Page 67 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 65 Hockey
Despite the fact that the Regiment deployed to Cyprus for most of 2018, opportunities to play hockey have been ex- ploited with great success. The Lancers put forward a strong team to compete at the Akrotiri 6s, finishing second overall. Ser- geant Smith (HQ Squadron) put in an outstanding performance, narrowly missing out on player of the tournament. Likewise, the rest of the team left nothing on the field, with Mr Weaver com- peting for every loose ball and Lieutenant Callinan producing some penalty flick magic.
In October, with C Squadron and Regiment back together, the team set their sights on Exercise HODSONS HORSE. Histori- cally the Lancers have consistently brought home silverware, winning in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Keen to keep up the winning trend, the team set out to make a statement. The final yielded a fierce encounter between the Lancers and the Armour Centre (ARMCEN), with a maelstrom of rain and wind making conditions tricky. Early goals from Lance Corporal Whitaker and Lieutenant Marriott saw the Lancers 2-0 up after the first quarter. ARMCEN were quick to equalise and as the match drew to a close they seized a last-minute winning goal from the top of
Mr Weaver
the D. Nevertheless, the team showed great tenacity throughout and the foundations of the team are very much established going
in to 2019.
GADM
The Akrotiri 6s
Lieutenant Callinan goes for the intercept
The Orienteering and Cross Country team has witnessed an- other year of expansion. Numbers are up and the results are rolling in. Having missed the end of last season due to TOSCA the Regiment have jumped straight back in with strong results at their first races back, in both disciplines.
Participation for Orienteering in particular has increased over the past few months, people seem to have realised it is a good way to stay fit and improve their navigation, with two full mini- buses heading to the most recent event. Finding people willing to beast themselves around a muddy field for cross country, how- ever, is still a little challenging.
Despite missing the first few Orienteering races of the league the Lancers have already managed to pull themselves up to second, with a strong first performance at the night event on the Catterick back area, local knowledge might have helped. The Cross Country runners also produced some good results at their first race over at Marne Barracks, with two runners coming back in the top ten, over a fast 10km course.
The promising start to the season in both disciplines should continue, with the Lancers planning to organise an event in June and an overseas trip planned to a competition in the Czech Republic. With plenty for the team to look forward to hopefully next year we will be able to report a win in the league.
HH Cross Country
Orienteering
RJG