The Pringle Trophy is an annual competition between 18 schools from around the British Isles held by the Royal Marines. It is the highlight of the year for the Royal Marine cadets. Although Charterhouse did not threaten the top 5 places this year the team put in a fine performance, which could not have been more committed. The boys have learnt to work as a team, to support each other rather than to put themselves down when events go against them, to value a good sense of humour and to appreciate the individual skills that each one of them brings.
Toby Pheasant (V) has visibly grown into his role as leader directing the others with an intelligent and quiet assurance, while being very ably assisted by the senior four of Angus Berger (B, in his third Pringle), Ed Hutchinson (H), Christian Hacking (H) and Henry Don (R). Meanwhile, Sam Robin (P) made it his second Pringle and again underlined his evident qualities of strength of character and clear thinking; Harry Muris (g) stepped in for the injured Sam Little (R) with a maturity and calmness that impressed everyone. Final member of the team was the reserve – Will Law (P, Remove) who won the prize for best new cadet in the summer.
The team’s character was most evident in the section attack stance which was a fine example of controlled aggression, while on the observation stance it was commented that we had brought down a bunch of ‘ninjas’ – a comment we took to be a compliment. The worst mistake of the weekend was perhaps that of JFAT and EH who presumed that they would not have any trouble in keeping up with the boys on the endurance course.
E Hadley