Page 83 - KRH Regimental Journal 2022

Cresta Hawk
Lt Kendall sat in the shadows of his dark, lamp lit room. The coastal winds had turned against him, rattling his south fac- ing windows with cold contempt. The Dorset coast was no longer
the warm and inviting place he had remembered; his seasonal affective disorder was willing him towards sunlight. He crossed the final I’s on the Cresta Hawk admin instruction before self- lessly redacting his own name from the team sheet. He quietly closed his laptop and paused for thought. Then, patting his thighs he stood up, hurried for his wardrobe, withdrew his linen suit, packed his travelling case, and left for Kenya that night. Some say he is still there now.
With the majority of the Regiment out in frozen Estonia it was felt that a positive relationship with the hard atmospheric quali- ties of winter was now, more than ever, an important relationship to maintain. So, before Hugo Kendall took his destiny into his own hands, he carved a team from across the KRH. The names: fresh out of Bovington (his first week at the Regiment being in St Moritz) Tpr Hart; Lt English happily taking Mr Kendall’s place; returned from Winchester, Capt Cavendish; and, of course, the KRH’s (and oddly now the AAC’s, don’t scrutinize the funding) seasoned captain, Capt Pryor.
Kitted out in medieval metal gloves and Rosa Klebb’s killer shoes, the team began the week listening to morbid death threats dur- ing the Club’s welcome presentation. Then, three runs of tutored free-fall where they could get to grips with the startingly danger- ous combination of gravity, ice and some 40 kgs of pre-bent steel. All three novices successfully earned their Shuttlecock ties in the first morning; a sign of things to come for an anxious and com- petitive Capt Pryor.
The week went on in pleasant routine; early start to sign on, cof- fee, high adrenaline burst down the run for a minute or so, and
then back up the valley in the Cresta minibus for more coffee. Each day the run would close around 1300 leaving enough time for the team to explore St Moritz’s alternative winter activity, often with friends from the QRH and AAC; ice hockey; swim- ming; the Preda-Bergun sledge run; and of course, the ‘Eternal Lunch.’
The team practiced perfecting Shuttlecock Corner. Lt English had a healthy relationship with the Corner, coming out once a day. Capt Cavendish gave a promising performance having only fallen out on one occasion. And after day two, despite his efforts, it appeared that Tpr Hart never wanted to cross the finish line again. Knowing this, Captain Capt Pryor chose his team for the Novice and 17/21L Cup. Capts Pryor and Cavendish, the A team. Lt English and Tpr Hart, the B team. Each team was given 2 runs to record their best times. Unfortunately, all novices, filled with competitive emotion from Capt Pryor’s coaching, immediately launched themselves out at Shuttlecock Corner. This disqualified both teams and lead the way for an overwhelming HCR victory.
Picking straw from their teeth the Novice apprentices parted ways with Capt Pryor who bravely remained preparing for The Prince Philip Trophy; the prize given to the victor of the Inter-Services Championships. The race sees the best 6 riders from each service ride three times from Top. Whilst there may only be three more turns above Junction the gradient is such that even the strong- est raking will not stop the rapid acceleration as you, hopefully aboard your taboggan, hurtle down the run - often finishing at speeds of 70mph. The Army have been dominant for the past five years and after a three-week period of intense training and a few trips to the straw, once again they walked away victorious. Now returning to Middle Wallop to complete his Apache Training... was this the last season for Scott Pryor in crimson and primrose?
FPOE
The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars 81
Anxious Spectators Capt Cavendish rolling the dice
Capt Pryor chasing victory
Lt English Race Day
Tpr Hart En Route to Shuttlecock