Page 36 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2016/17

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36 ENGINEER REGIMENT – 2016/17 TOURS + TROPHIES
2016/17 has been a busy but hugely successful year for 36 Engr Regt, especially on the sporting front. With 50 Sqn and RHQ away on OP TOSCA (Cyprus) from March – Sep 17,
70 Sqn Deployed on OP Marmaat (Nepal – earthquake support) May – Nov 17 and 20 Sqn deploying to Jordan and Kenya for 3 Months, the Unit was ‘spread to the four winds’ and we had to make do and work around what sporting talent we had available.
Our rst sporting success came in Athletics, headed up by SSgt (SSI) ‘coach carter’ Curtis who set about putting a team together for the UK South Championships.
Having recruited the Regiments full quota of commonwealth soldiers to ll the 4 X 100m relay, the only events left to ll were the hammer throw and the pole vault. With none of the team having touched either before, it was a case of pulling names out of the hat!
After an eventful, rain sodden day and qualifying in 5th place we identi ed our weak areas and with the help of Ex Ghurkha Major (Prem Bahadur Ale), found a local Athletics ground at Sutton Valence School to commence training. SSgt Curtis and LCpl Garvie ran with the training for the entire team and managed to bully people into the events that nobody enjoys doing.
After the constant battles against Regimental commitments we made our way to the Army Athletics Championship Finals on the 8th June.
Whilst the whole team performed admirably with several PB’s, the stand out performer was LCpl Carrie (50Sqn) in the pole vault nishing 2nd out of 12 having never touched pole vault in his life!
Going into the nal event (4 X 400m) the result was hanging in the balance between us and 9 Regiment RLC (Several time winners). We managed to beat 9 Regiment RLC by a ne margin which in turn made us the rst Engineer Regiment to win the Army Athletics Championships since 1956!
On the same day as the Athletics Final were the 2016 RE Games, so SSgt (SSI) Curtis was doing shuttles between Aldershot and Tidworth to manage both squads!
The RE Games is a sporting event which is held every year, usually in June and hosted by a nominated RE Unit. It is an excellent example of how the Army does business when it comes to sporting competitions, encapsulating everything that is ‘good’ within the Army, Competition, Fitness, Enjoyment, Professionalism, Team- building and Morale. In short the event consisted of 25 sports
Army Athletics Winners 2016
RE Games Football
RE Games Volleyball
ranging from the less well known; paragliding angling and enduro motocross to those more traditional Army sports; football, x-country, rugby and squash.
With 19 teams competing, the competition was immensely erce. Our Unit began getting teams together for the event only a few weeks prior to the competition, using the Wednesday afternoon sports parades as an ideal way to train towards events. After a lot of wheeling and dealing we managed to get together teams in every event (with the exception of enduro Motocross).
Overall 36 Engr Regt won 5 events, (Football, Squash, Volleyball, March & Shoot and Tennis) came 2nd in 2 events and 3rd in 2 events. This meant that the Regiment nished 2nd of 19 overall.
The nale to the Games was an All Ranks BBQ followed by a Live Band and a disco, which gave everyone the chance to relax and enjoy a few days away from IPB in the name of Sport!
The aim is to go one better next year and win the RE Games so watch this space!...
The nal sporting success of the year came at the RE 6’s Football, held in Chatham.
The Regimental football team were hoping to pick up where they left off after winning the RE Games 6 a side competition earlier on in the year.
The team started the competition in ne form, winning their rst two games of the group stage; a win against 1RSME would put
SSgt (SSI) D Curtis RAPTC