‘Superhuman’ soldiers vie for coveted DoG Cup

After seven days of tough competition, soldiers from 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, proved they are second to none after winning the 2023 Duke of Gloucester Cup – also known as the DoG Cup.

CAPTION: An Australian Army soldier completes the obstacle course during the 2023 Duke of Gloucester Cup in Singleton. Story and photos by Corporal Michael Rogers. 

2RAR section commander Corporal Locksley Pryce said he couldn’t fault his section’s performance.

“Everyone performed equally well. If it wasn’t for their hard work we wouldn’t have won,” Corporal Pryce said.

“We were quite motivated and confident we could win it, but we also had a flexible mindset, that anything could be thrown at us, as well.”

CAPTION: The 2023 Duke of Gloucester Cup champion section from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.

A section from each infantry battalion took part in the competition, held at the School of Infantry from August 19-25.

It started with marksmanship, before moving into the field to test the soldiers in combat and medical skills.

The competition finished with a 14km endurance test and obstacle course.

Corporal Pryce said an intense physical training program and focusing on the basics helped them prepare.

“Each Friday we did a bit of a culminating activity, which also involved a pack march and obstacle course, so we were physically drained but also touching on the theory or practical skills we did that week,” he said.

2RAR also came home with the Royal Ulsters Rifles Trophy for best falling plate shoot, and Corporal Pryce was awarded the Regimental Sergeant Major’s Trophy for best section commander.

Private Cooper Cattanach, who was the only member of the winning section who competed in 2022, was named this year’s best individual soldier and awarded the DSM Roche CSC Memorial Cup.

1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, won the Sir Arthur MacDonald Trophy for best foundation warfighting skills, the Gurkha Trophy for best live-fire shooting and the RAR Foundation Trophy for best endurance phase.

Lance Corporal Jack Hill, of 8th/9th Battalion won the Albert Jacka VC Award for best section 2IC.

Exercise designer Major David Evangelidis said the standard of all teams this year was outstanding.

“All sections put in a superhuman effort, and performances across the board were world class,” Major Evangelidis said.

“Separating the winning section was tough, and it was a very close finish.”

CAPTION: Australian soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment carry simulated casualties and escort a detained role player during the 2023 Duke of Gloucester Cup in Singleton.

 

 

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