the section medic as well as the 2i/c, coordinating
protection throughout the entire
stance. We patrolled along the track and
reached a field ambulance where we had a
multiple-casualty situation. After securing the
area, the first aid was completed, and we
began the extraction.
Now came the final stance of the day: Section
Attacks. We arrived at the stance and
immediately set up an all-round defence. We
moved off across the open ground. The contact
was fast and so was our reaction. Immediately,
fire went down and we located the enemy,
delivered an FCO, and QBOs were assembled.
Swiftly we carried out a left flank attack and
assaulted the position. The attack went well
with few mishaps, and excellent
communication between i/c and 2i/c.
The first day was now complete - still to come,
the Drill and the Endurance Course. We
practised late on the Saturday until nearly
midnight! On Sunday we arrived at the Drill
Shed, and following an inspection we began
the set routine whilst being closely observed by
a Drill Instructor. Then we moved on to the
Corps knowledge questions, which we had
been learning over the past month. We had a
difficult set including the five Victoria Cross
Winners question all of which we answered
correctly. Now all that was left was the
Endurance Course.
We knew that our fate in the competition
could be decided by the final stance. The
massive camaraderie and the immense sense
of team spirit would surely get us through the
challenge ahead of us. The feeling on the
start line was, as ever, overwhelming. We
began and shot through the dry tunnels, then
up to our chests in Peter's Pool, the Sheep Dip
and finally the swamp. We charged up the
last hill and across the line relieved to have
completed the arduous course. Now it was all
over, there was nothing more we could do.
Lunch gave us a long time to rest our minds
and collect our thoughts from the last month
we had just experienced. We had all loved it
and were disappointed that it was over. Now
we moved to the Falklands Hall where the
prizegiving would be held.
Anxiety overshadowed our tiredness as we sat
with the other teams. To our delight and relief,
the first trophy of the prizegiving was awarded to
us. We came out well with four stance trophies,
including both endurance course trophies, with
our B team being faster than any other school's A
team. The weapon handling and map reading
were also won by us. The final moment was even
more tense than it had been in 2009! The
moment between the runners-up and the winners'
announcement seemed like an age. Finally, it
came with WO1 Bates' voice announcing "King's
College". We couldn't believe it. All the training,
commitment, and hard work had paid off. The
sense of relief and pride was overwhelming for all
of us. The trophy was presented by the
Commandant of CTCRM, Brigadier Salanzo.
Huge thanks must go to CTCRM for hosting the
competition, Captain Dingle, and everyone who
made the competition possible by giving up
their weekend and organising the competition.
Special thanks are also due to Lieutenant Steve
King and Captain Peter Belfield who once again
gave up much of their free time to provide the
team with fantastic training enabling us to win
the competition.
Following last year's victory this was the first
double for King's! We had managed to bring
back five out of eight trophies which was
another record for King's. The section had
trained hard, putting in as many hours as
possible. Something which became apparent
through training for Pringle: there is far more
time in a day when you are busy, and the
amount we had achieved was incredible. Good
luck to all teams competing next year! Aluredian
23
Pringle
Trophy
winners -
again!
by
Tom Farrow