1.
LS THROUGH MALAYAN JUNGLE -FLT.SGT BERNARD REID, OF DUBLIN, IRELAND (THREE SHOTS)
13 ft

2.
MCU CORPORAL TECHNICIAN DAVID KIDELL OF CHEIMSFORD EXXEX, RUNS WITH BATON
17 1/2 ft

3.
MS RUNNERS CHANGE OVER HANDING OF MESSAGE CONTAINER
25 ft

4.
CU DISTRESSED RUNNER
27 ft

5.
MS PASSING ROAD SIDE STALLS
30 ft

6.
CU JOE BECKETT, OF CORSHAM, WILTSHIRE, WARMS UP AS HE WAITS TO RUN ACROSS CAUSEWAY BETWEEN MALAYA AND SINGAPORE
31 1/2 ft

7.
MS OUTSIDE CUSTOMS POINT ON CAUSEWAY BECKETT TAKES OVER FROM A. KARIM EDROSE, OF SINGAPORE
36 ft

8.
MS RAPHAEL CHUA, OF SINGAPORE, RUNS THROUGH SMALL SINGAPORE VILLAGE
39 ft

9.
MS RAF FLAG AT CHANGI STATION
40 1/2 ft

10.
MLS WHOLE TEAM RUNS INTO CHANGI STATION PAN TO SIGN
48 1/2 ft

11.
MS RUNNERS AT FINISH
51 ft

12.
CU STATION COMMANDER, GROUP CAPTAIN MCLEAN, READS MESSAGE FROM BUTTERWORTH (TWO SHOTS)
55 ft

13.
MS RAF ONLOOKERS
56 ft

14.
CU SENIOR TECHNICIAN, HAROLD SOMERS, OF DUBLIN, ENJOYS DRINK
58 ft



Initials LCS/S/MK/GAP/CAR



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: TROPICAL HEAT AND HUMIDITY FAIL TO DAUNT TEN MEN FROM THE ROYAL AIR FORCE STATION AT CHANGI, SINGAPORE, AS THEY COMPLETE A 522-MILE RELAY RUN FROM PENANG IN MALAYA.

IT'S NOT THE MODE OF TRAVEL CHOSEN BY THE SENSIBLE CITIZEN OF MALAYA AND SINGAPORE, BUT IT'S A SPORTING WEEK-END FOR THESE MEMBERS OF THE RAF CHANGI CROSS COUNTRY CLUB.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY TEMPERATURES ARE WELL OVER EIGHTY DEGREES BUT THE BIGGEST TORTURE IS THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY, SOMEWHERE AROUND 95 PER CENT.

THE RUN HAS A PURPOSE, THEY'RE CARRYING AN ALUMINIUM CYLINDER CONTAINING AN ILLUMINATED ADDRESS FROM THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE STATION AT BUTTERWORTH, NEAR PENANG, TO THE RAF AT CHANGI, MARKING THE FORTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY OF THE RAF.

EACH MAN RUNS FOUR MILES AT A TIME, ONE OF THE TEN HAD TO DROP OUT WITH A SORE TOE AND THE NINE OTHERS HAVE EACH COVERED ABOUT 56 MILES WHEN THEY FINISH. THEY ARE RUNNING DAY AND NIGHT FOR TWO AND A HALF DAYS - EXACT TIME FOR THE 522 MILES, 59 HOURS 33 MINUTES.

ALONG ROADS SURROUNDED BY JUNGLE AND RUBBER PLANTATIONS, THROUGH MALAY KAMPONGS AND INTO THE BUSY STREETS OF SINGAPORE, THE RUN GOES ON DAY AND NIGHT. ONE MIGHT THINK OF "MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN" BUT THREE SINGAPOREANS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN INSPIRED TO JOIN IN THE MADNESS, AN INDIAN, A MALAY AND A CHINESE, ALL SERVING WITH THE RAF.

REACHING CHANGI, ON APRIL FOOLS' DAY, THE TEAM MEMBERS AND RESERVES JOIN UP TO RUN THE LAST THREE MILES AND THEY FINISH THE DISTANCE IN FINE FETTLE.

THE MESSAGE FROM AIR COMMODORE NORMAN FORD, THE AUSTRALIAN COMMANDING OFFICER AT BUTTERWORTH, IS PRESENTED TO GROUP CAPTAIN W.J. MCLEAN, ALSO AN AUSTRALIAN, BUT RAF STATION COMMANDER AT CHANGI.