Surrey Army Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major Shauna Lawless from Caterham has won the coveted Claire Shore Trophy and is officially the Army Cadet Force’s Champion Cadet 2016. 

At a special ceremony at the Cadet Training Centre in Frimley on Thursday 1st September, RSM Lawless, who currently parades with Redhill Detachment part of Surrey Army Cadet Force, was presented with the prestigious award.

Each year ACF County Commandants are asked to nominate their best Master Cadet to compete in the Champion Cadet Competition which this year took place on the 30th August – 1st September.  Following a series of events and challenges, the best three cadets are interviewed, one of the cadets is announced Champion Cadet for that year. 

The competition, which lasts just under 48 hours, tests both physical and mental aptitude, and requires the cadets to compete against each other both individually and as members of a team in a range of activities.  These include command tasks, weapon handling, map and compass skills (including night navigation), foot drill, first aid, logical problem solving and a comprehensive test of the entire ACF Army Proficiency Certificate syllabus.  There is also a panel interview if you make it to the top three.

Throughout the competition the assessors are looking for signs of leadership, teamwork, self-discipline and unselfishness. The winner of the competition is the cadet deemed by the selection committee to be the year's most inspiring example of the ACF Master Cadet.

Cadet RSM Lawless said “Winning Champion Cadet has been the biggest achievement in my life and I am extremely proud of myself for winning the trophy. I couldn't have done it without the amazing support and belief from all of the adults from Surrey ACF.”  She continued, “The ACF has made me a more confident and well developed person, which has helped me to increase my job opportunities. It has given me life skills, qualifications and friends I never would have met if it wasn't for the ACF.  Of all the experiences I’ve had at Surrey ACF, including going to Australia on a three week exchange, being awarded the trophy and becoming Champion Cadet is fantastic, I’m at the very top.”

The Claire Shore Trophy will be kept for a year at Surrey ACF’s headquarters in Godalming and Cadet RSM Lawless will keep a solid silver engraved medal and a cheque for £300 which is presented to the winner by The Cadet Kit Shop.

Lieutenant Colonel John White, Commandant of Surrey ACF was justifiably proud of his cadet.  He said “I had great faith in Cadet RSM Lawless. She is a remarkable cadet. She has great determination and is a marvellous example of how people can have life enhancing development opportunities in the ACF.”