A stalwart of rugby league and Senior Service swimmers led the way as the Royal Navy grabbed two awards at the Combined Service Sports Awards.

The Royal Navy’s Swimming Team walked off with the team of the year title and CPO(PT) Wayne O’Kell was singled out as the Sports Official of the Year for his untiring support of rugby league within the Senior Service and beyond.

The Duke of Edinburgh presented the awards at a ceremony in London last month, when the cream of sporting talent in the three Armed Forces gathered.

Four awards were to be handed out, and the Navy took two of them.

The Swimming Team has scooped the Inter-Services title for five years running, and carried off a bagful of medals at European and World Masters championships.

CPO O’Kell is one of the driving forces behind rugby league in the Navy and has ensured the sport has grown from almost nothing to creating a side on the verge of matching professional opposition in the Challenge Cup.

The senior rate, based at Tal-y-Bont adventure training centre, has also helped to coach Welsh rugby league at Under-17 level, and last season was assistant coach to the full Welsh squad in the autumn Test series.

Sportsman of the Year title went to the RAF’s microlight champion Sqn Ldr Rawes, who nudged Royal Marine Mick O’Connell into second place.

Boxer Mne O’Connell was put forward by RN sporting bosses for his outstanding efforts in the ring in the past 12 months in particular.

He is the current English ABA heavyweight champion, took a silver medal at the 2003 Commonwealth championships, captained the England boxing team, and is reigning Inter-Services champion.

Despite the run of success, the Green Beret is considering retiring from the boxing squad to resume his Royal Marines career.

Army athlete Lt Jo Kelsey took Sportswoman of the Year title, narrowly beating S/Lt Ursula Frost, who has played a key role in nurturing women’s cricket in the Royal Navy.

Ursula also represented England during last year’s Indoor Ashes in Australia and regularly turns out for the MCC and Hampshire.