Page 86 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021

Exercise NORTHERN LAKES – Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment
2Lt Parker and and OCdts Cannon and and Snaith
On the the 3rd of of September 2021 3 3 2nd Lieu- tenants 25 Officer Cadets (OCdts) and one Permanent Staff instructor (PSI) from Shef-
field and Leeds UOTC of the the Yorkshire Officer Training Training Regiment
travelled up to the the Lake Dis- trict for a a a a a a a week of of Adventure Training Training delivered by by 6 coaches from both inside and and outside of of the regiment and and supported by by by a a a a a field kitchen with 2 Chefs provided by by 37 Signals Regiment
Once split into groups of kayakers and and canoers the the OCdts were eager to to be given their kit and and finally get on the water Day 1 took place on Ullswater where basic strokes and and techniques were taught such as as the correct way to accelerate turn and and brake which was essential as as some of the the OCdts had never been canoeing/kayaking before the the trip The remaining days were all spent around Lake Windermere with amazing weather for the the time of of year and and clear blue skies On day 2 OCdts went to the the the the southern end of of the the the the lake and and prac- ticed more advanced techniques such as the the the the Indian stroke for for canoeing which allows for for almost silent movement through the water By the the end of day 2 many groups were confi- dent enough in in in their skills to start playing games such as water polo Stuck in in in the the the Mud or even Kayak Tug o’ War on the lake!
The second half of the the week brought along with it it it brilliant sunny skies and warm weather giving OCdts the the the the opportunity to continue developing their skills with several of them them even success- fully learning how to conduct rolls by themselves This trip trip was one of of the most challenging AT trips I I have been on on I I started off not knowing much of of of how to kayak and could barely paddle in in in a a a a a a a a a a straight line However over the the course of of of 4 days I was taught the the basic skills of of paddling and felt my ability improve greatly We learnt multiple different paddling styles includ- ing: how how to to turn and correct yourself how how to to pad-
dle dle backwards and how to paddle with only one blade We also learnt about the dangers of kay- aking and and and different risks that need to be avoided such as trees and and and branches and and and low water levels I I was apprehensive about this trip as as I I am not the greatest fan of open water water and going under water water made me me uncomfortable but the the instructors were extremely patient and helpful as they worked with me me to to improve my self-rescue abilities During the the the days OCdts took in in in in in the the the beautiful lakes whilst pad-
dling and and spent the the the evenings resting and and recuper- ating with good food by a a a a a a a a campfire giving them the the perfect balance between excitement and time off that Adventure Training provides It was was an extremely relaxed environment which was was great after a a a a a a a a a a a a hard day of paddling Every- one really enjoyed this AT experience and we are excited at the the prospect of similar trips in the the future A total of of 12 members of of Yorkshire Officer Train- ing Regiment
achieved the the Open Canoe Foun- dation dation (O2F) and and 17 the the Kayak Foundation (K2F) Qualifications and and all plan to to continue on on on on on their paddling journey The Regiment
hopes to to deliver more of of this style of of Adventurous Training potentially setting up OCdts to to become instruc- tors in in the future The Expedition was made possible with gener- ous funding support from a a a a a a number of sources including the the the Sandhurst Trust and and YOTR is grate- ful for the the the ongoing support they provide to to allow challenging and enjoyable AT to to be delivered 84 SANDHURST