MORE than 700 British soldiers and officers, some who are stationed in Germany, competed in a two-day sports festival at MOD Lyneham last week on July 19 and 20.

The soldiers, members of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, were taking part in the second annual REME Festival of Sport to be held at the military base.

Personnel competed in 15 sports including rugby sevens, netball, six-a-side football, basketball, badminton, martial arts, squash, hockey, orienteering and tennis. Cycling time trial and road race events also took place on Lyneham airfield, with a mountain biking competition at nearby Erlestoke.

Col. Clare Phillips, the Colonel REME said: “Competitive sport is particularly valued in REME since it demonstrates physical courage, discipline, fitness, determination and integrity – all of which contribute to the Army’s ethos. The Festival of Sport is the perfect opportunity for the wider REME family to come together to compete in this annual summer event.”

The 42 teams taking part represented engineering units attached to other military formations in the UK and Germany, as well as REME battalions including the MOD Lyneham-based 8 Training Battalion, which won the rugby sevens, cross country hockey and basketball in the face of stiff competition.

This year REME – the second biggest formation in the British Army – celebrates its 75th anniversary, which was marked at MOD Lyneham in June with a public open day, a concert and a ceremonial military parade, attracting almost 10,000 military and civilian visitors.