Competition was tough at the British Army All Arms Pace Sticking Championship, in one of the strongest years for the event.
The teams of four sergeants march just over 300 paces, with each person twisting a 30-inch wide pace stick as they go to measure their step. They are judged on their drill, performance and skill while pacing at two speeds. One of the biggest challenges the teams face is adapting to the small differences in drill, and the speed of the hand changes required in the quick march section of the competition.
Event organiser WO2 Carl Taylor admits that the actual pace sticking is not the most difficult bit: "The hardest part is everything other than the sticking! It's about the bigger picture of everyone in the team doing the correct drill in time together. And the quick time is definitely the hardest bit of that. At a slow pace you have the time to make sure the stick is in the right place.”
The championship was won by the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, with the Bahrain Police Academy A Team taking the overseas title.
Photographer Cpl Steve Blake; Crown copyright.

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One of the biggest challenges the teams face is adapting to the small differences in drill, and the speed of the hand changes required in the quick march section of the competition.

[700x466]
Competition was tough at the British Army All Arms Pace Sticking Championship, in one of the strongest years for the event.

[700x466]
Competition was tough at the British Army All Arms Pace Sticking Championship, in one of the strongest years for the event.

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The teams of four sergeants march just over 300 paces, with each person twisting a 30-inch wide pace stick as they go to measure their step.

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The Bahrain Police Academy Team.