THE BRITISH CADET RIFLE TEAM (ATHELINGS) 2015 – SUCCESS IN CANADA

Colonel Hughes, Commandant British Cadet Rifle Team 2015, tells of the fantastic trip to Canada by the Athelings – with a little help from the cadets:

Selection for the Athelings squad – for both staff and cadets – offers an amazing opportunity to represent ones country, the cadet movement, and individual service organisations at the highest level of cadet shooting, and this year’s team members, including Cadet Sergeant Adam Smith from 2nd (NI) Battalion Army Cadet Force (who was appointed as Team Captain) and Cadet Corporal Jake Magill from Belfast Royal Academy Air Training Corps, all felt enormously privileged to have the chance to participate in the Canadian tour.

After getting through what was a very close selection process, the team attended a successful Exercise Maple Taste in the early spring at Bisley, before finally coming together at ISCRM, Schools Match, and the Imperial meeting. With an even spread of CCF, ATC, and ACF cadets, all 3 services were represented: a truly “purple” effort, with even a Royal Marine to complete the picture. 

Throughout the tour the cadets kept a diary, and it seemed appropriate to let them tell the story of Athelings
2015 – with a little light censorship:

“We arrived at Bisley with our Team Bags on our backs and adventure in our hearts, and rested our weary heads in Hythe Lodge (where we discovered that a smaller member of our team, FS Chloe Jones (1344
Cardiff Sqn ATC), was “machine washable”!).  The next day, following last minute checks and some interesting practice at “tri service drill”, we left for Heathrow.”

Transit through security and Border Force checks is always daunting with 20 rifles in the baggage, but this year passage was smooth and fast – one smile from the Adjutant, FS Helen Southall, together with Athelings pin badges and brochures, was all it needed – with rifle cases opened once and no questions asked. Montreal was the same – straight through arrivals with minimum delay.  The cadets take up the story:

“We embarked on our “Dreamliner”, a fitting name for the experience it offered.  However, Cpl Radford Ramage (216 City of Derby Sqn ATC) had the nerve to request an upgrade to Business Class, using brochures and pin badges as a bribe. The pilot took the bribe – but didn’t give us the upgrade!  He did however allow Radford and the Adjutant to visit the flight deck, and have their photos taken in the “driver’s seat” after landing at Montreal. Late night arrival, and a 2 hour trip on our soon to be familiar “Simpsonesque” yellow school bus brought us to Camp Connaught National Cadet Summer Training Centre, where Beth tested the serviceability of the fire alarms with a deodorant aerosol before we all collapsed into bed!”

“Woken by the sweet, harmonious tones of the camp bugle, we were marched ably by Team Captain Sgt Adam Smith (2 NI Bn ACF) to our first taste of the famous Canadian breakfasts, which didn’t disappoint. The rest of the day was spent on a “camp tour” (good drill practice, and some interesting advice at the Med Centre!), and getting in some much needed relaxation and catch up time, as well as a hard fought inter- Athelings volleyball match – which the Athelings won!

“On day 2 the bugle wasn’t as sweet and harmonious – a trend which we were sure would continue! However the day was a good one……….a quick trip on the Simpson’s bus took us to Ottawa, the capital of Canada, for the start of the touring phase. We visited Parliament, saw the Changing of the Guard, toured the War Museum, used every free wifi “hotspot” we could find, and had our first taste of shopping in Canada. Back in camp after dinner the ever increasing sound of the Saturday evening disco inevitably drew the attention of our Royal Marine cadet, CSM Will Hall (Bradfield College CCF), who could not resist the opportunity for a “run ashore”. The team’s participation – in very impromptu “fancy dress” – was a great success, and broke the ice with the hundreds of Canadian cadets in camp.”

The cultural element continued apace, with a further visit to Ottawa for the History Museum – a fascinating look at Canada’s past and present – and more shopping. Visits to Walmart (free wifi), Starbucks (free wifi) and Macdonalds (free wifi) became routine as team members successfully established “comms” with the UK at low or no cost.

