Excellence in Every Command: The Sir Steuart Pringle Trophy
By alasdair, first year specialist (year 12)
10 October 2025
charterhouse news
Charterhouse Royal Marines Cadets achieved their best result in many years at the national Sir Steuart Pringle Trophy competition.
The competition took place over the weekend of 3-5 October at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone, and saw Royal Marine cadets from schools across the UK testing their skills to the limit in a series of gruelling challenges. This year’s competition saw teams from 16 schools pitting against each other in a round-robin format.
The nine cadets from Charterhouse’s Royal Marines Detachment were led by Cdt Sgt Joshua Allen, Sgt James Brooks, and CSgt Gemma Handley (Second Year Specialists, Year 13).
Competing in the CCF Pringle Trophy was an intense but rewarding experience that tested our teamwork, resilience, and leadership under pressure. It was a chance to put our training into practice, push our limits, and take real pride in representing our contingent.
Gemma, second year specialist (year 13)
Schools competed in 12 different disciplines, including deliberate attacks, planning, command and control, fitness, fire control orders, the assault course, and drill. The weekend concluded with a lovely jog around the gruelling Royal Marines endurance course, which included wading through the chest-high muddy waters of ‘Pete’s Pool’ and the infamous ‘Sheep Dip’.
The Pringle Trophy means more than just a competition; it is not only about the skills of teamwork and perseverance that we show, but also about the memories that will stay with each one of us forever.
Josh, second year specialist (year 13)
The team consisted of Cdt Sgt Josh, Cdt Sgt James, Cdt C/Sgt Gemma (2YS, Year 13), Cdt Cpl Alasdair, Cdt Cpl Alex, Cdt Cpl Toby, Cdt LCpl Jack, Cdt LCpl Ollie (1YS, Year 12), and Cdt LCpl Sam (Fifth, Year 11). |
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Charterhouse achieved its best result in many years – winning one of the command task stances, finishing a close second to Harrow in the Normandy Trophy, and placing seventh overall.
The Pringle Trophy was a gruelling two days of physical and mental challenges, each testing our grit, knowledge, and, most importantly, our teamwork. It was thanks to the dedication of the nine cadets and beaks (teachers) involved that we came away with such a strong result.
James, second year specialist (year 13)
