Page 33 - QARANC Vol 15 No 2 2017

THE GAZETTE QARANC 31
Department of Healthcare Education – Cross Country Team Winners 2016/2017
From being crowned successful winners of the 2015/2016 West Midlands Cross Country League and the British Army Cross Country Championships, the Department of Healthcare Education (DHE) team, led by Cpl Richardson, have gone on to continue their winning streak by winning the UK Midlands Inter-Services Cross Country Championships 2016/2017.The teams success continued at the Cross Country Championships held at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where they came runners-up. Finding time from their busy university studies, hospital placements and military commitments, DHE have always turned up with strength in numbers with most races having 15 personnel competing.
From the beginning of the season DHE’s presence was well-known and the team were strong from start to finish maintaining a positive attitude throughout the season. Overall there were 17 Midlands Female teams that took part over the season. DHE took 1st place in both the Female team category, and Junior Female category with Pte Griffin taking 1st place, an excellent win in her first season, where she continued to place 1st and 2nd place in most races. Pte Smith placed 3rd senior female making a strong appearance this season attending all league races, followed by Cpl Bees in 4th position. Strong runners this year included Cpl Hodgkinson, Pte MacDonald and SAC Kershaw, who, due to other running
commitments within the Army and RAF services, could only attend a few races this year but still had a large impact on the team.
The DHE Cross Country team got to enjoy a team social to celebrate their 2nd year of winning success at the Piccolino Restaurant, Brindley Place, Birmingham and the EIS pudding café where the puddings were huge. I would like to say a massive well done to everyone who took part in the Cross Country League this year and a huge thank you to our team captain.
LCpl Katie Needham, Student Nurse Department of Healthcare Education
Regional Command Indoor Rowing Championships
On Wednesday 31 May 2017, Cpl Wichaisri, SAC Lansley, Pte Walmsley, NN(S) Ewels, Pte Stephen and I represented the Department of Healthcare Education (DHE) in the Regional Command Indoor Rowing Championships. The day was enjoyable and a fantastic success for all who competed.
We had already been competing in the Regional Command Indoor Rowing League which allows all regular and reserve soldiers to compete with each other on any Concept 2 indoor rowing machine, in any gym, at any convenient time. The league ran from September 2016 to March 2017 and there was a new challenge each month, for example, the September challenge was to complete 6000 meters in the fastest time possible on an indoor rowing machine.
DHE performed well in the Regional Command Indoor Rowing League with SAC Lansley winning 2nd place for the Female Heavyweight category and Cpl Wichaisri winning 3rd place for the Female Lightweight category. Individuals’ scores for each month were collated for a Unit’s overall score. DHE won 1st place for the Female Heavy Weight category and 1st place for the Female Light Weight category.
The Indoor Rowing Championships took place at the Donnington Support Unit gym at Parsons Barracks in Telford and it was an opportunity for representatives from different units to come together and compete in an individual 2000m race and a 6 minute pair’s relay race.
The Championships were also a success for DHE, as SAC Lansley won 2nd place and NN(S) Ewels won 3rd place in the Individual 2000m Heavyweight Open race. Cpl Wichaisri won 1st place for the Individual 2000m Lightweight race.
DHE did equally well in the 6 minute pair’s relay race as SAC Lansley and NN(s) Ewels won 1st place for the Female Pairs Heavyweight category, and Cpl Wichaisri and Pte Walmsley won 1st place for the Female Pairs Lightweight category.
It was an incredible day with some tough competition. Everyone worked hard and cheered each other on, creating a great atmosphere.
Indoor rowing is fast becoming a popular sport and even celebrities like Hugh Jackman are getting involved, posting their personal best times on social media sites for others to compare and compete with. The Regional Command Indoor Rowing League is great for motivation and not just competing with others but trying to improve personal performance. There is a Facebook group of the same name that allows competitors to share their personal bests, offer advice and give encouragement. It is a brilliant sport to be involved in.
Pte Gemma Schofield, Student Nurse Department of Healthcare Education