Military Chefs from across Units in 3rd United Kingdom Division have been battling it out in the Division’s annual Christmas Cake Competition.

From Santa Claus to penguins to Gingerbread houses the chefs entered a whole variety of wonderful decorated Christmas cakes, gingerbread pieces and stollen to demonstrate that their culinary skills stretch far beyond their normal busy schedule of feeding colleagues and cooking in the field.

With such a vast array of creative entries the judging was always going to be difficult but in the end the overall first prize was awarded to Private Kelly Roberts from 27 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) for her imaginative cake depicting Santa Claus and Rudolph relaxing in a hot tub.

For Kelly, who only completed training last year, this festive event was the first time she had entered a competition so to win was a little surprising - “it was amazing to win first prize and very unexpected. I got my inspiration for the design from the internet and it took me about a week or so to prepare in between my normal duties.”

The other prize winners were Private Harrison, 1 Regiment RLC, for her Decorated Christmas Cake, the Gingerbread Centre Piece first prize went to Corporal Saman of 10 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment and Sergeant St Jean of Perham Down based 26 Engineer Regiment scoped the top award for this Stollen cake.

After judging all the cakes entered in the competition will be donated to charities local to the where the units are based.

Congratulations to Operation Nightingale’s Dickie Bennett for winning the Individual Achievement Award. Operation Nightingale is a MOD initiative established in 2011 that aims to assist the recovery of wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans through archaeology. Dickie Bennett founded Breaking Ground Heritage, which provides veterans and logistics support to Operation Nightingale.

Dickie’s dedication to the programme and to the mental health requirements of others provides an outstanding example for all. Dickie has mentored large numbers of Service Personnel on their journey to recovery, with much of this work taking place on the MOD estate.

Last week First Fusiliers conducted the new Role Fitness Test Soldier (RFT (S) The tests Include a 40kg march, 2km loaded run, 110kg casualty drag and

Loaded march, a 4km tab with 40kg within 40 minutes followed by a further 2 kms with 25kgs in 15 mins. Then the Fire and Movement, 20 7.5 metre tactical bounds controlled by a PTI followed by a 15m crawl and a 15 m sprint in 55 secs.

Then a casualty drag, a 110kg bag pulled over 20m in 35 secs and finally the water can carry to simulate a stretcher, carry two 22kg cans over 240m in four minutes.

This is a much better test of the physical abilities as Combat Infantry.