Third-year University of Regina student and member of the Saskatchewan Dragoons, Peter Gumacal, was recently awarded a military skills trophy known as the Timothy Eaton Cup.

Gumacal won the trophy after participating in a 24-hour patrolling competition called the Armoured Bison exercise, which took place in Manitoba on Nov. 15.

The exercise showcased participants’ skills and abilities to navigate by map and compass entirely on foot through unfamiliar terrain.

“You’re navigating in the dark, and trying to be as efficient as possible [in] regards to time,” said Corporal Jerry Heilman, participant in the exercise and longtime member of the Saskatchewan Dragoons. “The faster you move, the more time you’ve got to accomplish the tasks.”

The groups of participants, referred to as patrols, had to travel to six different stations, which were separated by up to seven kilometers each.

“At those locations, [the participants] would be put to the test on certain tasks. [It] could be first aid, calling in live artillery fire, some unit history testing, and armoured fighting vehicles recognition to verify that we can [identify] a vehicle,” said Heilman.

There were many obstacles along the exercise, one of which was the opposing forces who were driving around the grounds.

“You would often have to dive into tree lines [to avoid the opposing forces],” said Gumacal. “Sometimes headfirst.”

Each unit had to abide by a point system where points could be given or taken away. There were also some additional consequences.

“If [the opposing forces] catch you, they take away 10-15 points, and then you have to sit out for 15 minutes, which is detrimental because the other teams are still moving.”

Though getting the most points would mean winning, that wasn’t Gumacal’s main concern.

“I didn’t really pay attention [to the points],” he said. “I was more focused on my role.”

Although Gumacal has been in the military for just over a year and this was his first time taking part in the exercise, he and his patrol managed to win the most amount of points.

“We won by three points, I think,” said Gumacal. “It was nice. I was a bit delirious because I was so tired. [I had been up for] 44 hours at [that] point. [They] took a picture, [I] shook hands with the General and the Sergeant Major, and that was that.”

Though the Timothy Eaton Cup has been awarded to military members since the year 1907, it has been utilized as a military patrolling trophy since 2012.

“I think that [being awarded the Timothy Eaton Cup] would be [an] absolutely stunning experience and a blessing for Gumacal,” said Heilman. “To recognize that trophy has been awarded to troops who fought in World War I and probably World War II, and possibly [has had] names of men [who have] fought and died.”

Around 70 people attended the event. Many important people in the military came to the ceremony, including Brigadier-General Paul Ursich, who is the Deputy Commanding Officer of the 3rd Canadian Division.

Ursich congratulated the teams and presented the trophy upon completion of the exercise.

Gumacal, and the other members of his patrol will have their names engraved on the Timothy Eaton Cup.

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that the Commander of the Canadian Army, Lieutenant-General Michael Wright, was at the award ceremony. This is incorrect. He did not attend the ceremony, but was present to help serve breakfast the morning the troops started Exercise Armoured Bison.