Following in the footsteps of previous years’ record-breaking success, King’s has once again emerged victorious at the prestigious Sir Steuart Pringle Trophy Competition, held at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.
After weeks of rigorous preparation, the team competed across 12 challenging stances, out of which we won six: Cam and Concealment, Contact Drills, Command Task, Modern Urban Combat (MUC), Drill, and Logging and Reporting. Their performance was nothing short of exceptional, scoring a remarkable 1044 points out of a possible 1200 – surpassing last year’s total and the third time surpassing the 1000-point threshold, reaffirming King’s as a dominant force in the competition.
The competition was tough, with Winchester College running very close to us to come second, followed by Wellington College who came third and Sherbourne School fourth.
The team delivered a flawless Drill display, earning a perfect 100/100 score, and placed second in four stances and third in three, showcasing consistency, precision, and resilience across the board.
This year’s team comprised of Sgt Barnaby M, Cpls Oliver G, Vlad L, George N, William G, L Cpl Barnaby G, Taleb A, Alistair H, and Toby W.
Their success was built on outstanding leadership and teamwork. Barnaby M and Oliver deserve special recognition for their calm, strategic leadership throughout the weekend. Their ability to guide and motivate the team was instrumental in securing the win. Barnaby G also showed extraordinary determination, continuing through the drill despite injury.
The Pringle Trophy is one of the most demanding competitions in the CCF calendar, testing not only physical endurance and tactical skill but also mental resilience and camaraderie. The boys’ achievement is a testament to their dedication, discipline, and the strength of the Royal Marines CCF Section at King’s.
Their commitment to training – often in their own time and without impact on academic lessons – reflects the values of courage, perseverance, and excellence that King’s strives to instil in all its pupils.
With this win, King’s continues to build on its legacy of success in the Pringle Trophy, and the team’s performance this year will no doubt be remembered as one of the finest in the school’s history.