The Bismarck Challenge, one of the premier military competitions within the 1st (UK) Division. It is known for its rigorous demands on both physical and mental resilience. This event challenges each four-man team to complete a demanding four-mile, off-road route in boots, navigating uneven terrain while carrying a combined load of 40kg distributed among the team, excluding water.
Held on the 19th of September 2024 at the Catterick Training Area, the Bismarck Challenge brought together 116 teams and over 500 service personnel competing across seven categories: Major Unit Men’s Team, Minor Unit Men’s Team, Women’s Team, Mixed Team, Over 50s Team, Guest Team, and Individual Entry. This year, a team from The Second Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (2 RGR), led by Staff Seargeant Sanju Kerung, Royal Army Physical Training Corps Instructor secured an impressive victory in the Major Unit Men’s category, setting a new all-time record with an extraordinary finish of 28mins and 28secs – beating the previous record by an impressive 2mins and 40secs.
The main 2 RGR team in the four-man category included Lance Corporal Sanjog Khebang, Rifleman Abishek Rai, Rifleman Roshan Thamsuang, and Rifleman Bishal Rai. In the Individual Entry category, 2 RGR’s Rifleman Rakesh Limbu, Rifleman Krishna Tamang, and Rifleman Samir Rai showcased exceptional performance, securing 2nd, 3rd, and 4th positions, respectively.
The journey to success was paved with weeks of intense, focused training, including specialized conditioning, strict diet and nutrition, and mental resilience training sessions. This comprehensive preparation program, overseen by Physical Training Instructor Lance Corporal Sanjog Khebang under the guidance of Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor 2 RGR, was crucial to the team’s success.
