RAOC Gazette - page 52
Image details
| Corps | RAOC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Journals |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | RAOC Gazette |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1978 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | No |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1978 |
| Late date | 1978 |
| Transcription |
"AND HERE'S A SURPRISING TEAM" by STAFF SERGEANT A QUOTE from Mr Alan Grace the BFBS Cyprus commentator at about 6.10 pm on Thursday the 13th October 1977 or to give these immortal words their full impact " And here's a surprising team, RAOC Cyprus are in fifth position/' To demonstrate the extent of the surprise and even amaze- ment behind these words it is necessary to explain that the report was being made after the first day of the Cyprus Walk- about 1977 competition; in fact RAOC Cyprus were holding fifth, ninth and forty ninth positions very much against all the odds. The competition itself is quite unique. Officially a senior orienteering competition it is run over two days with each day's course covering about thirty miles of gruelling cross country work completed in six stages. Teams consist of three runners who must not be more than five metres apart at start, checkpoints and finish, and during the running, teams must sustain themselves completely apart from the water provided at checkpoints. Naturally, team spirit has to be of the highest order and the teams are assessed on the performance of their worst individual! A description of the terrain is almost beyond the power of the pen with tracks that go nowhere, tracks on the map that no longer exist and good tracks that are not shown on the map. It is certain that occasionally cross country short cuts are needed to save time and these take the runners over feet cutting rocks and through thistle and thorn that can tear the skin apart. The start at Episkopi is set at just about sea level and the finish at Troodos is at 1846.15 metres, in between, the ground undulates over "ridges and valleys, river beds and mountains, A high standard of map reading and physical fitness is man- datory. Determination and will power must take over when all else fails since the course is set to demand that little bit extra from all who are to complete it, With this in mind 3 Royal Anglians ensured that the second day would be far more demanding than the first day. The return journey from Troodos to the finish at Episkopi is misleadingly known as the down route, this year's route found every ridge and valley. Having set the scene it is necessary to talk of the high standard of the competition. There is no doubt that this is an infanteers course and is won by the infantry—with few ex- ceptions. Invariably, the top teams have completed some weeks of full time training. The Royal Anglians entered seven teams this year and for three weeks prior to the competition were going up and down twice a week with a rest day in between. 6 Gurkha Rifles entered two teams who likewise had been in full time training. Specialist teams were sent out from UK, Germany and Malta by both RAF and Army Units. 1 Kings, the DERR, Royal Irish Rangers, 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, RAF Germany, RAF Luqa and the UN were all well represented by one or more teams. All must have expected to be in with a chance. Now it's very much a division between the super troopers and the shiny parts, drivers and blanket stackers, for though the Corps were well represented they were not really taken very seriously. We had teams from RAOC, REME, RCT, RE, WRAF, PSA, King Richards School Masters and Boys, the various RAF Support Units and the Hash House Harriers, making up the eighty teams to start out on the first day. RAOC had many things against them. Of course we could not do full time training although we snatched as many hours off duty as possible. Being spread all over the island, getting together for training was a problem with some soldiers having to drive for two hours or more to and from training sessions. On early mornings we had difficulty arranging meals, During the last few weeks leading to the competition we had to devote time to visiting VIFs, and an RAOC Study Period which took a full week of effort Naturally, we had to main- tain a high standard at work to provide our customers with the service that they have come to expect. Enough of problems for on the credit side we had a lot going for us. It is fair to say that everyone here within the Corps realized the full implications if we were to have a good go at this competition. Most of the runners had set their BILL HEAP sights some twelve months ago and anyone with potential was grabbed and put into running shoes almost as soon as he stepped from the aeroplane. Our wives have endured many lonely weekends and evenings whilst husbands have been out training. At work our comrades have made extra efforts on behalf of the teams out training and have been prepared to swop or stand in on duties at very short notice. Back-up teams have gone out into the country side and sat for lonely hours guarding water and manning check points. They have cooked, made beds and cleaned up. They have fetched and carried and generally tried to make sure that the team only had to run. There was never a complaint and every effort was made by every member of the Corps. Each request for assistance met with eager compliance, It is necessary to name names if a complete picture is to be given and this can best be done as follows: The Gladiators A Team Corporal Don Pearson Vehicle Depot Akrotiri Corpora] Trevor Edge Ammunition Depot Akrotiri Private Bill Black Stores Depot Akrotiri B Team Corporal Tony O'Connor Vehicle Depot Akrotiri W02 Ken Norgate Headquarters RAOC Episkopi Corporal Dennis Head Support Services Akrotiri C Team Corporal Alan Greasley Vehicle Depot Akrotiri Private Kevin Bacon Vehicle Depot Akrotiri Corporal Alan Hannah Supplies Depot Dhekelia Reserves Sergeant Ken Allen Ammunition Depot Akrotiri Sergeant Ron Parker Stores Depot Akrotiri The Boffins Staff Sergeant Bill Heap Team Manager Conductor Jim Wilson Check Point Warrant Officer Conductor John O'Connor Team Tailor Staff Quarter Master Sergeant Jim Caldwell Team Cook Sergeant Bill McDonald Team Driver Sergeant Davey Walker Check Point NCO Sergeant Rickey Mayor Check Point NCO Sergeant Jim Massey Check Point NCO Lance Corporal Dave Hummerston Check Point NCO (also relief driver) Mrs Rita Heap House Mother —and all members of RAOC Cyprus in spirit if not effort. For competitive purposes we had to select teams of three runners and this was foreseen as a problem for not only must the three be equally as fit and fast but also they must be temperamentally matched and, worst of all two reserves had to be selected. Team selection was delayed until the last possible moment In the event the two most disappointed men were Sergeants Ron Parker and Ken Allen for they were nominated as reserves, not for any lack of prowess, but simply because someone had to be left out. All efforts to get them a race in a composite team failed since the field is limited to eighty teams and at the very last moment the eightieth team turned up. Typical of our spirit Ron and Ken did their best to hide the disappointment and immediately joined the back-up team. Tactically the A and B teams were told to have a go at gaining a good result while C team had a mandate to take their time and simply ensure that we had a team that finished the course and let the other two teams take all the chances. At the start all three teams were drawn in the last quarter of the field. This meant that we got away late on the staggered start system and missed an hours running in the cool of the early morning. Later it was to mean that all three teams were to get a drenching in the furious thunder storm that struck the Troodos area and turned the ground to clog sticking clay. Between the start and checkpoint one Bill Black was ill with stomach pains and the A team lost an hour while he fought to recover. The B and C teams got away well. Progress was difficult to follow on the first day since the back up team had — 278 — |
| Book number | R0246a |