The next destination was Toronto – some 6 hours, thankfully, in an air-conditioned coach with on-board movies – with visits to the Toronto Police Marine Unit, and then:
 
“We walked a couple of blocks to dinner at “The Old Spaghetti Factory” – no prizes for guessing what our choices were! An excellent meal was had, after which everyone took the opportunity to abuse the free wifi
– talking to relatives and trawling social media to catch up on the gossip from home. After supper we made our way to the Rogers Centre to watch the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team play the Minnesota Twins, experiencing our first Canadian rainstorm on the way – and arriving soaked through.  The game was a real experience, and several “firsts” were achieved: the Blue Jays won for the first time ever with the Athelings present, we were formally welcomed in print on the big screen, and the team got on the “big screen” in the stadium – enthusiastically waving their Union Flag. Athelings pin badges were even thrown down to a Blue Jays pitcher in the practice compound below our seats.”

Accommodation in Toronto was at the exclusive St Andrew’s College, in an enclave of quiet outside the city – a welcome change from the tented barracks at Connaught. Again free wifi was identified, and high quality entertainment with the resident pianos was provided by Sgt Peter De Souza (Wellington College CCF), a talented musician as well as a shooter. The second day in the Toronto area was spent Jet Boating (field testing our waterproofs.-. they only just failed despite massive soakings!) on the Niagara River, visiting the Blackpool like delights of Niagara Falls town with its “haunted house”, pinball arcades, and essential free wifi, and of course taking the “Maid of the Mist” up to the falls themselves. The final day was spent in the city of Toronto itself – visiting the CN Tower and sitting on the glass floor at 1300 feet above street level, and marvelling at sharks inches away from us at the Ripley Aquarium.

Back to Connaught – and so to our core business: as a “warm up” cadets completed (that’s probably a fairly loose description!) the camp confidence course – where Will Hall showed us all how the Royal Marines cross a single rope span – including an impressive “regain”!  No-one copied him!

In the afternoon the cadets met the C12 Target Rifle, the standard issue rifle for RCAC cadets – and got theirs fitted and prepared for firing. Next day all had a good session at 300 yards – thoroughly getting to grips with the rifles and the conditions – which remained very hot throughout all of the tour, hitting the mid to low 30s in the shade on most days.

The following day the National Cadet Fullbore Shooting Championship commenced – and through the next 2 days the team put in some good performances – especially given the hot conditions and an unfamiliar rifle – with Will Hall winning the Pat Vanplew Match at 300 yards and taking the award for the highest 1st Day Aggregate.

Warm-up matches for the DCRA Meeting covered 2 days, and then into the serious stuff:  close competition combined with a by now well developed team ethos saw individuals having highs and lows, and the team achieving all it hoped for. A convincing win in Stage 2 of the Rex Goddard – adding another 11 points to the 36 point lead established in Stage 1 at Bisley, and later in the week a 36 point winning margin in the Michael Faraday, started a sustained run of success.  In the Michael Faraday in particular the shooting was quite exceptional – especially at 300 metres where “full houses “repeatedly appeared: a delight to watch!

The team had only just begun: in the U 25 SR Match the Athelings beat not only the Canada U25s by 36 points, but in the concurrent Canada Cup came second to the “Friends of Connaught”, beating the Canadian national team and taking silver medals.

After the staff, team captain and vice-captain had enjoyed an unforgettable evening at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa for the Macdonald Stewart dinner, the final day of shooting saw the team moving to C range for the last team match, the U25 LR. Completing a “clean sweep” they beat the Canada U25’s by 21 points and took the bronze medal in the Commonwealth Match.
 
With 6 BCRT cadets in the Governor General’s Final, together with Major Alwyn McLean, the cliff hanger didn’t end until last thing in the afternoon………..Major McLean made 15th place, and the highest place cadet was SSgt Matt Barker (Epsom College CCF) at 35th.

In the junior / senior pairs SSgt Matt Barker (Epsom College CCF) came a worthy second partnered by David Dyson – another Brit, and Sgt Katie Milner (607 Wearmouth Sqn ATC) third with her partner Nicole Rossignole of Canada.

Amongst other highlights the Adjutant achieved her first ever possible – followed immediately by another, then another!

