Adventurous Training

Everyone gets the chance to take part in adventurous activities in basic training, and this doesn't stop when you get to Battalion. Last summer saw virtually the entire Battalion get away to take part in either trekking in the nearby Hartz Mountains, sailing off the north coast of Germany or climbing in South Africa. We enter an annual ski team to the Infantry championships where participants go away for six weeks to learn and train. No previous skiing experience required. The best skiers are then selected to represent the Infantry and even the Army.

 
Boxing

Boxing has long been a popular sport amongst the 'Staffords'. We have our own boxing gym and training takes place every week we are in camp. Inter-company boxing tournaments are held every year where boxers are relieved from regular military training to train full time for 6 weeks in order to prepare them for competition. This produces some first class fighters, some of whom go on to represent the infantry or even the Army.

 
Rugby

Rugby is hugely popular here in the 'Staffords'. The rugby team train every week with regular fixtures against other local teams.

 
Judo

The 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Staffords) has its own Judo Club and resident instructor.

3 MERCIAN Judo Club is coached by Lt Shergold, who is a former Amateur Judo Association National Champion and British Judo Association 1st Dan (black belt).

 
Triathlon

Triathlon is a growing sport in the Army, and no more so than here at the 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment (Staffords). Events comprise a swim, a bike and then a run over various distances.

The standard race distances are a sprint (400m, 20km, 5km), olympic (1.5km, 40km, 10km), middle (1.9km, 90km, 21km) and long/Ironman (3.8km, 180km, 42km).

Most sprint events are held in swimming pools, whilst all other distances are 'open water' requiring a wetsuit designed for swimming and goggles. Whilst a mountain bike is fine to try triathlon, a race bike is essential to do well. To run simply requires a good pair of trainers. Most triathletes wear 'tri-suits', a Lycra outfit that can be worn during all three disciplines, minimising time spent changing.

''Team Mercian' has competed over every distance from Sprint to Long in the last 12 months. In May 2008, they sent a team to race the Ironman Lanzarote - a gruelling long distance event in the Canary Islands.