Page 52 - RSDG Year of 2021 CREST

50 EAGLE AND CARBINE GYMNASIUM
Staff Sergeant (SSI) L Baldwin RAPTC
The Gymnasium has been extremely busy all year trying to navigate safely through COVID 19 restrictions, with a constant focus on keeping the Regiment physically fit and ready to deploy at any time. The Gym team has also seen Tpr Danny Cuthbert, B Sqn, and Tpr ‘Stevo’ Stevenson, A Sqn, qualify as All Arms Physical Training Instructors: congratulations go to both. Work aside, the ability to enter and compete at a variety of events from Cross Country, Bismarck Challenge & the Commando Speed March, amongst others, has been of high impor- tance. This 2021 Gymnasium article will focus on what has been an outstanding year of SCOTS DG participa- tion in numerous pan-army physical events.
AiS Virtual Running League Jun – Aug 21
Due to COVID 19 restrictions, the regional X Country league, co-ordinated by the Regimental RAPTCI SSgt (SSI) Baldwin, was postponed, so a virtual running competition was put in place as a stop-gap measure. The event saw members of the Regiment compete against other Units across Scotland with 3 events over 3 months. An excellent effort saw SCOTS DG crowned overall Major Unit Champions. FSA SSgt Jane Cunningham, who was crowned 2nd place Veteran Female commented ‘it was a fantastic opportunity to compete against other units safely, after such a long time away’.
Moncrieff Shield & Highland Games – Sep 21
2021 saw the rejuvenation of the Moncrieff Shield, an historic inter Squadron sporting event, that has tradi- tionally seen months of competition completed as part of a regimental families’ weekend, Due to various com- mitments and events out of SCOTS DG control, the last time the competition took place was 2015, so it was very pleasing for all to see the competition return. A variety
of inter-squadron competitions saw each squadron bat- tle it out for top honours. The sports contested were: Hockey, Volleyball, X Country, Rugby 7s, Footballs 6s & finally Tug O’ War. All the events were played over 1 week, with the finals of the Rugby, Football and Tug O’ War being played out at the Regimental Highland Games Families Day, as part of the SCOTS DG 50th celebrations. HQ Sqn were crowned overall winners. This was the first round of sport the Regiment had the chance to compete in for some time - a fantastic event. After HQ won the event, SSM WO2 Kev Taylor stated ‘As the new HQ SSM it was a great privilege to receive theawardwithHQOCMajBTaylor’.Ahugethanksto SSgt Baldwin and his team on putting on a tremendous Highland Games event.
Commando Speed March - Sep 21
The Commando Speed March event, organised by SSgt Liam Baldwin, is an arduous physical charity event, conducted by multiple Army units and run over 7 miles, carrying 36lbs. For the 2021 competition, ten SCOTS DG and attached arm soldiers, ranging from LCpl to the ASM embraced the event head on and competed admirably against some very serious com- petition. The team event’s top 10 rankings are histori- cally dominated by teams from 3 Commando and 16 Air Assault Brigades. It is in this context that SCOTS