Page 7 - Bugle Spring 2024

1 RIFLES
1 RIFLES Football team
SPORTING SUCCESS IN THE CYPRIOT SUN
The second half of 2023 has been a surprisingly busy and varied sporting period for us. In and amongst a busy unit move to Cyprus, and even busier couple of months on the island, the battalion has surpassed many expectations with the amount of sport played and the results they have had. Before the unit move, which took place in August of this year, the 1 RIFLES Officers’ Mess won both the RIFLES Officers’ Golf Cup and inaugural RIFLES Officers’ Rowing Competition.
In September six players represented Infantry Rugby at the Army Corps Festival, with two convincing wins over the Intelligence Corps and a Royal Artillery/REME team. Since then, nine RIFLES players have represented the Infantry in what has been a great start to the season, winning three out of three of their games.
Our cricketers wasted no time in joining the Cyprus Autumn T20 Cup and have not looked
out of place amongst some very talented teams. Coming off the back of an impressive win against the Punjabi Kings, helped by Capt Dan Hunt’s steady batting performance, and 2Lt Matt Reel’s calculated bowling, they are third in their pool. The top two teams progress to the knockout stages, all is to play for.
The Battalion Swimming Team took part in the British Forces Cyprus Competition, where they were crowned champions. The team of five took home thirteen medals, with notable performances from Rfn Spencer and Rfn Boyden. Ex SWIFT SWORD followed in early October - an intense, weeklong Triathlon Camp with world class coaching, that introduced Riflemen to all things swim, cycle and run. It culminated with a sprint distance triathlon
on the final day. Three Riflemen have since represented the Infantry in Thailand at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, with two of them winning medals.
Our cricketers wasted
no time
in joining the Cyprus Autumn T20 Cup and have not looked out of place amongst some very talented teams
In mid-October, three women from 1 RIFLES took part in the British Forces Cyprus Women’s Tri-Service Football 7s competition, held in Dhekelia. This was capped off with a presentation from former Great Britain Rower and Royal Artillery Officer, Heather Stanning. Most recently, multiple teams from 1 RIFLES entered in the Cyprus Walkdown 2023 – a 28-mile, downhill, multi-terrain team run from the Troodos Mountains to the south coast of Cyprus. All teams finished, with a mixed A and B Company Team placing second overall, and another B Company Team finishing first in the Men’s non-competitive category.
With multiple new sporting endeavours planned, including Ex INFANTRY NORDIC SWORD (Nordic Skiing), Ex FROSTED BLADE (Alpine Skiing), the Infantry Aquatics Training Camp, and the ongoing competitions that 1 RIFLES teams are involved in, 2024 looks to be an even more promising year and we may need a bigger trophy cabinet!
Lt Jesse Ribeiro, OC 5 Pl
1 RIFLES Swimming team showing off the new silver
Triathlon team pedalling the miles
RIFLES The Bugle 7