5 minute read
Ex EAGLE SPANNER
Ex EAGLE SPANNER 2022
Scribe: Cfn Rhodes OC: Capt Fox ASM: WO1 Collenette
Advertisement
Ex EAGLE SPANNER 22 saw the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery Workshop deploy to Ortez, Austria, on Adventurous Training. A multi-activity package which included Mountaineering, Mountain Biking, White Water Rafting and Canyoneering; organised by Sgt Hopkins and Cpl Roake. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we were all looking forward to this trip and hoping that the weather would hold for us after a busy ES period within 16 Brigade.
An early start of 0230hrs saw us mount up on the three “luxurious” 9-seater Minibuses and begin our journey via the Euro Tunnel to France. We then had a lengthy 12 hour drive on to Ortez, Austria, where Cpl Templeman most certainly didn’t complain at all. A trip that was expertly dodged by both the OC Wksp, Capt Fox and ASM WO1 Collenette. who lead from the front, taking a cushy flight out on a ‘Recce’ to meet us at “Hotel” Marko.
Day 2 saw us split into two groups to make it easier for the Instructors. Group 1 would partake in mountain biking with Cpl Gutteridge and LCpl Finch, whilst Group 2 would head off for some mountaineering with Capt Fox and WO1 Collenette. The latter would see an emotional uphill battle between myself and the 2,370m peak. After stopping for lunch, I soon realised that the descent was certainly quicker than the ascent; especially if you go down on your backside as Cpl ‘KitKat Ankles’ Erskine found out to everyone’s amusement.
Aching calves and quads were the theme for Day 3, as we hit mountain biking with Cpl Gutteridge and LCpl Finch. Group 1 had swapped over with us, and they went onto enjoy mountaineering. We followed the same route as group 1 had done on the previous day. However, we added our own amount of calamity and accidents just to make it interesting. Sgt Bloomfield deciding that he was clearly a pro because he knew what a derailer was, raced around a corner, his aborted Tokyo drift style slide firing him and his e-bike down the mountainside, through some trees with his legs akimbo. After that high-pitched scream, he clearly has a future in an all-boys choir! Failing to learn his lesson, he threw himself into another tree for good measure. Cpl Bigmore had a light fall and Cfn Bird liked the look of a road sign and decided to crash into it; finding out a week later he had a double fracture to his sternum. On return to the accommodation that evening, we arranged a meal out with everyone and enjoyed the local restaurants and culture.
Highest peak in Oetz, Mount Kuhtai – 2017m
By Day 4 it was safe to say that the two most arduous activities had been completed. We headed for Area 47, an adventure park, down the road from our accommodation. Again, split into two groups, Group 1 would go canyoning and Group 2 were to go white water rafting. Rafting was entertaining and had seen us all enjoy winding up the Instructor Geoff by insinuating we were going to flip the boat
WO1 (ASM) Collenette pointing out the pub Cpl “Elvis Legs” Roake
a different Instructor with limited success. Group 2 consisting of the more mature members enjoyed a relatively calm canyoning session where not much happened. Certainly, no crashes or Elvis legs. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the activities that had been and organised, allowing us to blow off steam after a busy few months at High Readiness. Thursday evening came about and we stayed in the Area 47 park for dinner. Having eaten we headed over to the entertainment bar that was on the site. Everyone had noticed that there was a karaoke bar and were eagerly awaiting Cpl Templeman’s rendition of “Wonderwall” that we had all heard so much about. After opening the evening with some Linkin Park, he was soon in his element, blasting out the classic 90’s hits over the mic. The evening can be remembered by one special act in particular though, Sgt Reid had given everyone an enjoyable display of “Touch Myself”. He is now named “The King of Karaoke”. As the evening came to a close and the end of the AT in Austria was upon us, we took a trip back to the accommodation and got our heads down.
The trip back was just as slow as the drive out but eventually we crossed the tunnel back to the UK at around 0120hrs and arrived back in Merville Barracks for around 0345hrs. Everyone who had taken part in Exercise EAGLE SPANNER had not only enjoyed the AT package thoroughly but had also learnt the basic mountaineering and mountain biking techniques, which goes to show the quality of the Instructors on each activity we had. A special thanks to those who instructed and those who organised and put together this wonderful and enjoyable few days.
Cpls Gutteridge and Bigmoor having a breather
with him in it. He wasn’t amused by this and declined the invitation to do so. Whilst we were busy attempting to get Geoff as wet as possible, the other group had some entertainment of their own with Cpl “Elvis legs” Roake flapping with tears in his eyes at the top of an 18m abseil from a bridge. This was brought on by a rope change due to fraying. Eventually overcoming his fear of heights, he took the plunge. We all returned to Area 47 and made good use of the water slides and sunbathing areas (in true Germanic fashion we had our towels out early) until around 1800hrs when we headed back to the accommodation and then out for dinner. Another day had passed but it’s safe to say we had all enjoyed it so far.
The final activity day had sadly come, with Groups 1 and 2 swapping activities. Group 1 managed to annoy Geoff even more than the group on the previous day, yet again, threatening to soak him. Unimpressed Geoff had given up on them and just let them get on with it. So, they took it upon themselves to attempt to submerge
stopping for a break
