RAF boxing makes history as skeleton and triathlon stars scoop top awards

There were only a handful of people in the room at the RAF Club on Thursday who would have been alive the last time the Royal Air Force win the Inter Services boxing title in 1972.

So, it was little surprise that they were the obvious choice for this year’s team award - as it turns out, they were the only ones nominated so it wasn’t even much of a surprise to them on the day.

RAF Boxing Elite Team Manager, John Kearns, wasn’t mincing his words on accepting the award: “Honestly, not a surprise at all. Like, our boxers are the best in the country. It’s what we expected. With fair officiating, fair point scoring, we’d have won that every year for the last three years.”

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Asked whether it will be harder to retain the title, WO Kearns went on: “The other services are full time teams, obviously we’re part time so it’s always going to be harder for us. With that as well, there’s a point scoring system that’s weighted against us so again, it’s all to play for. But if all our boxers are fit some March, they’re all ready, then we’ll comfortably retain it.”

The boxing team may have taken the headlines but there was plenty of other quality on display at the RAF Club.

Sportsman of the Year went to triathlete Adam Baker in a season that saw him claim the British masters half marathon title. Baker talked about how much training is part of his every day: “If I didn’t have any actual events I would train anyway. If I don’t, if I’m injured or not training, I’m miserable really. So, it definitely has a massive benefit on my life overall, mental health. Something I’ve done forever and I’ll continue to do.”

Skeleton athlete Nicole Burger was named Sportswoman of the Year. From novice to Olympian in just five years, she is the first female athlete to represent South Africa in skeleton at the Olympic Games.

She said: “It’s been a crazy journey and I’ve got so many people to thank that helped me from the very beginning, like the first time ever touching a skeleton sled, not even really knowing what the sport was to getting all the way to the Olympics, and actually that was help from the RAF, The Central Fund and the Royal British Legion.”

Rugby union referee Rebecca Piddlesden picked up sports coach/official of the year with Pippa Le Cras from RAF Cricket coming top in the sports administrator category

There were also bespoke gongs for Kiwi slider Rhys Thornbury, who was handed the Head of RAF Sport Award, and rugby World Cup winner Amy Cokayne, who wrapped up the ceremony with the RAF Sport Special Recognition Award.

Six lifetime achievement awards were handed out: Chris Hockley from RAF Small Arms, Susan Pugh from RAF Triathlon, Samantha Williams from RAF Basketball, Brain Watson from RAF Motorsports, Danny Dixon and Martin Wilkinson, both from RAF Football.

The Endeavour Award is a new one created this year and it is aimed at primarily at recognising unit level sport teams, clubs of individuals who have shown exceptional endeavour in the sporting arena.

The RAF Gliding & Soaring and Capita Gilder Aerobatic Display at RAF Shawbury took that accolade in its inaugural year, represented by Bradley Lefley-Kemp, Ian Gallacher and Laura Martin.

RAF Shawbury were also winners of the RAF Central Fund Unit Award, recognising their partnership with British Cycling which has created a state of the art indoor BMX facility that is supporting the development of future Olympic talent.

Finally, there were three civilian volunteer awards handed out. One went to Warren Smart, who’s led the RAF American Football team ‘The Mustangs’ to unparalleled success.

The second was Shane Colbrook who’s made an exceptional contribution to the RAF Sidecar Team during the 2026 season and the third award recipient was Stephen Potter, who’s been the cornerstone of support behind the resurgence of RAF Tug of War.