Page 60 - Light Dragoons 2023 CREST

Golf
This year the Regimental Golf team has gone from strength to strength with me at the helm. We now have more mem- bers than I can ever remember. It is now not seen as ‘career sticks’ anymore. With the influx of new Tp leaders arriving, we have a strong chance of doing very well as a team next year.
Tragically due to Op INTERFLEX the annual BRASSIE was not competed for. With the Regimental workforce dragged away minimal competitors were avail- able to take part. But this does not mean it has been forgotten about. I am sure the Officers’ Mess will be thinking they have a chance to finally take the trophy home. We will allow them to keep dreaming and let their hope stay alive.
This year WO2 Hirst has competed in the Northeast Army Golf Association competi- tion. This was held each month at 6 differ- ent venues. They ranged from traditional parkland courses to links. Not 1 of the events disappointed and all competitors were welcomed by the club members. By the end of the competition WO2 Hirst was placed in the top 10. A very good rookie season for him and he looks forward to competing next year.
As always, we sent a contingent to the Regimental Association Golf’s event at the Hobson & Silkstone Golf Club. As a bonus WO2 Hirst finally beat Maj Stott at the Northeast event to stop him taking first prize for the third time in a row. Maj Stott swiftly left after the prize giving say- ing he had a long drive back to Edinburgh – a likely story.
Next year will see the FOE filling up before you can say ‘white space’ but we have now been given authority to conduct a tour of Scotland. This will see the Regiment tak- ing up to 12 Golfers away for a week and playing some of the finest course Scotland has to offer. However, I think St Andrews will be a little out of the team’s price range, but one can hope.
With the NE AGA Competition and RAC Championships commencing at the begin- ning of next year there will be plenty of opportunity for the team to either win or retain some Silverware. I for one look for- ward to competing again.
AH
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
The season began with indoor nets on Wednesday sports afternoons. To everyone’s surprise the attendance was through the roof, the budding cricketers assumed this was down to their enthu- siasm and well swept up net sessions. Realistically it was down to the fact it was freezing outside, and it kept people from having to attend BAWF or worse, cross-country. Nevertheless, they were welcomed with open arms, and many went on to play a number of games for the Regiment through the season.
The opener was a friendly against a strong Spennithorne and Harmby CC side on the 27th April (the darkest, coldest day of the month), and the sea- son was off with a win. This set the team up for both the Catterick Army league and Army Cup competition which ran through the whole summer. The Army cup run (consisting of 46 teams) ran like every good FA Cup run, big wins on the road in some unfavourable con- ditions. This began with a win against 6 RLC, this set us up for an away fixture at 1 SIGNAL Regiment which luckily co-coincided with the Army, Navy and RAF T20 at Lord’s.
With a huge win away at 1 SIG and an overnight stay in Tidworth Garrison we jumped in the coaches and headed to watch some genuinely good cricket.
With Cpl Hodgson playing and Cpl Bowden as part of the squad it gave the team plenty to cheer about. LCpl Gordon gave the RAF Captain plenty to think about with his continual chat from the boundary, and LCpl Fox required an outfit change after four hours in the stands. Cpl Hodgson per- formed incredibly on the pitch opening the bowling and taking some key wick- ets to get the Army side to the final in which they thrashed the RAF.
The next round of the cup saw us travel- ling down to 11 SIGNAL Regt, which again was another resounding win with a particularly strong performance from Cpl Newton supplying the team with refreshments. This win took us to the quarter final and within touch- ing distance of some silverware. With Middleham CC as the venue for this clash against 7 Regt RLC, the team was struck with absenteeism due to courses resulting in a slightly refined team. After a gallant effort with the bat and ball we narrowly lost, coming in the top eight of all Army units. A success- ful season saw us losing only two games all season to 1 YORKS and 7 Regt RLC from seven games. The season was a success thanks to the hard work from all the players involved.
JMS
Cricket
LCpl Fox wardrobe change
Lord’s team
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