Page 26 - Chiron Calling Autum 2021/Spring 2022

Commander’s Challenge 2021
by Pte Josh Arden, 105 Squadron
Throughout the year 1st Military Working Dog Regiment (1 MWD Regt) has seen some thrilling sporting drama in the Commander’s Challenge
21. So far, we have seen a host
of dynamic events taking place, with sporting stars and talents emerging across the Regiment. Whilst the heat of competition may have brought out those shades of character in individuals, squadrons have had a chance to build team cohesion amongst themselves, with juniors and seniors assembling for squadron pride. The events have also been fun, of course.
Spread across the year, gym
ICs Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Mark Easingwood and Lance Corporal (LCpl) Harry Lewer have worked hard to put the Commander’s Challenge 21 together with events including cycling, an obstacle course race, a swimming gala and
a volleyball tournament. In the upcoming events, Squadrons (Sqns) will get the chance to flex their strength in tug of war, followed by a basketball tournament where more stars are expected to rise.
The winning squadron is awarded ten points for winning the event, seven points for second, and so on. These points are then tallied into a league leader board, where, at the end of the year the overall winners will be crowned. So far, 103 Sqn
are dominant sitting pretty with 44
points, with 102 Sqn trailing by 9 points.
As a team captain for the swimming gala and an event organiser for the volleyball, I’ve had the luxury of seeing the Commander’s Challenge from both sides of the coin. Sketchy weather saw the volleyball take place in the gym hall where there was a fancy dress theme and whilst 105 Sqn were awarded bonus points for best dressed (Grannies and Grandads), the same could not be said for their performance on court. They gave a brave effort proving too much for 102 Sqn in their opening game but could only manage to 1 win out of
3 games, placing 3rd in the event. 104 Sqn would take the top spot, narrowly defeating 103 Sqn in an epic contest. Volleyball was the first event where teams would play
against each other head to head and a great sign off for summer leave.
It was a pleasure to assist in setting up and credit goes to the gym staff for their organisation, as well as the competitors themselves who made for great viewing.
With the flame lit for the games
in Tokyo, I saw the swimming gala as my own personal race for gold. Although my Squadron didn’t win, we swam some personal bests and above all, had fun training for it and competing on the day. The occasion reignited my love for swimming and I was awarded a Physical Training Award for my efforts, which wasn’t
a medal of Olympic calibre, but a coin I can take away and be proud of nevertheless. Other recipients
of the award included other swim team captains, Captain (Capt) Ella Gale, Private (Pte) Chloe Cameron, Capt Alex Bowman, Pte Ellis Bracey for his efforts in cycling, LCpl Matt Chester for his athleticism scaling the obstacle course in record time and Cpl Craig Whitley, who was star player on the volleyball court.
Even if you’re not big into team sports, I’d strongly encourage anyone to get involved in any of the upcoming events either this year or next. What’s been fantastic about the Commander Challenge, is that the gym staff have tried to make the events fun, fair and inclusive of all ranks, ages, genders, and sizes.
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