The 7th Light Infantry Brigade Sapper Battalion, Record in the Tuy-Santiago Competition

 

Participants in the event on the obstacle course (Photo:7th Light Infantry Brigade)

Swimming leg with equipment on the Umia River(Photo: 7th Light Infantry Brigade)

General Alonso with event participants (Photo: 7th Light Infantry Brigade)

The 7th Light Infantry Brigade “Galicia” Sapper Battalion patrol has beat the time record in the Tuy-Santiago Patrol Competition, which the Brigade itself organizes.  This is the first time, in ten seasons, that a patrol has covered the 120 kilometres between Tuy and Santiago de Compostela, on the Portuguese Road, and undertaken the seven events that make up the competition in only 29 hours and 30 minutes. 

Although for the moment the results are provisional, the 7th Sapper Battalion patrol has placed at the top of the classification, followed by the Light Infantry Brigade’s 7th Field Artillery Group in second and the Navy’s North Brigade in third.  Tomorrow, 27th May, the definitive results will be announced, when the organization meets with delegates from the 17 participating patrols for the possible presentation of appeals and objections. After the publication of the definitive classification on that day, the regulation trophy presentation will take place. 

The 102 participating service personnel have had to demonstrate their excellent physical fitness in order to meet this enormous physical challenge that is the Tuy-Santiago Patrol Competition.  Not only did they cover 120 kilometres in 48 hours at most in full uniform, with weapons and rucksack (equipment and a weight of at least eight kilos), but also they had to overcome a series of tough events.  These were completing an obstacle course, crossing semi-permanent bridges (over the Umia River in Caldas de Reis), rappelling, covering a topographic route as well as a  chronometered route, a swimming leg in a river (the Ulla River) while towing their equipment , and finally, shooting and grenade throwing.

This morning, once all the patrols had arrived at the destination point, the Tuy-Santiago 2011official closing ceremony was held in la Quintana Square in Santiago de Compostella.  Also attending along with the participants have been the Light Infantry Brigade commander, General José A. Alonso, presiding over the ceremony, and various civilian and military authorities.  As the finishing touch to the competition, with the Compostela certificate dully sealed, the hardworking servicepersons have attended the traditional pilgrims’ mass at the cathedral in Santiago.