Academy youngsters put to the test

By Mark Stevens
17/7/19

Academy youngsters from Truro and Exeter Colleges have been put through their paces during a gruelling day out with the Royal Marines.

Working out of the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, the two groups of 40 students geared up for the new season ahead by undergoing a series of fitness and team-building tests, as well as tackling the strength-sapping Endurance Course on Woodbury Common.

The day began for both groups with the Marines Fitness Test, which included sit-up, press-up and pull-up challenges, as well as a bleep test.

Team-building exercises then followed, before the groups were sent out deep into the East Devon countryside to tackle the 2.5 mile course, which offers us challenges such as tunnels, pipes, wading pools and an underwater culvert.

The Endurance Course replicates that of the Commando Challenge, which the Royal Marines put on each year for those keen folk looking for a real challenge to have a go at. Running now for over 25 years, thousands of people have crawled, ran, swam and struggled through the mud and obstacles of the famous assault course, all in the name of charity.

For the past four years, Devon Air Ambulance Trust and The Royal Marines Charity have been the benefiting charities of the event which, over its 25-year history, has raised over £5 million.

The visit of the college students to Lympstone is the latest link-up between the Royal Marines and the Exeter Chiefs, who have been using other facilities at Lympstone as part of their pre-season programme, as well as working in tandem in helping both recruits and players who are working hard on rehabilitation programmes following injuries.

Marc Dibble, Chiefs' Under-18s Academy Manager, said: "It's great for our boys to go out and try something completely different, but in what is a very challenging environment put on by the Royal Marines. Not only have they been tested physically, but the variety of tasks they have been set during the course of the day has really challenged them mentally.

"We are very grateful to all the staff at CTC Lympstone for their time and effort, which we know will have a huge impact on all the boys."