Page 62 - KRH Regimental Journal 2021

60 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
The following morning the team set out to explore the area and absorbed the majestic mountainous views, crisp Swiss air and for their first time, a recce of the actual Cresta Run. Signing in at the St. Moritz Tobogganing Club (SMTC) gave the team a chance to eye up the competition against whom, they deemed, the crimson clad Hawks would have no issue in coming out on top. Ambitions were further exaggerated as the team attended a prizegiving lunch at the famous Kulm Hotel as the guests of some utterly charming and very eccentric SMTC members. These ambitions, as it tran- spired, were to remain just that. Monday through to Thursday saw the team gradually build up their confidence and pace on the Run. Tpr Whatley took the opportunity to test the quality of Swiss straw more than most. Though this did slow him down, and in true Hussar fashion he valiantly continued to hurtle down the Valley of Death, half a league at a time. As speeds got quicker, the infamous Shuttlecock corner, which had affectionately become known as ‘Cardigan’s Corner’ by the time the week had ended, claimed more victims. It quickly became evident that Lt Hill was the man that our hopes must be pinned on, the one who would see us through to victory in Friday’s races.
As the old military adage goes, best laid plans do not survive first contact. As for plans concocted in a drunken stupor in the
Rugby
The 2021-2022 rugby season saw the KRH Hawks return to the field in full, having been away from the rugby pitch since Op CABRIT 2018. Training in full for the first time in 4 years, the Hawks have seen promising and frequent turnout, manag- ing to field a starting XV and have 11 finishers. The team have been training every Monday and Tuesday morning as well as on Wednesday afternoons.
Throughout the season, we have been able to get soldiers away to play for the Royal Armoured Corps with Cpl Ubitau becoming a regular player there. Lt Hill also made his debut for the RAC.
KRH Hawks have played 27 RLC in the Army Rugby Union (ARU) Tankard Competition and did so by sporting their brand new strip. Despite the Hawks having a totally dominant pack, winning every scrum of the match, the RLC’s back line were far too fast. At times, their back line adopted a 7s style of gameplay which proved to be very effective. Despite the fast-flowing nature of the RLC’s backs, this is the first time that the Hawks have seen a pack dominate to such a level and shows the promise that the team have going forward. However, the largest and most convinc- ing victory came when the Hawks beat the RLC in a boat race post game – the result we obviously care about the most!
basement bar of Hotel Steffani mere hours before hitting the ice, the less that they are elaborated on in this article the better. This was quickly affirmed on the morning of the Junction Open and Novice Open races when Cpl Cebula and Tpr Whatley both cut the KRH’s chance of victory by half when that pesky Shuttlecock wiped both out on their first two runs. Not all was lost though; as the Household Division were clambering over each other for the attention of a distinguished member of the SMTC, the KRH’s hopes remained with the two-eagle eyed Hussar Officers. Racing concluded, and finishing places were lost to the annals of time the Hussars didn’t quite make the podium this year. Fortunately, the clubhouse bacon butties made defeat all the easier to stomach.
Thanks to the faff that surrounds the Household Division’s ina- bility to take a photograph in under an hour, the time of depar- ture grew closer and closer. Finally happy with the lighting, the team photographs were taken and the Hussars were free to make their return journey. Battered, bruised and squeezed into their Polo, which it seemed had shrunk even more, they headed back to Zurich Airport having said fond farewells to the SMTC and their brothers in arms on ice, reflecting as they went on a truly unique week of new experiences, racing and comradeship.
TJAC
This level of commitment, organisation and dedication couldn’t have been done without the assistance of all Squadrons, who allowed their players to be released, as well as Sgt Cook who has been the driving force behind KRH rugby since coming back from Pirbright and Cpl Cardwell who has acted as Captain of the team. More notable mentions include Cpl Longshaw as the team workhorse, Cpl Hayes and LCpl Brown as the man-mountains in the front row, LCpl Savory as the energetic scrumhalf, as well as Cpl Ubitau as our injector of pace in the centre.
As the season progresses, the Hawks will keep on competing within the ARU knockout competition and look to play both civilian and local military teams. This is the best Hawks team that the Regiment has seen in the last 5 years, and the team should be proud of their performance.