9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2007 - Page 0080
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2007 |
| Transcription |
73 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) firing point 7 firers were expected to know the shoots or they would be disqualified. The second aspect of the training was physical; to prepare for the March and Shoot competition. This we thought would be easy, but sadly burger munching on the prairie had taken its toll and there was much to be done! ThankfiJlly, we used the time we had to best effect and prepared to a standard where all of the teams could easily pass the march in the allocated time.... then the Brigade Commander struck!! With only ten days to go, the weight was more than doubled (to 301bs plus helmet, rifle and water) and the time decreased from 1 hr and 10 mins to just 1 hour to cover five miles. As Team Captain I decided that shock tactics were the way ahead, and the teams were given a week of thrashing with up to 451bs in weight over several ‘Woodward’ miles. Within a few days, the teams were successfully huffing and puffing their way around within the new time. In the week before the competition, we arranged some fun days as a thank you for all the hard work that had been put in by all. Initially we had a day of claypigeon shooting, which was followed by an evening in a cinema range at a village called Garlsdorf. This was particularly enjoyable, as we were able actually to fire live rounds at a cinema screen which had images of running boar and deer projected onto it. The controller would then illuminate the exact point where the round had passed through the screen. Bring on much banter and wagering, and despite Capt Woodward’s mas- sive chat about being a hunter, he was beaten in a fierce rabbit shooting competition by LCpl Quinn! Come the actual competition, all of the training paid dividends. All of the teams performed to the expectation of their optimistic team captain and we brought home almost all the available sliver! Our A team, lead by Lt Nick Vye, won the Roberts, Rouperle and Henry Whitehead cups. Our A team was first and our C team third in the Brigade Commander’s March and Shoot competition 7 real- ly one in the eye for the Infantry Regiments who, despite entering three teams per Regiment, were beaten from the podium by the Cav (SCOTS DG finishing second!). We won overall best Major Unit. Individually, LCpl Perry won Best Shot in both Rouperle and Henry Whitehead Cups and LCpl Mann won Best Shot in the Roberts Cup. Additionally, LCpl Perry won Best Overall Shot and LCpl Mann won Best Overall Class B Shot (awarded to the best shot with less than 5 years’ service). These results, while fantastic, do not do justice to the remainder of our team members. Often, we would have seven or eight out of the top ten (there were approx 208 firers in total) which was an outstanding achievement. Special mention should go to the ‘Hollywood’ C Team, lead by Lt Ed Harden, who finished third in the March and Shoot large- ly due to his carrying three daysacks for much of the march (a total weight of 901bs! !) and for not only finishing second in the falling plate competition, but knocking the A team out in the process! A final mention to Tpr Crust, who spectacularly face- planted during the March, actually passing out whilst running! I believe that our success came from having the time and resourc- ing to prepare properly, having a good mix of hard training with a relaxed attitude and some fun bonding sessions, and having the Cavalry panache and style to pull it off on the day and seriously dent the Infantry’s pride (incidentally, the Infantry teams from the Brigade did very well in the Brigade Cake Making contest a few weeks later!). Bring on the Div SAAM. MH]W The V/‘cto/s with their spof/s. |
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