| WINTER 1961. |
| THE RICHES CUP. |
| The competition for the cup presented by Major P.A. Riches, R.A., lately O.C., H.Q. Company, was designed to include a seven mile cross country march with various military problems and range practice. Each platoon in the Regiment entered a team of nine Junior Leaders, and at 0800 hrs. on 1st November, Waterloo Platoon crossed the start line to begin the competition. They were followed at fifteen minute intervals by the other platoons. |
| AN EXCELLENT START |
| Within half an hour reports of progress began to filter through to the recorders, and after a couple of hours the first team became visible from the range. They crossed the marsh, reported to the final check-point, were inspected and set off to fire their range practice, which brought their final score to 179 points. This proved to be a good score for although teams continued to arrive and register their final totals, Waterloo still held the lead, and it was two hours before Gallipoli, with a great effort scored 188 to displace them. |
| It seemed that this must be good enough, but news began to come through that Alamein, the last team to start, were moving well, and obtaining excellent marks. They reached the range, and by scoring seven points on the final inspection, needed thirty-six points. from the shoot to win. The excitement was intense as the firing began and the plates went down. The range officer crossed to the scoreboard: Alamein, 38 points, and the Riches Cup for 1961. |
| The winning Alamein team was: J/Sgt. Heaton, J/Tprs. Boardman, Burrows, Cece and Latimer, J/Ptes. Dowding, Henry and Larmouth and J/Sig. Davidson. |
| A COMPETITOR'S ACCOUNT |
| J/Sgt. Payne, 'B' Company, who led the team from Gallipoli Platoon, writes: |
| We were inspected by the Adjutant and the R.S.M., and set off for the first check point, at the top of "Heartbreak Hill", about a mile from the start. From there we were sent on what turned out to be one of the roughest sections of the course, heading towards the Commandant's house. The going at first was wet and slippery, and over-hanging branches caught in our equipment, but soon we were doubling down the hill towards the Bailey bridge. |
| On the bank of the Broadwater we met Captain Liddell, who set a first-aid problem, which involved transporting an injured man. We did this successfully and set off across the wide expanse of Morfa Flatts, heading for the sluice gates at the end of the canal. Here we were met with a problem of getting a burden across to the other side within a time limit. This done, we headed across the road, to our next problem, which was sending a wireless message to test our standard of voice procedure. |
| We now set off for the range at a hot pace for we were a little short of time. We just made it, and after the firing, with two rifle groups and a bren group, we were glad to sit on the grass for a well-earned rest. |
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