Trio of Caithness cadets strike gold in Cambrian Patrol competition
Three Army Cadets from Caithness travelled to Wales for an International Fieldcraft Competition, which saw them return home with silverware.
Cadet Corporal Callum Prideuax (17), Cadet Corporal John Bremner (15) and Cadet Corporal Keanu Jones (16) from 1st Battalion The Highlanders’ Caithness Company took part in the Cadet Cambrian Patrol competition, which was held on the Sennybridge Training Area in Powys last month.
The Cadet Cambrian Patrol aims to push cadets, testing them both physically and mentally on the skills they have learnt throughout their time in Cadets in the form of a 26km patrol, which sees the teams undertake stands en-route covering observation, medical evacuation, defensive shooting, military knowledge and section attacks.
The competition welcomes teams each year from the whole of the UK, with the Highlanders being the only Scottish team in this year’s event.
This was the first time that the battalion had decided to enter the competition. Selection for the team started in February and included monthly training weekends based at Dingwall and Fort George, which saw prospective cadets be put through their paces and tested their knowledge of the cadet syllabus.
The five cadets from across the battalion were shortlisted alongside Keanu, Callum and John to make the eight-person team to head down to Sennybridge.
There is no overall winner of the competition, each team’s patrol and conduct in the stands is assessed against a set marking criteria and at the end of the competition each team is given an overall grade: Gold, Silver and Bronze or a Certificate of Competition.
Out of 19 teams which entered, the 1st Battalion The Highlanders Team were one of only four teams which achieved a Gold and the Highlanders were the only Army Cadet team who achieved Gold, with the other teams being from the Combined Cadet Force. The Battalion Team was also named the Best International Army Cadet Force Team.
The Army Cadets Force is a youth organisation which provides challenging adventure, sporting and community activities aiming to inspire young people to achieve success in life while having fun.
