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Bridge Watchkeeping Proficiency Trophy

At the annual general meeting in August 1991 Cdr Rowland reported that the Naval Board had approved the awarding of the trophy by NOASA, and suggested that the award be for Bridge Watchkeeping Proficiency. The then C Navy intended that the trophy be a Premier Award to the naval officer who had proved to be the most proficient bridge watch keeping officer in service that year. The trophy would be retained for a year by the ship or shore establishment in which the officer was serving at the time.

BRIDGE WATCH KEEPING TROPHY

Bridge Watch Keeping Trophy

The Bridge Watchkeeping Proficiency Trofee has been awarded to:

1991   Lt G A le Roux
1992   Lt W M Beattie
1993   SLt S Minnaar
1994   SLt G Bairstow
1995   SLt D J Olivier
1996   
1997   SLt S M Woodly
1998   SLt T P Kelly
1999   SLt M Armour
2000   SLt S V Wilson
2001   SLt D Jones
2002   Lt C M B Mhlana
2003   SLt R W Punt
2004   Lt (MS) K Pitterman
2005   SLt E W Engelbrecht
2006   Lt R C Robertson
2007   Slt I Mabela
2008   SLt P N S Gumede
2009   
2010   
2011   
2012   SLt G A Herwels

CALCUTTA CUP COMPETITION

HMS CALCUTTA, a Cape Town class cruiser, serving on the South Atlantic Station in Simon’s Town presented the above named trophy in 1931 for a shooting competition for ships serving on the station. According to the tallies on the trophy it was competed for and won as follows:

1931   HMS CARLISLE
1932   HMS CARDIFF
1933   HMS CARLISLE
1934   HMS DORSETSHIRE
1935   HMS CARLISLE
1936   HMS CARLISLE
1939   HMS NEPTUNE

The cup remained on the station and eventually ended up in the trophy cases of the Senior British Naval Officer South Africa (SBNOSA). It was presented to the Chairman of Naval Officers’ Association of Southern Africa (NOASA), Cape Town, by SBNOSA Commodore A.F.C. Wemyss OBE on the closing down of his offices at Youngsfield on Wednesday 11 February 1976. The Cape Town and Simon’s Town Branches of the NOASA amalgamated on the 29th August 1997 and became known as the Naval Officers’ Association of Southern Africa, Simon’s Town.

During May of 1999 Vice Admiral G. Syndercombe SSA, SD, SOE, SM, the retired Chief of the SA Navy, suggested that the trophy be offered to the SAN in order to revive competition between the officers of ships at Simon’s Town and to perpetuate the tradition.

In July of that year this was accepted by the SA Navy. Flag Officer Fleet, who tasked Flag Officer Commanding to organise the event. The first competition, between officers of sea going ships, took place at Klawer Rifle Range on Friday 31st March 2000. The first ship to win this competition in its new revised form was SAS DRAKENSBERG. The competition was held each year and was eventually written into the Navy ops programme.

2000   SAS DRAKENSBERG
2001   SAS DRAKENSBERG
2002   SAS DRAKENSBERG
2003   SAS DRAKENSBERG
2004   SAS OTQ
2005   SAS Umhloti

In 2008 the competition failed to materialise, and has been dormant since then.