The winter weather set in on Pirbright as the service’s top all-round athletes hit the start line for the British Army Warrior Fitness (BAWF) finals.
Conditions were bitter during an opening six-and-a-half-kilometre trail run – but troops’ resolution remained as hard as the frost as they steeled themselves for the physical and mental battle ahead.
A clean-and-jerk ladder with progressive load carrying was followed by simulated skiing, cycling and other disciplines in the camp gym amid a full-on barrage of challenges for the athletes involved.
The programme, which remained a closely-guarded secret until the day, was devised by the military’s top PTIs to test strength, stamina and endurance.
“The standards among those taking part have been high,” said organiser WO2 Alex Rees (RAPTC), who was a competitor in the first four BAWF finals after the launch of the contest in 2021.
“It’s like any new event – as people understand it better, they learn how to train more effectively.
“I also think we’ve seen something of a culture shift with activities in the civilian world – you are finding more people doing things such as Crossfit and Hyrox and this is reflected in the recruits we are bringing on board.”
The BAWF outing has certainly proved popular in its short history.
Introduced in the wake of the Covid pandemic and on the heels of an already well-established team event, the individual competition is based around exercises making up the components of military phys. And it has one simple aim – to find the service’s fittest man and woman.
Competitors must first submit video footage of three workouts. PTIs then assess the uploads to establish the best-of-the-best to call forward for the finals.
This year, 16 men and ten women were invited for the main event plus five troops aged 37-45 for a masters’ competition. An equal number participated in a veterans’ field for older personnel, and there was also a scaled version for newcomers.
“We had 200-plus people enter this year – those selected to go forward were the strongest, fittest and best-equipped to deal with the demanding programme of the final,” WO2 Rees continued.
“They did not know the exercises until the day so needed to ensure they had a good all-round training routine.
“While you could put a lot of effort into, say, gym-based exercises, you’d get caught out if you found yourself facing a swimming or running event so everyone has had to work on all aspects of fitness in their preparations.”
The programme leaves little time to draw breath. But seeing the contenders go toe-to-toe was particularly satisfying for WO2 Rees, who won the first three BAWF finals and was a runner-up last year.
The senior leader brought all of his experience to bear in the running of the latest contest.
“It has been great to be involved in this way, but it is obviously not the same as taking part,” the Aldershot-based 38-year-old, who enlisted as a combat medical technician with the Royal Army Medical Corps in 2006, admitted.
“Having seen everyone compete, I would honestly like to get back out there and be among them next year – being in the final is a fantastic experience.”
While it is undoubtedly punishing, there is certainly a huge affection for this event as it continues to develop with each annual competition.
And it is helping the army to meet the challenge that the chief of the general staff has set to double the service’s fighting power by 2027 and treble it by the end of the decade.
A fit and deployable soldier is truly the service’s greatest asset.
RX comp (main event)
Men: Pte Joshua Greenfield, R Yorks
Runners-up: Sgt Richard Cummings, Ranger; Capt Jack West, RAMS
Women: LCoH Jemma Dickinson, RHG/D
Runners-up: WO1 Kay Howells, RLC;
Bdr Alice Miell, RA
Scaled comp
Men: Sgt Bobby Maskell, RLC
Runners-up: SSgt Alan Nosworthy, RLC;
WO2 Tommy Yeates, AAC
Women: Pte Simone Pipe, AGC (SPS)
Runners-up: WO2 Laura Best, AGC (SPS); SSgt Carly Howard, RLC
Masters
Men: SSgt Ashley Pechey, R Signals
Runners-up: SSgt Nick Cawley, RAPTC;
Rfn Christian Stokes, Rifles
Women: Maj Rachel Pearson, RAMS
Runners-up: Lt Col Jess Beck, AGC (SPS);
Capt Annie Aspin, AAC
Veterans
MEN: WO2 Brett Gunning, SG
Runner-up: Rev Stewart Mackay, RAChD
Women: Lt Col Nicola McCullough, RAMS
Male BAWF champion chats to Soldier
Taking the men’s title was the fulfilment of a dream for ex-Team GB powerlifter Pte Joshua Greenfield (R Yorks, below) – who had his eyes on the prize when he joined up three years ago.
Having enlisted later in life at the age of 28, the former elite sportsman and Catterick-based infanteer admitted he had needed to bolster his all-round fitness to compete. But he said the hard work and support of his battalion had paid off as he battled the opposition in frigid conditions at Pirbright.
“The run at the beginning was the hardest task for me,” added Pte Greenfield, who is looking at selection for the Royal Army Physical Training Corps.
“Honestly, there was one hill involved that was so steep, I was going up on my hands and knees – I knew that I needed to win the other events after that.”
Pte Greenfield said army life was more than living up to expectations.
“In Team GB I was proud to wear that Union flag on my shirt – and it is the same serving King and country,” he added.
