Each year since 2003, Somerset Army Cadet Force has entered at least one team in the international event The Nijmegen Marches. In 2003, their first year, the team was under-strength, as a result of which, they were amalgamated by the organisers, with a CCF Team who were also taking part.   The Somerset team so impressed the leader of the CCF Team, that he presented them with the Gold Medal presented by the Dutch authorities to the Team as a whole.

In 2004, Somerset’s team was up to strength, and participated on its own.   Their showing this time was adjudged the Best Cadet Force team by the organisers, with their international success rewarded by the presentation of the Trophy.

In 2005, they did it again.   Only the second time in the history of the Marches that a Cadet Force team had won in two successive years.   Unfortunately, in 2006 the event was cancelled after one day due to the heat (40 deg C +).

This international fame did not just happen.   It takes a lot of practice.  It causes a whole load of blisters, strained muscles, blood, sweat and tears.   And all this before the teams attend the qualifying event, held at RAF Cosford, under the auspices of the RAF Walking and Road Marching Association (RAFWARMA).   No Cosford = No Nijmegen.

Leaving a Rest Stop
The event at RAF Cosford involves Teams walking 25 miles on each of two successive days.   If they can achieve this, then it is assumed that the Teams can go to Nijmegen, and there walk 25 miles on each of four successive days!

This year however, Cosford was oversubscribed for accommodation, and the Somerset Team were informed that they could only send one Team, but as they were twice Winners at Nijmegen, they were also given the very rare privilege of being able to conduct their own 50 mile/two day event, with certification by Somerset Commandant, Colonel Robbie Guest, for their other Teams.

Captain Bruce Rodgers, however, had other ideas.   Bruce decided that, because many of the volunteers for Nijmegen were too young (16 being the minimum age permitted), the Team that would go to Nijmegen this year would be volunteer cadets under the age of 16, so that they would be able to get a feel of what was expected of them.
In 2005, the Somerset Cosford team were awarded Best Army Cadet Team, and this against teams from all over the UK.   This was a great honour for the Battalion.
In 2006, Bruce entered two Teams for Cosford.   Cunningly named Team “A” were Runners-Up for Best Army Cadet team, and were pipped at the post by Team “B” !   The applause from the other 2500 contestants can still be heard!

Back to the Under-16s in 2007.   All of the teams since Somerset began taking part, have been led by SMIs Mac Cox and Mandy Pratt, but it is slightly different training and leading the 16 to 18 year olds than it is with 12 to 15 year olds, many of whom, apart from the initial walking training, which took place at the RAC HQ at Bovington, had probably never walked further than the Corner Shop.

The Marchers Amass

Whether by accident or design, Captain Rodgers had entered this Team of young, untried, inexperienced cadets into the Senior Event, rather than the Junior Event - which took place over one day instead of two, and 25 miles rather than 50. After the two days, the final March Past takes place at RAF Cosford, where the salute this year was taken by the Head of RAFWARMA, and all of the competitors sit on the square to listen to the speeches and the presentations.

The March Past
The team watched as the trophy for Best Foreign team was awarded to Denmark, Best Air Cadet Team Prize went to a Squadron from the Midlands, and then the Runners-Up Prize for the Army Cadet Team was announced to the cheers of the thousand or so team members sitting on the square.  

Then the announcement “Best Army Cadet Team goes to Somerset Cadet Battalion” !

Not only had Somerset won the prize once again, they had won it with a Team most of whom were under 16, and the two Lead Cadets were aged 12 years old!   One of them was too short even to be able to ride on Fun Fair rides!

The Commentator announced the ages of the cadets, and the cheering and applause would have been a Standing Ovation had everyone not been sitting down.   And it went on.  And on. And on.

SMI Mac Cox Collects the Trophy for Best Army Cadet Team

So, hear it officially.   The Somerset Cadet Battalion The Army Cadet Force (The Rifles), is not only the Best Army Cadet Team in the UK, it is also Internationally the Best Army Cadet Force Team.   And having been The Best at Cosford for three years running, they get to keep the Trophy!

There are only three names on the Trophy.   They run something like this:

1. Somerset Cadet Battalion

2006                Somerset Cadet Battalion
2007                Somerset Cadet Battalion

The Trophy heading for its New Home in Somerset

The dedication of SMIS Cox and Pratt, and that of their Support Team and Captain Bruce Rodgers is testimony that what you put in, you get out.

These young people are surely examples of what the Army Cadet Force is capable of, given the support and leadership  at all levels of the various supporting Agencies.

The publicity that this and other events generates for the Army Cadet Force generally and Somerset  Army Cadet Force in particular, is considerable.   Photographs of “local” Cadets regularly appear in their own “local” newspaper, and very often result in more cadets wanting to join.

Team members were:

            Leader/Trainer Male                  SMI Mac Cox
            Leader/Trainer Female              SMI Mandy Pratt

            Cdt LCpl Cowdrey (14)            Cadet LCpl Crease      (14)
            Cdt Sjt Edwards   (15)             Cadet Sjt Hawkins       (15)
            Cadet   Higgins (17)                Cdt LCpl Martin           (16)
            Cdt Cpl McMeakin  (16)          Cadet Osborne             (12)
            Cadet Park             (14)          Cadet Phillips               (17)
            Cadet Richardson    (12           Cadet White                 (14)
            Cadet Whitfield        (15)

Somerset were allocated One team place, a team being at least 12 Marchers.   In order that all of the allocated places were used, some of the older cadets, who were already expected to travel to Nijmegen, were included for the Cosford event.

Wednesday 6th September was a nervous day for WSSI Mandy Pratt, Cadet Cpl Vicky Guppy and a not so nervy PI Martyn Bryant, as they were about to jump out of a plane between 10,000 and 12,000 ft up in the air, in a tandem parachute jump with the famous red devils.

Martyn and Vicky, both from Cannington Platoon were raising money for the Somerset and Dorset air ambulance and Mandy from Doniford Platoon was raising money for the national kidney research fund.

We met up at 0900hrs, and nerves were running high as we were greeted at the gates of the Duke of Gloucester barracks in Cirencester by one of the Red Devils team.

Vicky was really excited, she had been buzzing for weeks as the lead up got closer and closer. Mandy on the other hand had a terrible fear of heights, and at one point was begging to leave as she realised she was jumping with one of the smallest guys there, no offence Andy. Martyn was playing all cool as he had completed many solo jumps in the past, but had never done a tandem before.

Vicky and Mandy were the third flight up and it seemed to take an age before we saw them descending through the sky as Tim the cameraman was first, then Vicky and finally Mandy. We didn't hear a single scream from either and both on landing were eager to get back in the plane and do it again. Martyn was on the fourth flight up and was second out, as he had done it before he had a go at flying the parachute, to which they nearly went upside down.
Thanks to the jump, Mandy no longer has a fear of heights and we are all returning again next year but with a couple extras doing the jump. We would like to thank the team for a great day and look forward to seeing them soon, when they are coming to visit us at Cannington.