Page 131 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Rifles Cycling in Cape Town
Every year on the second Sunday of
March over 34,000 cyclists descend on South Africa’s Western Cape to compete
in Cape Town’s Pick n Pay Cape Argus, a 109km cycle race that’s as gruelling as it
is spectacular. A 7 RIFLES team decided
to enter this race, competing in regular monthly Sportives up and down the country as the initial training. The last being two weeks before they were due to fly out, in -3 degree blizzards on the Kent downs in stark contrast to the 35 degree heat awaiting them over 9,000 miles away. CSjt Barry Street, Sjt Mark Poldan, Corporal Wayne Holdrick, Lance Corporal Mike Filgate, Lance Corporal Jamie Pulley and Rifleman James Macnaught arrived at Heathrow laden with lycra, energy bars and large cycle carry boxes. A few hours later we arrived, however our bikes hadn’t and teased by
the glorious sunshine outside we had to sit and wait for the next two flights before all our kit eventually joined us. We were taken via landrover (naturally) and trailer, to our home for the next 10
days, the South African
Legion headquarters in
Rondebosch (literally
round bush) a southern
suburb of Cape Town at
the base of Devils Peak
on the Eastern side
of Table Mountain. We were immediately struck by the warmth and hospitality of
our hosts, insisting we sit and join them
for lunch everyday after training. Mornings began with circuits on the bikes before
Waterloo Band and Bugles
The past 12 months has seen an extremely busy schedule for the Waterloo Band and Bugles; after the initial excitement of
the planned annual training period being held in Cyprus, the band were disappointed to go to Gosport and Worthy Down
in November! However this proved to be a worthwhile Camp musically, with much rehearsal time devoted to preparing for
our forthcoming concerts. The timing enabled the band to support engagements for Remembrance Sunday in Reading and numerous other recruiting events for 7 RIFLES and other Army Reserve Units with in Reading and Milton Keynes.
The band held well-attended community and employer engagement concerts at the later end of 2013, one in Swindon
in November, a well-received Christmas concert in Reading in December and a Christmas carol service in Hanover Square, London. 2013 also saw great personal achievements for two members of the band: Maj Clark has been given a Commander Land Forces Commendation and LCpl R Smith won the Weapons Kata event at the Interservices Martial Arts Competition.
So far 2014 is proving equally as busy; the band and buglers have so far supported around 50 events this year. These have been a variety of Regimental, Battalion, pan-Army and civilian tasks ranging from the full band supporting the Care 4 Casualties air-show to numerous individual bugling events. The highlights certainly include sounding the retreat in Davies Street and
A few hours later we arrived, however our bikes hadn’t
heading up towards the steep climbs up to the University of Cape Town and national park beyond. A brief stop at the Rhodes Memorial to take in the stunning views, before cycling back down to do it again.
The week literally flew by and seven
days later, at 05:15, our minibus laden with bikes, left Rondebosch and headed for the Castle. It was still dark. Very little traffic and fewer pedestrians were out at this time on a Sunday morning. A surreal sight met us as we approached the start amidst the tall buildings of the financial sector, hundreds and hundreds of silent cyclists converging towards the growing noise of the PA and sound system. Despite a rising uneasiness that we wouldn’t find our designated start area together, the smooth efficiency of this fantastically organized event whisked us straight into our pen with the atmosphere and a few nerves building. We’d been given a start time of 06:45 and as the groups before us set off, we clipped in to pedals, talking stopped and waited for H Hour.
The early start
time meant we were amongst seasoned riders, and from the
off the pace was
brutal and very close quarter, as hundreds of riders negotiated each Once on the motorway
CSjt Street
cheering people, dancers and musicians lining the streets. Although continually undulating, there were four main climbs, in the UK we were used to shorter, steeper climbs and though not unduly worried, the long slow ascents started to bite. Blisteringly fast descents gave no opportunity to take
in the amazing views as every ounce of concentration was required amongst such
a density of riders. The dreaded Chapmans Peak we’d heard so many horror stories about finally over, we only had to face one more long climb at Suikerbossie. A section we had twice recce’d during the week but after three hours, and with the strong wind and heat rising it proved to be the toughest challenge. The last 8 km was flat rolling roads round the beautiful Camps Bay and into the crowd lined final straight to the finish. One last burst of energy and finally over the line. Smiles and relief all round. A limping
Sjt Polden arriving scraped, bruised and grinning after a crash mid way, bike creaking and loose saddle hadn’t stopped him coming second. It had been a great success and next year we hope to compete again. CSjt Street, F Coy
corner and junction.
section, the team slowly began to spread out with CSjt Street and Sjt Polden leading the charge. It soon became every man for himself, helped along, even this early, by
The Waterloo Band supporting the Band and Bugles at the Basel Tattoo.
supporting the Band and Bugles of The Rifles at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland. The Buglers continue to be in high demand, particularly as the WW1 commemorative anniversaries have
now begun. 7 RIFLES is starting bugling detachments within the Companies; a long term project to grow the bugling capability and relive pressure from the Waterloo Band.
THE RIFLES
SEVENTH BATTALION 129