Sporting Successes in MFO

The Hungarian contingent entered the team competition part of the “Strongest Man in North Camp" contest organized in the summer, and finished second at it. The competition consisted of four events. Police Capt. Gábor Z. Kovács lifted 160 kilograms during the deadlift, US Capt. Justin Brumblett executed the squat with 220 kg, 1st Lt. Balázs Lovász the pull-up with 42.5 kg, and SFC Attila Rikkers the bench press with 150 kg.

The next event was the half-marathon, which was completed by SFC Sándor Nagy in 1 hr 44 min 22 sec.

As usually, the Hungarians entered the “Force Skills" competition too, in which they showed their skills in more than one team and events including an obstacle course, casualty care, observation, situation practice and an EOD course. This competition demanded a very complex preparation in a very short time. The team came in second on the obstacle course and was placed first with maximum scores at casualty care, but due to multiple ties, it ended up fifth in the overall rankings. The team members were Police Lt.-Col. Tamás Schultz (team manager), Police Capt. Attila Szabó, Police Capt. Gábor Kovács Z., SFC Attila Rikkers, SFC Sándor Nagy, SSgt. András Hortovány (team members), and SFC Gábor Barnóczky (reserve).

The Colombian contingent organized the traditional “Death March" challenge in September. At this competition, each male competitor was given a 20kg sandbag, and was free to dispose it inside the backpack. This was not an easy task in itself, as the sand gets compressed during the march until it becomes as hard as concrete. All participants received a Galil assault rifle, which they carried for 26 kilometers. They were instructed to move in a forced march tempo, and were forbidden to run, and the members of teams entering in pairs were supposed to keep a maximum five-meter distance from each other. This has been the longest route march ever organized, and quite a few members of the Hungarian contingent entered it. The best Hungarian pair – Police Capt. Gábor Z. Kovács and SFC Attila Rikkert – finished eighth, having covered the distance in 4 hrs 14 min 28 sec. They were beaten only by the soldiers of the Fiji and Colombian battalions, who had been training for this competition for several months. The other three pairs gave a good performance too, as their members – Police Capt. Attila Szabó–Capt. János Pál, Police Lt.-Col. Tamás Schultz–SFC Sándor Nagy, and Lt. Bálint Erdei–SFC Krisztián Katz – all completed the distance in the “desert hell".

The “Norwegian March" was organized by the US EOD team on December 4. The participants of this competition covered a 30km route marked out inside the camp, carrying 11kg backpacks with service weapons in them. The Hungarian contingent was represented by two NCOs. SFC Attila Rikkert came in third with a time of 3 hr 13 min, and it was the second time that he has completed this distance. The other competitor, SSgt. András Hortoványi suffered an injury at around 12 kilometers, but thanks to his persistence, he finished the competition with a time of 5 hrs 12 min.

Photo: MFO HUNCON