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a flavour of life in commando training
Conceived by former Royal Marines Officer and
helicopter pilot, Brian Adcock, (who also masterminds
the widely acclaimed Castle Triathlon Series at venues
around the UK, Ireland and France). The Commando
Series has gone from strength to strength with 1700
competitors attending the 2016 event.
Inspired by a company team building visit to the
Commando Training Centre Royal
Marines, the event seeks to give
the competitors a flavour of life in
commando training.
Competitors get to choose whether
they are “treated like a commando” on
the way around the course or whether
they want the instructors to “just get
me round”. This, along with the option
of additional weight (a wooden replica
rifle and 22lbs of kit in commando webbing) and
a second lap gives the entire spectrum of the OCR
demographic, from the elite to the nervous first
timer, a serious challenge delivered by some serious
professionals but with some hilarious commando
banter and humour thrown in to keep the spirits up!
Obstacles are all based on authentic obstacles found
at Lympstone where the Commandos train for the
right to wear their coveted green berets. Carbon
copies of some of the more infamous obstacles like
Peter’s Pool, The Smarty Tubes and The Sheep Dip
have been literally measured and dropped into the
stunning grounds of Hever Castle, whilst some of the
more unique features of the estate, like the hidden
caves that were built by Lord Astor for his grand-
children, have made for some truly unique and
exciting additions to the course.
Competitors, after a classic Royal Marines PTI
driven warm up that leaves them muddy and
perspiring, are reminded of the key commando
values of “Determination”, “Courage” and “Unity”
by Commando in Chief Brian Adcock before they are
unleashed on the 6km course.
Brian tells Obstacle Mud Runner Magazine “One
of the key debates for the 2016 event, was the
setting of the dates with a toss up between Bonfire
Night or the Remembrance Day weekend.” After
much deliberation with the team, many of whom
are ex-servicemen, we decided that actually there
was no reason why we couldn’t use the power of the
Remembrance movement to enhance what we were
doing at the event. With the small hitch of many of
the serving Royal Marines instructors having to take
their leave from the existing service engagements, we
managed to re-create a poignant and
fitting ceremony that included the local
vicar, a trumpeter, 2 very loud bangs,
readings from an ex-Royal Marine, a
Navy cadet and a serving Royal Marines
Colour Sergeant. The 2-minute silence
was observed all around the course with
competitors stopped in their tracks to
pay their respects wherever they were
before continuing their circumnavigation
of the estate.
The Royal Marines Charity, the main charitable
beneficiaries of the event, are uniquely placed to
understand, respond and react, enabling Marines
and their families to overcome their challenges
including life changing injury, life limiting illness,
mental disability, transition to civilian life and
even poverty. Although not a replacement for
the British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, the RMC is
closely aligned with the event and has very similar
aims. Competitors and spectators alike were able
to identify with the charity and a considerably
enhanced sum of money was raised on the day and
through online donations.
In summary, the on-the-day and post event feedback
was so good that we have decided to stick with the
same weekend in 2017 and because of the way the
dates fall we will have the Ceremony of Remembrance
on both days. We will be adding in more authentic
obstacles and commando touches and are expecting
the field to again double in size. Our aim is to make
the Remembrance piece even more compelling and
for people to make a conscious decision to come and
take part or spectate at the event whilst paying their
respects to the fallen at the same time.
Brian Adcock – Commando Series
Brian Adcock, with
daughter Floss, Royal
Marines CSgt Les Barrow
(one of the event’s many
RM instructors) and
local vicar Hilary Morgan
and her grand-daughter
on the steps of the final
obstacle, the 12’ Wall.
Floss reads the poem
“They Shall Grow Not
Old” in front of the 300
strong audience.
We look forward to seeing you on 11th/12th November 2017.
Commando Series
Placing Remembrance at The Heart of OCR
The weekend of 12th/13th November 2016 saw the second running of the
Hever Castle leg of OCR’s new breakthrough format the “Commando Series”
RACE : REVIEW
