal Marines who will attempt to beat the time of 4 hours, 19 mins and 7 secs set by 29 Cdo RA in 1998.
The Club has been working to make this event happen since early 2017. The team are in great shape and looking forward to giving it their very best on the day.
The Club offers a business network where there are opportunities building working partnerships or offers of associate work and full time employment.
Through Club Trustee Ruari Chisholm, High Performance Development employs former Bootnecks on an associate basis as facilitators and trainers in leadership and team development.
HPD have worked with the likes of Mark Ormrod and Paul Barrett to help design, develop, promote and employ their services as motivational speakers.
This December we're able to offer veteran & serving Royal Marines with physical, mental or financial challenges, a short winter break with their families free of any significant expense.
The Corps has deployed in Norway for Winter Warfare training for many years. It has strong ties with the Rondane area where Royal Marines have been deployed in nearby Otta and Sjoa for winter training and exercise.
The Club's Winter Deployment will see more than 60 people enjoy hotel and spa facilities, skiing, dog-sledding and other social activities coupled with a bit of festive spirit! We plan to celebrate our links with Norway, reignite old friendships, start new ones and generally have a hoofing time.
The Winter Deployment is being held in association with The Royal Marines Charity which is kindly providing support and funding. We are also immensely grateful to our hotel partner to be announced shortly.