EU officers take on Wimbush Challenge
This year Emergency Unit Kowloon East (EU KE) hosted the keenly contested 2011 Wimbush Inter-EU Challenge on December 12 last year. As early as last May, EU KE started devising the contest events that would make up the challenge and choosing a neutral venue.
EU KE also drew up a communication protocol to ensure all Regional EU know exactly what would be expected of them and, more importantly, how each event would be scored. These details were communicated early to every Regional EU so that it would have sufficient time for preparation. This information was vital if the organisers were seen to be neutral and impartial.
As the Wimbush Inter-EU Challenge took place at Police Tactical Unit (PTU HQ), all Regional EU provided qualified instructors to judge and monitor the four events devised on the base of provision of emergency services in response to emergency calls and the training EU officers undertake.
The first event, devised for EU car crews, was a tough challenge when EU car drivers ran a specific route around PTU HQ before handing over the challenge to their car crews. The crew members then used their physical prowess and wit to carry breaking equipment and infectious disease suits along a course that put their wit and verbal communication skills to the test.
The second event comprised two stages involving the rescue of a drowning swimmer and breaking into a domestic flat. After saving the swimmer, officers, tipped off by the swimmer, raced to the flat and broke into it, using breaking equipment, Blackman kit and even firearms.
The third event tested officers' ability to analyse information in firing. During a firing range course, officers only shot at the targets related to the information. This contest was carried out under the pressure of time and each officer had to reassemble a long barrel weapon.
The final event was designed for EU Superintendents (SP) or equally qualified officers in terms of age and physical fitness from EU HQ. EU Hong Kong Island, EU KE and EU New Territories North each fielded an SP while EU Kowloon West and EU New Territories South sent an EU HQ officer to join a one-lap sprint around PTU HQ and a firing range course. The course required firing 12 shots with a loaded revolver within 17 seconds. EU officers particularly enjoyed this contest because among the contestants there were differences of 20 years in age and 50 lbs in weight. As regard the sprint, it was designed to make contestants' hearts beat and the firing range course was for them to display their marksmanship.
Despite the differences in age and weight, the five contestants finished the 400m- sprint with a difference of only 20 metres. SP EU NTN crawled under a vehicle parked near the finish point to take the first place, beating SP EU HKI.
The annual competition concluded with EU KE capturing the title, followed by EU NTS and EU HKI as first and second runners-up respectively.
SSP
OPS NTS Matthew Hemmings presents the Wimbush Cup to the winner, EU KE