Glory for Waterford Defence Forces troops at “toughest military exercise worldwide”

By Dylan White
Published 22nd Oct 2018, 11:51 BST
Updated 22nd Oct 2018, 12:17 BST
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Waterford's Lt Shane Flood and Cpl Sean Fleming were part of a Defence Forces team that made Ireland proud over the weekend in Wales. 

They won silver medals at the Cambrian Patrol in the Brecon Beacons, an annual international event considered the "toughest military exercise worldwide". 

Eight Stephen's Barracks (Kilkenny) troops, including Waterford's Lt Flood and Cpl Fleming, joined teams from over 30 countries worldwide, with Belarus winning gold.

Participating teams covered a near 70 km course in less than 48 hours on foot while performing numerous types of military scenarios placed throughout the rugged Cambrian Mountains and swamp lands of mid-Wales. Each team member carried their own backpack weighing in excess of 80 lbs.placeholder image
Participating teams covered a near 70 km course in less than 48 hours on foot while performing numerous types of military scenarios placed throughout the rugged Cambrian Mountains and swamp lands of mid-Wales. Each team member carried their own backpack weighing in excess of 80 lbs.

The Defence Forces contingent - which also included Sgt Tony O'Malley (Limerick, team coach), Pte Dan Kennedy (Wexford), Pte Josh Morrisey (Kilkenny), Pte Mark Sweeney (Tipperary), Capt Kevin Lanigan (Tipperary, team liaison officer), Cpl Ciaran Shelley (Tipperary), Pte Paddy Heffernan (Kilkenny) and Cpl Blaine Donovan (Kilkenny) - displayed physical courage, resilience, leadership and infantry in achieving the feat. 

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