Activities Section

Road Marching and Nijmegen Marches 2010

The Nijmegen Marches is a 4 day international road-marching event held in Nijmegen Holland, during the 3rd week of July every year. Over 50 000 people attend the 100 mile (160 km) event with teams and individuals coming from all over the world. The march initially began in 1909 as a Dutch military training aid and then became popular with Dutch civilians, today over 44 000 civilians enter and 6 000 military participants take part in the largest walking event in the world.

As a member of the ATC and for those who get selected for the Wing team, will take part in the event as part of the British Military Contingent (BMC). This consists of around 1 200 personnel from the Navy, Army and RAF as well as their reservists and relevant cadet forces. Each march morning the wake up alarm will go off at 0300 hrs and breakfast will be served until 0430 hrs. From 0430 to 0630 teams will begin the march in one of 4 contingents. You will march in a team of 12 marchers, all from South and East Midlands Wing, for 25 miles a day through the town and countryside surrounding the historic city of Nijmegen, whilst being accommodated in Camp Heumensoord throughout the week.

To qualify all marchers are required to complete a 2 day 50 mile event. South and East Midlands Wing annually take part in the RAF Walking and Road Marching Association (WARMA) 2 day event during April. By this stage a team will have been selected to take part in the march, whilst only a limited number will continue to Nijmegen after completion of the RAF WARMA march.

If you are interested in joining the South and East Midlands Nijmegen Team, ask your Squadron Commander to forward your name to the Nijmegen Training Officer – Flt Lt S. Mayoh-Smith or Flt Lt J. Stepanian and complete the relevant entry forms which have been sent out to all Squadrons and bring them to the first training session.

2010 Training Sessions (for locations contact your Sqn Cdr):

Initial Selection

23 January 2010 at 2248 sqn 0900hrs
06 February 2010 at 2248 sqn 0900hrs
27 February 2010 at 2248 sqn 0800hrs

Further Training

13 March 2010 at 2070 sqn
27-28 March 2010 at 126 sqn weekend camp
10 April 2010 at 2195 sqn
23-25 April 2010 RAFWARMA 2 Day March (Mandatory)
08-09 May 2010 WAENDEL WEEKEND
19 June 2010 at 1947 sqn
16 July 2010 – Embarkation Meal at 2070 sqn

Nijmegen Marches 2010
17-24 July 2010 at Nijmegen, Holland

Links for more information:

Official Nijmegen Website

Nijmegen on wikipedia