Internal awards were:

The Jim Waller trophy for the highest BCRT cadet in the Macdonald Stewart Grand Aggregate was awarded to CSM Will Hall, the Suffield Jones award for coaching to Cpl Radford Ramage, and the Bond trophy for the highest cadet in the Governor General’s Final to SSgt Matt Barker.

“We all found it difficult getting back into individual shooting; we later found out that this was due to 48C heat and the many layers of heated air that we had not yet become accustomed to!  The flags were not particularly helpful, and the wind was made more difficult by the 40’ “dust devils” that swept across the range several times during the matches. Luckily we had Major “All-in” McLean to give us a fine example of what is “Palma Stuff” ……..”on that side of things so it is”!

“However, despite the challenging conditions the team managed to push through – winning all the team matches…..and even beating the whole of Canada.  Unfortunately we still lost to Maj “All-in” McLean…..so we did!”

Such a successful shooting phase left the team absolutely exhausted – and truly ready for their 3 day “R & R” in the Gatineau Provincial Park in Quebec. Perfectly paced by Maj Al Stewart, our superb liaison officer, the mix of adventurous training and fun offered us a glimpse of Canada’s wilderness without too much physical exertion (although the Adjutant’s bruises from righting capsized canoes might have suggested otherwise!). CSgt Seb Treacy (Framlingham College CCF) takes up the story:

“After an “essentials only” stop at Walmart – where Will Hall replaced the losses of clothing incurred at the camp laundry – the team continued to the beautiful Gatineau Park. Once our tents were up we set off on a hike (described as about 5km – but actually about 12!) to a limestone cave system on the shore of Lusk Lake , where the team tested their night vision “spelunking”!

“An evening round the camp fire – with some generously supplied pizza from Major Stewart – helped the team recover. Being surrounded by wildlife helped Tom (Cpl Tom Johnston, 1015 (Horsham) Sqn ATC) in particular find his most basic instincts: what Lt Col Barrette (CO of Connaught National Cadet Summer Training Centre) would later call the “hunter-gatherer-yeoman within us all”!

“The next day we found our sea legs canoeing on Lake Phillipe – which quickly descended into deep water warfare! FS Southall emerged with battle scars, and heroic tales of capsizes and rescues – despite her and my best efforts to stay the right way up and dry.  In the afternoon we managed to catch no less than 6 freshwater bass – with which Sealord Joe’s (PO Joe Kelleher, Victoria College CCF and an experienced fishmonger’s assistant) expertise gave us some delicious fillets, while the Colonel used a more savage “pick it off the bones” technique!

“After marshmallows around the fire – watching and being watched by the scavenging racoons – the team retired to bed exhausted. The adults stayed up a little longer enjoying the “at one with nature” feeling for one last time. We were ready for home!”

After returning to Connaught the next morning the day was spent checking kit, returning stores, and saying our last goodbyes.  The final day was spent in Montreal, savouring the undoubted “Frenchness” and difference of Quebec’s largest city, before heading to the airport. Transit through customs and security was again easy and trouble free, and the flight home, once again by “Dreamliner” passed quickly and comfortably. Met at Heathrow by Majors James Postle and Simon Fraser, the teams “last Hurrah” was in the arrivals courtyard – singing “Happy Birthday” to our highly effective team captain Cpl Adam Smith (2 (Northern Ireland) Bn ACF), as he and Cpl Jake Magill (2390 (Belfast Royal Academy) Sqn ATC) departed for their connecting flights.

Enormous thanks must go to Maj Fraser and Gina at CCRS, Maj Postle (Honorary Organiser), Maj Alwyn McLean (Armourer) and all the others in the UK who got us there and got us back, and to all those in Canada who made our tour so successful –especially Maj Al Stewart, and Lt Col Rob Barrette – for whom this was the last year as CO of NCSTC Connaught, and Kathy Corcoran at the DCRA – whose forbearance of cadets littering her building’s porch was amazing!

My special thanks go to FS Helen Southall, Adjutant, for a fantastic job, done well; and most of all to the team – for making the role of Commandant so easy and so rewarding, and delivering such superb results.