THE CATERAN YOMP

On the 1st of June 16 members of 47 Regiment Royal Artillery travelled to Scotland to take part in the Cateran Yomp.

some tester tipples at the bar. Once tents were established 2Lt Hunter led a kit check and ensured all participants were registered. With over 500 participants the atmosphere was electric, and the rest of the evening was spent meeting other participants at the event's famous pasta party. A safety brief followed as well as some encouraging words from the Army Sergeant Major who was also participating in the yomp.

The Cateran Yomp is an endurance event which requires entrants to complete a 54-mile trek across the Cairngorm National Park within a 24-hour time frame. The yomp allowed personnel from the batteries across the regiment to come together and have a break from the fast pace of regimental life.

The trip began with a long car journey from Larkhill to a surprisingly sunny Edinburgh where the team enjoyed an evening meal to begin the ‘carb load’ before the event. On the morning of Friday 2nd of June the teams packed up and departed Redford Barracks to head for the event hub in Blairgowrie.

Upon arrival at the event hub there were many stalls offering coffee, merchandise and even

At 0430 the sound of bagpipes gradually woke the campsite and after a hearty cooked breakfast the members of the regiment prepared for step off at 0650. Before we knew it, we were off toward the first checkpoint, Bronze (22 miles). With good spirits the team started off strong, taking in the sunshine and the stunning views of the landscapes. Along the way there were designated water stops which were stocked with electrolyte drinks, fruit, and snacks. At 18 miles in, the final push to bronze presented a hurdle in the form of a 200m ascent between the team and the checkpoint. The tough terrain challenged individuals' ability to push through when the things got tough. The determination of the team was wholly worth it, as upon arrival at Bronze we were greeted with a copious amount of fuel in the form of a fully stocked sandwich deli bar and fresh smoothies.

Refreshed and rejuvenated the team departed for the silver checkpoint (36 miles). This leg of the course offered some challenging terrain but nothing that some high-quality eye spy couldn’t help with. Arriving at Silver at 20:30 we quickly scoffed pizza and had visits to the onsite podiatrists to prepare for the final stretch.

The sun was setting as we headed for gold. The final 18mile stretch had some steep inclines and sharp descents, all with the added complexity of darkness. This leg was a true test. Many team members had multiple blisters and hotspots as well as aching joints. When morale was dipping, the team came together and spurred each other on to the very end. The attitude demonstrated by the team on the final push embodied the values and standards of the Army, requiring discipline and selfless commitment to each other. As each member crossed the finish line together under the 24-hour mark a sense of relief and celebration was felt amongst everyone and had made all the pain worthwhile.

Overall, the Cateran Yomp was a professionally run event which provided an opportunity to really test the mental resilience and physical robustness of the team. Whilst demanding the yomp was made even more worthwhile when we each received the gold medal as well as a gold distinction for finishing; as a team, and in under 24 hours.