Page 138 - The Bugle 2018

THE BATTALION HAS FORMED A FOOTBALL TEAM UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF WO2 BOLAM
Sport and Adventure Training
The volume of work required to set up the Battalion and our limited manning have not dimmed the Battalion’s ambition for sport and adventure training. Members of D and HQ Companies have remained highly engaged in the Northern Orienteering League, with some noticeable performances from WO2 Thompson and CSjt Richardson. The Battalion has formed a football team under the guidance of WO2 Bolam, and managed to reach the semi-final of the Army Reserve Cup in their first season. The side was captained by Rfn Empson, with the bulk of the team drawn from E Company. There have also been some notable individual sporting successes with Cpl Empson representing the Army Reserve in football, Rfn Poulson representing the Infantry at Ice Hockey, Capt Malla playing golf for the Infantry and the RSM, WO1 Upton, leading the Infantry Carp Fishing team.
Other adventures have included sailing, with the CO and 2IC Y Coy, with the Adjt as cabin boy, forming a crew at the Regimental Regatta on the Isle of Wight. Despite not even realising the first race had started without them, this motley crew managed a 1st and a 2nd place during subsequent races, finishing in 4th place out of the 10 battalion boats.
Summer Adventurous training turned out to be perfectly timed with the unpredictable British summer. A week was spent in Capel Curig kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking and hill walking. The lakes were unusually empty as a result of the heatwave but still had enough water in them to teach kayaking to keen Riflemen. Walking up Snowdon and Scarfell Pyke in the summer heat presented its own physical challenges but the views were amazing and well worth the effort.
The battalion’s football team for the Army Reserve Cup semi final
The good ship 8 RIFLES pays appropriate compliments at the Rifles Regatta
OC Y Coy and his merry band of kayakers
144 EIGHTH BATTALION
THE RIFLES