Last week, the 2025 RAF Sport Awards brought together the very best of the Royal Air Force’s sporting talent and dedication in an afternoon of celebration and pride. Held for the first time at the prestigious RAF Club in London, the event highlighted the power of sport to inspire, unite, and strengthen the RAF community.
Amongst the standout achievements was the announcement of RAF Gibraltar as this year’s RAF Central Fund Unit Award winner, recognised for its spirited initiative to encourage serving personnel to get active through their Op GUSTO project.
Introduced as a monthly sport and wellbeing programme, Op GUSTO aims to foster team cohesion, resilience, and community engagement. What began with small-scale activities such as hiking and pool volleyball has grown into a vibrant calendar of events, including a cardboard boat race, a spin-a-thon, and a popular ‘Run the Runway’ charity event which attracted over 400 participants and raised £5,000.
The project has boosted morale, operational effectiveness, and civil-military relations, becoming an impressive example of how purposeful physical activity can create a culture of unity and pride. Future expansion aims to increase participation, and its success offers a replicable model for other units to follow.
Reflecting on the initiative, the team at RAF Gibraltar said:
“The impact of Op GUSTO has been significant. It has built a sense of pride, belonging, and camaraderie within RAF Gibraltar, directly contributing to operational effectiveness by ensuring personnel work as a cohesive, motivated team. This was demonstrated in June 2025 when the RAF, despite its small numbers, won the Commander British Forces Gibraltar Cup against much larger Royal Navy and Royal Gibraltar Regiment contingents – a clear testament to the unity and competitive spirit fostered by the initiative.”
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees at this year’s awards, we are proud to support such incredible sporting talent across the Royal Air Force. In case you missed it, the winners were…
- Sportsman of the Year – Sgt Steven Reid (RAF Angling)
- Sportswoman of the Year – Cpl Sarah Toms (RAF Cycling)
- Sports Coach/Official of the Year – Sgt Scott Glanville (RAF Target Rifle)
- Sports Team of the Year – RAF Rugby League Men’s XII
- Sports Administrator of the Year – Cpl Daniel McKay (RAF Fencing)
- Civilian Volunteer Awards –
Mr David Smith (RAF Rugby Union)
Mr Cameron Hazeldine (RAF Ice Hockey) - RAF Central Fund Unit Award – RAF Gibraltar (Op GUSTO)
- Head of RAF Sport Award – Marham Bulls and Lightning Ladies (Rugby Union)
- Lifetime Achievement Awards –
Sqn Ldr Trevor Down (RAF Swimming)
Mr Richard Dawe (RAF Sport Aircraft)
Gp Capt Dawn Murty (RAF Netball)
Wg Cdr Joss Wilson (RAF Cresta)
Chf Tech Ian Savage (RAF Powerkiting)
WO Frank Chapman (RAF Athletics)
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