Journal 2008 - The Journal Royal Highland Fusiliers - The Royal ...

The Scottish Tug of War Champions.B Coy cadets got an interesting invitation in May, to take part inExercise Executive Stretch down at Kirkcudbright. Some of thestands involved abseiling, demolitions, signals, driving, shooting,command tasks and first aid, an all-round challenging weekend towhich the cadets hope they will be re-invited.May also saw cadets participate in a triathlon involving raft-building,orienteering and mountain biking at Strathclyde Park to raise fundsfor Click Sergeant Cancer Charity. The cadets raised £431.The ACFA Scottish Athletics Championship at Grangemouth sawthe Company pick up 26 medals in total, 11 gold, 8 silver and 7bronze – which helped the Battalion to win 7 of the 8 trophies.Annual Camp was a return to Swynnerton. The weather again thisyear had a detrimental effect on training. The amount of rain thatfell resulted in the range-work being cancelled as the sand in the stopbutts had washed away. Our girls’ team won the Bn hockey; A PlRHF King’s Park won the girls’ 5-a-sides and E Pl RHF Beardmorethe orienteering. During the first week of camp WSI HeatherRobertson and WSI Daisy Seymour, both D Pl RHF Pollockshaws,successfully completed their ITC Course. The excellent trainingarea was put to good use with a cracking 48hr F/X centred on theunderground bunker. This allowed for a wide range of recce patrols,fighting patrols and ambushes to be mounted. C/Sgt Keighley Doyle,F Pl Maryhill, gained more successes by being awarded the Campbellbutton stick, from Lt/Col Downie, which goes to the best-turned outCadet during the Cadet Commandant’s parade.The winning girls’ team.One of the new Training activities at Annual Camp wasPipes and Drums training. The cadets showed a lot ofinterest in the sessions being run, which hopefully willbare fruit with the band taking off. A trip to Alton Towersis always a good finale to Camp with Cadets of all agesenjoying the trip.Annual Camp 2007 was Col Kelly’s last camp as CadetCommandant. To bid farewell all the cadets formed up on bothsides of the road out of camp. Col Kelly was then pulled outthe camp gate in an old Landrover by the Battalion’s Officersand Adult Instructors.In September at very short notice (5 days) the Coy providedthe Bn team for the 51 Brigade Military Skills Competition.Even with little or no practise the cadets put in a fine effort,with some good results at some of the stands, especially inthe patrol lane where they were placed 1st. The team overallwere placed 7th which, against some very good teams, was animpressive result.In October Cpl Michael Manley, LCpl Christopher King, A PlRHF, King’s Park and LCpl Danya Adams F Pl RHF, Maryhilltook part in the bi-annual Canadian exchange 2007. Our Battalionvisited Canada for two weeks, Vancouver being the destination.The host unit, The Cameron Highlanders, laid on a brilliantprogramme which saw our Cadets taking part in Cadet trainingCanadian style. The different methods and types of trainingCdt Anderson abseiling. The Stretcher Race. Alton Towers, here we come!60 THE ROYAL HIGHLAND FUSILIERS