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Royal Marines Claim Victory (with a Little Help from Spond)

06/06/2024

The third occurrence of Exercise Virginia Gauntlet, a multi-sport competition between the UK’s Royal Marines and the United States Marine Corps, saw the Royal Marines retain their title for the third time in a row. Held at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, this event featured a series of sporting events with over 250 Royal Marines traveling to the east coast of the US to compete for the Virginia Gauntlet trophy. And they might just have had a secret weapon – the Spond app.

Spond: The Royal Marines’ Secret Weapon

The football (Soccer) match, organized through Spond, was a thrilling showdown, with the Royal Marines edging out the US Marine Corps in a closely fought game.

The Royal Marines football team have been using the Spond app for years, making team management and player coordination straightforward and efficient. Wayne Shailer, a Royal Marines football coach, said: “We’ve been using Spond for two years now, and it has helped us grow as an association. The app’s features have made organizing our team seamless.”

Darell Berner, a fellow Royal Marines coach, added: “The easy accessibility for player selection and coordination within Spond has been invaluable for us.”

Sporting Events and Highlights

The two countries didn’t just battle it out in football; they competed in triathlon, basketball, shotgun, rugby 7s, boxing, and golf. When the dust settled and the results were tallied, it was a close call, with the Royal Marines emerging as overall winners of the Virginia Gauntlet with a scoreline of 4–3 over the seven events. 

Building Relationships and Lasting Memories

Beyond the competition, the event fostered camaraderie and lasting relationships between the Royal Marines and their US military counterparts. The US Marine Corps were superb hosts, showcasing their improved skills and sportsmanship since the last tour in 2019. Their talent in rugby pushed the Royal Marines to work hard for a win, despite the game not being widely played in the USA.

Distinguished Visitors 

The event was graced by distinguished visitors, including His Majesty’s Ambassador, Dame Karen Pierce, who visited Quantico to watch the Brazilian jiu-jitsu finals and meet the teams. She was hosted by Lieutenant General James Glynn, Deputy Commandant Manpower & Reserves, and Brigadier Matt Jackson, Director Joint Services Command & Staff College.

Spond’s Special Invitation

Highlighting the importance of their partnership, the Royal Marines invited Spond to attend the big football match at Quantico, film the action, and interview the UK coaches. This collaboration allowed for an in-depth look at how Spond has become an essential tool in the Royal Marines’ football team management.

With a bit of help from the Spond app, the Royal Marines efficiently organized their team and secured the crucial victory, proving that even the toughest warriors can benefit from a bit of tech-savvy support. Victory, it seems, is just an app away!

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