As many as 110 members of the Croatian Armed Forces – 78 in the men’s category (younger seniors, seniors and veterans), and 32 in the women’s category (seniors and veterans) from 18 units competed in the 19^th Cross Country Running Championships held in Sinj on 28 March 2018. The winner in the women’s category (a 5-km race) was 1^st Lt Danijela Vrhovski, and the winner of the men’s category (a 10-km race) was Cpl Nikola Špoljar, member of the Guards Mechanised Brigade. “I’ve been running for years and I constantly train so I did not have to prepare for the race“ said 1^st Lt. Vrhovski. The key to win is to prepare as if you were to run a 10-km race but also to be prepared to run a sprint“. Cpl Špoljar, a national champion in trail running, was leading throughout the race and won the previous two races, also as an overall winner. “I really enjoy running. I am happy with my today’s performance, although I would prefere a rugged terrain“, said Cpl Špoljar. Arriving at the finish line the competitors exchanged encouragements, evincing togetherness and the competitive spirit. The race was observed by the Commander of the Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade, Brig. Gen. Tihomir Kundid as the Envoy of the Chief the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces. The first runner-up of the women’s senior category was Pvt Mara Pejić and the second runner-up was 1^st Lt. Ines Klepić – both of the Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade. The winner of the women’s veterans category was PO Elis Krnjus of the Croatian Navy, the first runner-up Cpt Kristina Milardović of the General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces and the second runner-up Cpt. Manuela Bradić of the Support Command. The winner of the young seniors category were Pvt Antonio Đurčević, the first runner-up Cpl Stjepan Novoselec and the second runner-up Pvt Hrvoje Hodak, and of the seniors category Cpl Ivan Gale of the Croatian Navy and the second runner-up Pvt Petar Ravlić of the Guards Mechanised Brigade. The winner of the veterans category was 1^st Lt. Ivan Gerenčir of the Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade; the first runner-up was 1^st Sgt Mladen Tisaj of the Military Police Regiment and the second runner-up was St. Sgt. Martin Dubovečak of the Support Command. The overall winners were Cpl. Špoljar, Pvt Đurčević (1^st runner-up and Cpl. Novoselec (2^nd runner-up). The winner of the men’s team category was the Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade, the first runner-up was Team 1 of the Guards Motorised Brigade and the second runner-up the Team 2 of the Guards Motorised Brigade. The winning team of the women’s category was the Guards Armoured Mechanised Brigade Team, the first runner-up was the Team 1 og the Guards Mechanised Brigade and the second runner-up was the Team 2 of the Guards Mechanised Brigade respectively. The Championships is but one in the series of activities titled “Ready&Active“) in the course of 2018 the Year of Readiness and Activity of the Croatian Soldiers, as proclaimed by the Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, featuring promotion of sports culture and healthy life style. The town of Sinj and the Barracks “126. brigade HV” hosted the 2018 Competition. The Barracks was re-opened in July 2017, to house the Engineer Battalion of the Guards Mechanised Brigade (relocated from Knin) pursuant to the decision of the Defence Minister Damir Krstičević, after it was empty since 2008. The Barracks has been named after the legendary brigade from Sinj, which had an important role in the Homeland War. The Barracks also hosted the victory ceremony, and Brig. Gen. Kundid presented the winner teams with the cups and medals and congratulated the organisers and competitiors. Brig. Gen. Kundid also praised the potential of cross country running for the phyiscal fitness and reminded of the importance of soldiers’ readiness. “Combat readiness really depends on high phyiscal readiness. The focus for the military professionals has to be on the sports culture. I expect you to promote sport with your own example in your units. The year 2018 has been proclaimed the Year of Readiness and Activity of the Croatian Soldiers, commiting us to maintaining high.-level physical readiness as our primary task“.