No Sweat: Royal Signals soldiers complete 40-mile challenge in searing temperatures

Army Signallers have battled through scorching temperatures to successfully complete a mind-and-muscle sapping 40-mile endurance competition on the arduous terrain of Dartmoor.

Organised by the Royal Corps of Signals, the annual Lanyard Endurance Race is designed to test the fitness skills of the modern-day soldier and their levels of endurance and determination.

Amongst the competitors taking part in the challenge were an all-female team from Nuneaton based 30 Signal Regiment. The team of seven were the only female team to take part. Two men’s teams and a veteran’s team from the Regiment also took part.

The challenge sees teams compete to navigate around 13 checkpoints in the fastest time. All whilst being weighed down with personal kit and equipment weighing around 15kgs (30lbs) – about the weight of a three-year-old child.

Team lead, Major Roberts said: “We trained for months in the run up to the race. We did plenty of runs, weighted ‘tabs’ and navigation practice.

Finishing with a time of 19 hours and 30 minutes, Major Roberts continued: “I’ve done this competition a few times before but never on Dartmoor.  I really want to encourage others to take on arduous events like this.  

“Three of the ladies in our team hadn’t completed a Lanyard Trophy event before. It was hard going at times, but the feeling of pride and sense of achievement when we crossed the line was fantastic.”

Signaller Harnett who can normally be found in the pool or on the track had entered the competition for the first time. She said: “I wanted to push myself and try something new. The heat slowed us down a little, but we just encouraged one another and kept on moving forward.”

Over 21 teams took part in the competition, with the first wave of competitors starting at 5 am.  There was no fixed route, each individual team planned out their own route using only a map and compass. 

Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Master of Signals, Lieutenant General Sharon Nesmith said: “A Royal Signals rite of passage, Exercise Lanyard Trophy is the ultimate test of resilience, stamina and teamwork; it’s our Corps at it’s very best. It was great to see all of the teams, regular, reserve and our team of servicewomen – they are doing a fantastic job setting the precedence for increased female competition in years to come.”

The annual challenge is now in its 44th year and was the brainchild of Peter Richards, a Royal Corps of Signals Officer from 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron. Its aim was originally to simulate ground operations in the event of a Warsaw Pact invasion.