Page 26 - LBV 2024

Hockey
Participating in the Sapper 6 UK hockey tour with the Royal Engineers and Small Corps was an unforgettable adventure that went beyond hockey as a sport.
I was able to develop as a player, person and officer cadet through new challenges and experiences.
The opportunity to travel across the UK created a new appreciation for my British heritage and the cultural differences within the country. From Cambridge
(and not just the CLARC!) to Cardiff, each location provided a unique charm such as visiting Cadbury world and learning about the history of chocolate. One of my favourite memories of 2024 was meeting referee Sarah Toll during breakfast in Cardiff. Amazingly she set aside 6 tickets for us to see the rugby women’s international match of Italy
vs Wales in Principality stadium. This experience would have felt unrealistic and unattainable without the privilege of joining the tour and developing the confidence to engage with new people.
Through-out the tour I felt my playing style of hockey improved and increased my physicality. The effort that the sapper 6 players put into every match, regardless of experience, inspired me
to push myself further and adapt my playing style to put more pressure on the opposition when in defence. I found this skill was noticeable when I returned to university sport and was praised by coaches and captains.
However, I was initially intimidated by the idea of touring with army personnel and questioned my adequacy as a
team member. It was through their welcoming attitude, tour games and vibrant social atmosphere that I settled into the sapper spirit. Tour organiser Captain Charles Jefford, team captain Lance Corporal Anne Whittemore and my roommate Lieutenant Heather Craig were especially supportive in helping me feel like a valued team member that overturned any apprehension into a sense of belonging. I have now begun to consider a career in the Royal Engineers
Regiment that would not have flourished without members of the tour indulging my questions to explain their job roles and responsibilities. The tour instilled a newfound sense of direction of my future in the armed forces that I feel I can use to make the most out of Cambridge University Officers’ Training Corps.
Overall, the Sapper 6 UK hockey tour was a blend of sport, culture and
personal growth and reinforced values of hard work and teamwork whilst leaving me with cherished memories. I would recommend this tour to all officer cadets and jump at the opportunity to participate again.
OCdt A Wilen
26 THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER