Young & old into arms skill event

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 506, 5 October 1993, Page 1

Young & old into arms skill event

It was all on for young and old again last Friday with the Army T raining Group's annual Skill at Arms competition. The competition was fierce with twenty 10-member teams running, jumping, crawling, climbing and shooting their way through the three legs of the course. A 3km run was followed by 20 obstacles from the confidence course then a falling plate shoot. The Skill at Arms is most importantly a teams' event with times counting only when the final team member has crossed the line, ensuring that mutual team support is crucial. During the confidence course section team members were not allowed to complete an obstacle then return to help another but rather stay with their team-mates the entire way. Competitors were given 300 points for completing the run and confidence course in 45 minutes and gained an extra 20 points for each whole minute under that time. Points were also awarded or deducted under

various guidelines including dropping a piece of equipment or failing to complete an obstacle. The teams, representing various units from Waiouru were vying for three major prizes - the highest points gained overall, the best time on the confidence course and the highest points scored in the falling plate shoot. Points awarded in the day's competition will also go towards the Command Trophy presented at the end of the year to the best performance by a unit. The shooting section required the 10 team members to run forward 1 00m then shoot down 20 plates at a range of 200m with nine soldiers each having five rounds to fire while. the section' s gunner was allowed 10 rounds of ammunition. The eventual overall winners of the day's competition were 16th Field Regiment. Special mention must also be given to the Olds and Bolds from Army Schools for proving that 'guile and cunning' is easily a match for youth.