Page 32 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019
P. 32

                                30 The Gazette QARANC Association
 Joint Hospital Group South East at the 2019 AMS Athletics Championships
On the 20 and 21 June, 2019, a constellation of athletes from the JHGSE congregated at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst athletics stadium to compete in the annual Army Medical Services (AMS) Athletics Championships.
Situated in Camberley, Surrey, JHGSE comprises various healthcare and allied health professionals. Due to the shift patterns, it can be challenging to meet up with structured regular physical training, however, it is the directive of the Commanding Officer (Lieutenant Colonel Ryan) that all personnel must undertake a minimum of three sessions of PT per week of which two must be with the physical training instructor. This directive ensures that all personnel in JHGSE actively engage in physical activity that enhances their overall fitness. Furthermore, the CO is an individual who likes sports, encourages his personnel to participate in sport and as such, has created a fertile environment for sporting activities to flourish in JHGSE.
Prior to the 2019 AMS Athletics Championship, the JHGSE female team has been the reigning champion for two consecutive years. As for the male team, it was deposed from the rostrum’s topmost echelon during last year’s (2018) AMS Championship when one of its elite athletes was put
JHGSE Male Relay Team strategising on how to deliver
JHGSE Tug of War Female Team in the Company of the CO and OCN
 out of action due to injury sustained on track, hence, this had a psychological impact on the team and its winning power. In preparation for this year’s championships, the female team was aware of the fact that complacence is a positive catalyst to retrogression, whereas the male team embraced the fact that self-pity does not propel one in a positive direction; hence, why Indulge in it! These mind sets proffered the right moment to both teams to strive for the stars!
JHGSE qualified for most of the events and the CO stipulated that all those personnel who were not on essential duties should be present at the RMAS athletics stadium to support the JHGSE stallion athletes competing at the AMS Athletics Championships finals. The CO, Officer Commanding Nursing (Lieutenant Colonel Truscott), Deputy Officer Commanding Nursing (Major Lankester), Adjutant (Captain Delaney) and RSM (WO1 Sessions), just to mention but a few, were all in
Some of the JHGSE Morale Squad for the 2019 AMS Athletics Champs
attendance.
The 2019 Championships was
indeed a very steep completion as there were lot of high performing athletes competing, of which some have represented the AMS in the Army inter-corps and some even have represented the Army in the inter- services Athletics Championships. All the athletes from JHGSE put in their very best in competing, while the cheering and support from the rest of the unit was relentless.
To wrap up the day was the prize presentation. On the second seat on the rostrum is the JHGSE male athletics team, whereas, the female team retained the topmost (1st position) echelon on the rostrum for the third consecutive year! The grand finale occurred when the overall winner of the Championships was announced as JHGSE. I couldn’t contain the joy that ensued on discovering that JHGSE is the overall winner of the 2019 AMS championships, hence, I was unable to refrain from exhibiting a skill (back flipping) which I acquired over three decades ago while I was in primary school!
JHGSE winning this year’s AMS Championships is indeed a great delight, as it depicts a great way to honour the CO who is due to retire from the Army after meritorious service that spanned 37 years; and who is also an enthusiast of sports encouraging those under his command to engage in a sport or more by creating the enabling environment.
Corporal Showemimo
    


















































































   30   31   32   33   34