Surrey ACF Crowned Champions at Growing Rivalry Sports Cup

ACF Суррея emerged victorious at this year’s Rivalry Sports Cup, securing first place in one of the Army Cadet Force’s fastest-growing sporting competitions. Middlesex and North West London Sector ACF claimed second place, while Ноттінгемширський ACF completed the podium in third.

A New Era for Army Cadet Sport 

Now in its second year, the Rivalry Sports Cup was introduced by the Army Cadet Force (ACF) as a new way to engage cadets in sport and physical activity following the discontinuation of the national athletics competition. The event brings together teams from counties, sectors and battalions across the UK to compete in a diverse range of sporting disciplines. 

According to National Sports Lead Maj Henry Canavan, the competition was created with a simple goal: to encourage more young people to get involved in sport within the Army Cadets. 

“We wanted to bring something together to get all the kids active within sport within the ACF,” said Maj Canavan. “Every county, sector and battalion in the UK was invited along to take part.” 

The competition features ten disciplines, offering something for a wide range of interests and abilities. Events include cross-country running, laser shooting and a variety of other sports designed to test teamwork, determination and athletic ability. The format has proven popular with cadets, who enjoy the opportunity to compete against teams from across the country. 

A Pathway to International Competition 

The Rivalry Sports Cup also serves as a pathway to international competition. Teams that perform well can earn the opportunity to represent the UK at the European Games in Hungary, where they compete against cadets from other nations. 

“The incentive of being successful in the Rivalry Cup is that they go to Hungary and compete in the European Games, which is a lot tougher than what we can do here in the UK,” Maj Canavan explained. 

The competition’s popularity continues to grow. Last year saw 20 teams take part, while this year’s event attracted 23 teams, demonstrating increasing interest from across the organisation. 

“Hopefully it will continue to build,” said Maj Canavan. “We’ll get more cadets involved in this competition.” 

Recent developments within the Army Cadets are expected to further boost participation. Laser pistol shooting, which has already generated significant enthusiasm among cadets. 

For Maj Canavan, the importance of sport within the Army Cadets extends beyond competition and medals. He believes organised activities play a crucial role in keeping young people active, engaged and developing valuable life skills. 

“People ask me if we have competition from outside organisations such as the Guides, Cubs or Air Cadets,” he said. “I always tell them we’re not in competition with each other. We’re all there to keep young people active.” 

He added that the real challenge facing youth organisations today is encouraging young people away from screens and into positive activities. 

“The only competition we’ve got is computer games. When they’re in the Army Cadets, no matter what subject they’re doing, we’re keeping them active.” 

With participation numbers rising and a clear pathway to international competition, the Rivalry Sports Cup looks set to become a permanent fixture in the Army Cadets sporting calendar, providing cadets with opportunities to challenge themselves, represent their counties and develop a lifelong love of sport.