Former Commando kicks off Australia’s Invictus Games showing

A FORMER Commando and Navy clearance diver kicked off Australia’s Invictus Games campaign at Cockatoo Island today, which fans had dubbed “Redemption Island” after a poor showing in the car challenge at last year’s games.

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A FORMER Commando and Navy clearance diver kicked off Australia’s Invictus Games campaign at Cockatoo Island today, which fans had dubbed “Redemption Island” after a poor showing in the car challenge at last year’s games.

Retired sniper Craig McGrath, 45, whose body was riddled with shrapnel from a hidden bomb in Afghanistan in 2012, and Scott Reynolds, 39, who specialised in mine warfare and deployed to Iraq in 2003, were the first Australians to compete for a medal.

McGrath and Reynolds were behind the wheel of Jaguar’s first fully electric car, the I-PACE, in a driving challenge that would make the most confident parallel parker sweat.

Former Commando and navy clearance diver Craig “Grary” McGrath kicked off Australia’s Invictus Games campaign today. Picture: Tim Hunter

Three courses put both drivers through their paces, requiring them to park in a square the exact width of the car, drive through two feet of water while squeezing through slalom gates, and speed through a randomly generated course indicated by flashing lights.

The Australian competitors trained at an Australian Federal Police driver training compound in the lead-up to the games, where they learned to handle a car at high speeds through technical turns, in both drive and reverse.

Wearing “Yes Grary” T-shirts with Australian McGrath’s face on it, fans Elizabeth French, Greg French, Matthew Poulter and Tiffany Poulter, all from the Blue Mountains, let out the biggest cheer when the Aussies hit the track.

“Grary is an absolute legend,” Mrs French said.

According to McGrath, his family and friends couldn’t have chosen a worse photo of his face to print on their tee-shirts, but he was thrilled with the support.

Aussie team Scott Reynolds and Craig McGrath after competing in today’s competition. Picture: Tim Hunter

The Aussie duo in action. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Australian supporters at the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge on Cockatoo Island which is the first Event of the Invictus Games in Sydney. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Tiffany and Matthew Potter and Greg and Elizabeth French supporting their friend Greg McGrath who is competing in the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge on Cockatoo Island which is the first Event of the Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Friends Franklin Payne and Peyton White, both eight, enjoying the action Picture: Tim Hunter.

Both McGrath and Reynolds will also compete for Australia in the sailing at Farm Cove, in the shadow of the Opera House sails, tomorrow.

Family cheering on our wounded warriors competing at today’s Invictus Games have lived through the sacrifices their loved ones made to defend our freedom.

Franklin Payne, 8, has come from Cairns to see his dad, Matthew Payne, represent Australia in the wheelchair basketball.

Franklin’s dad, Matthew Payne, joined the army when he was 19 and served for 12 years until 2017, including deployments to East Timor, where he was crushed between two boats and left with debilitating back, neck, knee and shoulder injuries.

“Dad would go away for long trips and I missed him so much, especially when he said he would be at my fifth birthday but he didn’t come home in time,” Franklin said.

“I’m really proud of my dad, who’s worked so hard to be here representing Australia,” Franklin said.

“I appreciate everything he’s done to support us, his family, as well as Australia.”

Australia’s first wheelchair basketball match isn’t until Friday, against UK, but Franklin’s plan is to cheer home as many Aussie athletes as possible.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, are due on Cockatoo Island to see the finals and present medals early this afternoon.