10 September 2008
Soldiers from the four North Island Territorial Force battalions will converge on Wanganui this weekend, not to build military skills, but to compete at sports.
The annual competition is being hosted by the 5 Wellington West Coast Taranaki (5WWCT) Regiment, and the right to hold the Commanders Trophy will be decided by participation in three sports; rugby, golf, and netball.
To mark the Regiments 150th year, a one off “Commanding Officers Invitation Pistol Shoot” Competition has been included. This competition will not have any part deciding who the eventual winner of the competition will be, but is expected to be hotly contested.
Rugby is the founding sport for the competition, and dates back to 1951 when Brigadier Harding designed an annual rugby competition to allow units of his Brigade to contest one another. The competition therefore became known as the 'Harding Cup'
“The soldiers are as passionate about winning this competition as they are about spending other weekends building military skills that might see them deployed,” says Regimental Sergeant Major Ken MacRae.
Rugby and Netball will be contested at the Jubilee stadium complex while the golf is hosted at the Castlecliff course. Currently Auckland North regiment hold the golf and rugby cups, while 7 Wellington Hawke’s Bay hold the netball title.
While not admitting to the intense rivalries between the battalions, Mr MacRae advises: “Be aware that 5 Battalion’s intent is to secure all the Trophies after this weekend’s challenges.”
ENDS
For further information please contact Paul Stein, 2LFG Public Relations Manager, on 06 351 9037 or 021 409 033 or, Captain Bruce Page 5 WWCT Adjutant on 027 223 9815
Background of The Harding Cup
In 1949 Brigadier R.W Harding DSO, MM, ED was appointed Commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade. He was active in the re-organisation of the brigade and in 1951 he retired from service.
Brigadier Harding was then appointed Regimental Colonel of the North Auckland Regiment until 1962, however, he continued to take an active interest in military affairs in Northland, which eventually saw the Army Hall on the corner of Walton and Robert St in Whangarei being named after him by the Chief of General Staff (CGS) at the time, Major General B.M Ponanga, MBE.
The Harding Cup was presented to the 1st Infantry Brigade by Brigadier Harding in 1951. This cup was designed to allow units of this Brigade to contest one another in an annual rugby competition, commonly known as the “Harding Cup”. Over the years, the cup has been contested and won by the following units:
Northland Regiment,
Auckland Regiment,
Hauraki Regiment,
1st Armoured Regiment,(Waikato) RNZAC,
1st Mobile Dental Unit,
3 Auck North,
1st Infantry Wksp,
7 Wellington Napier Hawkes Bay,
16th Field Regiment, and
1NZSAS.
Through arrangements unbeknown; the cup eventually became contested for, by the occupants of the Papakura Military Camp and the Queens Alexandra Mounted Rifles Regiment.
With the closure of the Papakura Military Camp in 1990, the holders of the Harding Cup, (3rd Bn) retained it until the competition re-invigorated again in 2000.
In 1999 a challenge was made by the 6th Hauraki Battalion to the 3rd Auckland and Northland Battalion for the contest of the Harding Cup. Seen as an opportunity for the Territorial Force Battalions to gather together to re-establish historical links, the Harding Cup Competition was agreed upon.
Discussions by the RSM's at that time allowed for general planning to occur to effect this competition with an agreement to incorporate netball and golf to ensure maximum participation of Battalion members.