Going for Gold: Champion Cadet Competition 2026

The Champion Cadet Competition represents the pinnacle of cadet achievement, bringing together the very best cadets from across the United Kingdom. Following completion of the rigorous Master Cadet course, competitors face a demanding week of assessments that challenge their leadership, resilience, fieldcraft, navigation, instructional skills, teamwork and physical fitness.

The competition is not only about recognising excellence. It also highlights the personal qualities developed through the cadet experience, including confidence, self-discipline, responsibility, determination and a strong sense of service to others.

The CCF is extremely proud to announce that Cadet RSM Tunnicliff from Sutton Valence School CCF has been awarded the CCF winner of the Captain General Trophy, following a standout performance at the annual Champion Cadet Competition held at Cadet Training Centre (CTC) Frimley Park.

Cadet RSM Murtagh from Lincolnshire ACF wins the 2026 Claire Shaw Trophy after being crowned ACF Champion – read his interview here.

This year’s awards ceremony was particularly significant, serving as Major General Justin Stenhouse CBE DSO’s first official cadet engagement since becoming Commander Cadets. Speaking to the finalists, he commended every competitor for their dedication and excellence in reaching the national stage of the competition.

Speaking at the event, Major General Justin Stenhouse CBE DSO commented “At the start of the week, 26 cadets stood on the start line out of approximately 70,000 cadets nationally. Every one of you passed the Master Cadet course. Every one of you came personally recommended by your County Commandant or your Contingent Commander. Just to get here is a really impressive achievement and you and your families should be really, really proud of that.”

“You’ve been tested on your leadership, physical robustness, resilience, fieldcraft and navigation. But what I find most impressive is that you’ve also been teaching. You’ve delivered lessons that have been assessed. To me, that’s not just the mark of a good cadet. That’s the mark of an instructor and a future leader.” As well as thanking the adult volunteers and permanent staff, who’s dedication and commitment makes opportunities like this event possible.

Concluding his speech, Major General Stenhouse left the finalists with a powerful message: “Whether you leave today with a trophy, or simply the memories of a remarkable week, each one of you should be really proud. You’ve demonstrated excellence, embodied the values of the cadet forces and shown what young people can achieve when ambition is matched by commitment. You’re not simply the leaders of tomorrow. You are already leaders.” 

Meet the Champion

After his success at the competition, we sat down with RSM Tunnicliff to reflect on the week, share his advice for future competitors and discuss what comes next after reaching the pinnacle of his cadet career.

Congratulations! How does it feel to have won such a prestigious title?

RSM Tunnicliff: Very surreal and proud. I’m happy to have represented my school in this competition and it builds on what one of my predecessors had done two years earlier in winning it too. But certainly, still doesn’t feel real yet!

Can you tell us what made you want to join the cadets in the first place? 

I’ve always had an interest in a career in the armed forces. This is what made me want to do the cadets but going to the school I’m at cemented my love for it.

What was the most challenging part of the Champion Cadet Competition this year? And how did you get through it?

Probably the night navigation. Although I’m happy with my navigation skills in general, the stand really pushed my ability to back my skills and retain calmness. For example, at one point I couldn’t find one of the checkpoints. (The staff hide well at night) this made me think I’d gone wrong, but I backed myself and after some searching, I found them.

How did you prepare - physically and mentally - for the competition? 

Physically, I have always played lots of sport so that wasn’t much of an issue for me. Mentally I read over lots of the syllabus especially the parts the lessons were on to ensure I had an effective lesson ready quickly and I could teach without any prompts.

What skills do you feel you developed or improved the most during the event? 

Resilience - at night you can become doubtful of your location and it’s easy to lose your head but I think backing my nav skills made me more confident that I was where I thought I was, and this occurring once or twice tested my resilience.

Looking back, what advice would you give to future cadets hoping to compete for this title? 

Be fit! It’s so important to be physically fit on this course. Although there’s not necessarily much direct fitness compared to master cadet. If you want to get a high score on both day and night nav you need to be running around! The top scorers on the nav exercises were some of the fittest cadets. This goes the same for the actual physical stand but also for things like shooting where you can save time being quick to the firing point.

Now that you’ve reached the top of this competition, what’s next for you in the cadets or beyond? 

I’ve been fortunate enough to be awarded an army scholarship to RMA Sandhurst so that’s going to be my route into the armed forces after school if all goes to plan!

Everyone has that one unforgettable moment — what’s yours from the competition? 

It’s probably got to be on the day nav where to get to a point I had to cut through the bushes to make it to the point quickly and upon coming out I stumbled into the middle of a patrol by the Royal Engineers who were exercising at the training area too!

If you could design one new challenge or activity for future cadets, what would it be? 

More real-life scenario-based stuff like vehicle checkpoints or dealing with dissident population (protests etc) because armies across the world including our own have the potential to be involved in these. We did vehicle checkpoints on master cadet, and it was something no one had ever done before so definitely this type of activity.

Congratulations to RSM Tunnicliffe and RSM Murtagh, and to all of the cadets who took part, although only two cadets could lift the trophies, all finalists departed CTC Frimley Park having showcased the determination, leadership and resilience that make the Army Cadets such a remarkable organisation.