CCF// CCF & ARMY SECTION
CCF
& ARMY
SECTION
Ten Fourth Year cadets showed
excellent initiative, teamwork and
determination as they represented
Pocklington School at a STEM-themed
Leadership Challenge weekend at
the Ministry of Defence Sixth Form
College in Leicestershire.
The weekend was designed to test
the fitness, communication skills
and resourcefulness of cadets, with
particular focus on science technology,
engineering and mathematics. Our
team, drawn from both the Combined
Cadet Force and Army Cadet Force
contingents, was one of 23 chosen from
60 teams who applied to take part in the
annual event. Contingent Commander
Captain Sam Cheadle reports:
“We travelled down to Welbeck on
Friday 20th March after school and set
up our camp on the Welbeck playing
fields. Saturday morning was an early
start, we were up and out by 5.45 and
we spent the morning working with
Bloodhound supersonic car, learning
about the current project of building
a car capable of achieving 1000 mph
and then designing and building our
own rocket car out of K’Nex for the
competition element of the stand.
The afternoon quickly became more
physical and we dominated the
orienteering and obstacle course with
Pock determination and enthusiasm.
We also took part in two command
tasks, one of which was in the swimming
pool where we avoided killer whales and
sharks to complete the task. We built
and drove a go-kart with REME, and
shot on the indoor clay pigeon range.
In the evening, there was a quiz and a
social, both quickly followed by a huge
thunderstorm. Thankfully, our tents
kept us dry overnight.
On a now glorious Sunday morning,
we took a tour of Welbeck College,
attempted a climbing wall activity and
faced a first aid scenario that included
dealing with missing limbs. We finished
the morning and the weekend with the
trim trail and a minefield command
task.
The team were outstanding all weekend
and were a true credit to the CCF
and their school. The teamwork and
camaraderie were fantastic and didn’t
dip below excellent. The feedback
from the Welbeck staff and cadets
attached to the team was that they were
so impressed with how well our team
worked together and how much they
had enjoyed supporting them.
Sixty teams applied to take part in the
weekend and out of the twenty-three
that were selected, I am delighted to say
that we finished in third place. What an
achievement!”
The team were: Henry Kay; Bob
Clark; Ed Hasdell; Harry Jones; Lukas
Bradshaw; Tom Kirby; Grace Beckett;
Emma Sweeting; Millie Addinall;
Gabbie Innes.
Supported by Capt Cheadle and
Lt Clark
38
THE POCKLINGTONIAN