Competitors show style and panache as they set the right pace at Sandhurst

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst has been playing host to teams from around the world for the annual All Arms International Pace Sticking Competition.

From early morning the parade square in front of Sandhurst's Old College was alive with the ticking sound of pace sticks, marching boots and loud and clear commands.

Lieutenant Colonel Ian Farrell of the Grenadier Guards, the president of the judging panel, explained what the teams had to deliver.

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"So what we're looking for with the competitors is, first of all, their turnout, their personal drill, are they able to pace stick properly, is it hitting the ground in the right place at the right time," he said.

"And also a bit of style and a bit of panache while they execute all the drill movements doing that."

Warrant Officer Usman Ali is the Drill Sergeant Major of the Royal Academy of Police in Bahrain.

His team won last year, and speaking ahead of the competition, he said he hoped they could repeat their success.

WO2 Ali told BFBS Forces News: "We will try to give our best today... what we can do is give our best – but hopefully inshallah."

Junior Corporal Zac Stolarski from the Army Foundation College Harrogate is a member of one of the youngest teams in the competition.

The members of the Harrogate team first picked up a pace stick just five weeks ago.

"It's quite a niche thing. If you ask someone who doesn't know anything about it, they don't even know what it is, but I find it quite enjoyable.

"I think it improves your drill quite a lot and I'm aspiring to be Coldstream Guards so I thought it would be a good idea to get involved in more drill before I go on to Phase 2 [training] where a lot of your time is spent doing drill."

The tradition of pace sticking dates back to Roman times and pace sticks are still used by present day drill sergeants across the British Army.

Results:

All Arms UK Pace Sticking 

1st: Grenadier Guards

Runners up: Royal Logistic Corps

3rd: Harrogate Jnr Soldiers (B)

The Overseas Pace Sticking Championship

1st: Bahrain Police A

Runners up: Pakistan Military Academy.

3rd: Bahrain Police B