Page 13 - QARANC Vol 17 No 1 2019

Countess of Wessex Cup
The dawn of 17 October 2018 heralded the annual Countess of Wessex Cup, hosted on this occasion by the Corps of Army Music (CAMUS). A day when our team of eight nurses and healthcare assistants, representing the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, would compete against the six other associated military units. Alongside me on the team were Sergeant Jessica Parkes (22 Field Hospital), Corporal Tabitha Ndirangu (JHG SE), Corporal Caroline Swanson (204 Field Hospital), Corporal Jessica White (JHG SE), Lance Corporal Heather Longshaw (JHG SE), Private Charlotte Anderton (RCDM), Private Stephanie Brooksbank (JHG SE) and Private Chelsie Jones (JHG SE).
Having met each other only the day before, our diverse team of both Regular and Reserve QAs, from as far afield as Northern Ireland, bonded readily over chicken, halloumi and hummus - which was with many thanks to the sponsorship and support of the QARANC Association. Having forged the beginnings of a team, we next met each other on the morning of the competition and, undeterred by the drizzly British weather, received our first instructions. We would have a chance to test our mettle in an assortment of tasks where we would be ranked from one to five in each task; the team with the highest score at the end of the day gaining the cup.
For us, task one was to do the deep-water assault course. The adventure began with a speedy change into dry (thanks to the good fortune of being the first group) MTP and
Ready to take to the water
The QA Team raring to go!
goggles. There was no time to enjoy a chuckle at the comical assortment of ill-fitting garbs as we were quickly ushered to the CP to receive QBOs. Amidst the sounds of gunfire, we crawled from the CP, diving head first into the water. Weighed down by clothing and equipment, we faced our task; to retrieve essential items lost in the helicopter crash, find the correct key to the box containing the crypto code (and retrieve the box!), save any survivors and make it out to unlock the crypto. This took repeated dives to depths of six metres, and nimble fingers and quick thinking to detach weights cruelly hampering our progress. Survival was a challenge in its own right, as we navigated the underwater gates, bridges and obstacles, only somewhat reassured by the safety divers lurking at the bottom of the pool.
This was a true test of teamwork, grit and endurance and was championed by Sergeant Parkes and Private Brooksbank who demonstrated an affinity to oxygen deprivation and outmatched determination. When we finally clambered out, we were exhausted but relieved. Our team had, however, but a moment to take a celebratory inhale of the chlorine free air of the outside before responding to dulcet tones shouting ‘gas, gas, gas’, donning our 4-romeo attire and preparing for a Combat Bake-Off.
We had hoped that this might be our moment to shine; however, our usual artistic flair was somewhat hampered by reduced dexterity and very steamy vision. In a cloud of icing sugar, we valiantly endeavoured to represent the QARANC
Who knows what lurks beneath...!
THE GAZETTE QARANC 11