Top Honours Awarded to Club Rider

CPOPT Sean Childs has been awarded the highest award in RN sport as sportsman of the year 2009 during an award ceremony onboard HMS Victory.

CPOPT Sean Childs has been one of the outstanding sportsmen within the Royal Navy for a number of years.  His personal performances has not only ensured the RN reigning as Inter Services champions for the past 5 years, he has also provided the personal leadership to develop the sport across all the disciplines, to ensure this sustained success. 

During 2009 his high point was in the RN & RM Cycling Association team gaining National success in the 24 Hour Time Trial Championships.  This event requires the participant to suffer the extremes of sleep deprivation and exhaustion, and to challenge their reserves of energy and commitment, to cover the maximum distance possible within the time.  CPOPT Childs’ second place, covering over 492 miles, was not only notable as a new Combined Services Record: this was achieved whilst still recovering from injury.  Only a few weeks before the event, whilst training late at night near his base in HMS RALEIGH, he crashed into a stray badger which resulted in him writing off his bike, and very nearly his elbow, closely followed by a short stay in A&E.  On the day of the race, he was unable to get into his racing position comfortably as a result of his accident and this was undoubtedly the only reason he didn’t emerge as the outright National Champion on the day.  His grit and determination still ensured a 2nd place for him and a 1st place for the RN & RM Cycling Association team.  His personal performance within this event typifies his competitive spirit.

Following on from the National 24 Hr success, he won the Welsh 12 Hour Championship.  This season has also seen him break several records at 100 miles (Combined Services and RN), 12 Hours (RN), 24 Hours (Combined Services and RN), and the Navy Best All Rounder record over 10, 25 and 50 miles.  CPOPT Childs’ presence on the winners’ podium of Services time-trialling is now perceived as almost inevitable – he again retained his individual titles in the annual Inter Services 10 and 25 mile championships.  Within the South West time trialling district, he is also the dominant presence that others aim to beat (but rarely succeed). 

His outstanding individual performances in Services and South West Area cycling, and this year’s National 24hr success are, however, only one half of the story.  The other story has been the phenomenal energy and enthusiasm he has channelled back into the sport in the broader sense over the past 5 years.  As the RN’s Road Cycling Events secretary, he has injected a renewed vigour into the cycling calendar.  He has personally arranged for new events to be laid on throughout the year, including an RN Team Time Trial event, RN Mountain Bike Events at HMS RALEIGH, and an RN sponsored Time Trial weekend of races for South West area clubs.  He also is involved in the planning of future race fixtures both in the South West and with the other 3 Services, mentoring new riders and coaching at the club’s annual training camp.

CPOPT Sean Childs leads from the front.  He shows others how to compete, and how to win.  This year has seen him set the bar even higher with more Combined Services records being set.  At the other end of the sport, he has promoted the sport from grass roots level in every discipline, and done whatever he can do to encourage more to take up the challenge, and emulate his winning success.

Well done Sean congratulations and thank you for your support and dedication to the sport.