History of the TMPT

THE EARLY YEARS

In 1936 the TMPT was organised for the first time. The field of participants existed of the respectable number of twelve participants: 5 professional officers and 7 reserve officers. The event included (over two successive 17 hours days) each day a 40 kilometre horseback ride, a 25 kilometre march and a 60 kilometre bicycle ride. All while wearing battle dress and during each event gas masks had to be worn for half an hour. Both days ended with a shooting test.

The first general manager of the TMPT was the reserve first lieutenant from the 5th Regiment Field Artillery A.R. Klein. In those days the background of the TMPT was:

"High demands of physical experience and endurance will be required of the leaders of troops in the field during Wartime".

   The first certificates for achieving the TMPT-medal were

   conferred by the Commander of the 4th Division General-Major

   J.J.G. Baron van Voorst tot Voorst, afterwards Commander

   fieldarmy during the Maydays 1940.

   The characteristic features of the TMPT were described of:

   •  Pleasant companionship with combined participation of both

   professional as reserve officers.

•  The three items (riding horseback, marching and bicycle driving) aren t challenging individually, but the combination makes hard demands on the participants. For most people the standards cannot be achieved without serious training.

   In 1937 and 1938 every time the number of participants was

   redoubled and the third edition of the TMPT, in 1938, was

   visited by his Royal Highness Prince Bernard.

   During the fourth edition of the TMPT in 1939 his Royal

   Highness Prince Bernard was one of the 71 participants.

   Due to his participation the authorities, press and general

   public showed huge interest. "The interest of the general public in the Prince was so huge that the police had to take actions once in a while to keep the enthusiastic spectators on a distance".

During this edition of the TMPT there was an important change. In stead of a 40 kilometre horseback ride, competitors could choose to drive 250 kilometres by motorbike. The event had to be completed within 17 hours.

In 1940 and 1941 the TMPT was organised in the former Dutch East Indies, under the auspices of the AVNRO. Different circumstances and difficulties meant that after 1945 this important performance was not held again until 1955.

The 7th TMPT was organised in Amersfoort on the 25th and 26th of May 1955. Due to changed circumstances the horseback event had now changed to a 125 kilometres car or motorbike drive off the beaten track. On the first day the shooting test had to be passed, on the second day the assault course.

Under beautiful weather conditions on the 20th of June 1956 159 participants started the 8th TMPT. Again the Bernhard barracks in Amersfoort were the centre of all activities.

Professional and reserve officers on active duty were given a vehicle from the Ministry of Defence. Others had to provide their own transport.

   "The captain T.D.J.W van de Boon finds the

   sign "impossible to drive through" a nuisance

   during this TMPT. The military staff map will

   provide a solution for this."

Major A.R. van de Vlugt points out the map the location where he last spotted the lead participants to major W. Erdmann and captain G. Storm. The fourth member of the TMPT committee, major mr. C. de Jong, is absent.

THE TMPT AT THE END OF THE 20th CENTURY

The horse was replaced by car, the demands adapted, but the standards of performance were maintained. The number of participants grew annually and by the end of the eighties had grown to a maximum of about 600 participants. The requirements, which had to be met, were: 

1.  To complete, in a team of two officers, a map reading task in a personal vehicle over a distance of 140 kilometres (measured from departure till arrival).

a.  The map-reading exercise is executed in a team that consists of 1 driver and 1 map-reader.

b.  The results of the map reading is completely and only credited to the map-reader.

c.  Each team member must fulfil this requirement on one of the two days: during the first day must be the map-reader for the second day.

2.  To march a distance of 25 kilometres (for officers at the age of 45  60 years: 20 kilometres, for officers above 60 years: 15 kilometres)

3.  To complete by bicycle, individually, a distance of 60 kilometres (for officers at the age of 45 until 60 years: 50 kilometres, for officers above 60 years: 40 kilometres).

4.  To take a shooting test.

a.  This has to be completed with a pistol (Glock 17, rounds of 9 mm) in a fast firing of 4 shots within 10 seconds.

b.  At the beginning of the test the pistol may already pointed out to the target. The starting signal is a whistle-glast. After 8 seconds, there will be a second whistle-glat lasting 2-seconds during which it is allowed to shoot. Every shot fired after this signal ends will be subtracted from the total score.

c.  The position is standing up, two-handed.

d.  The target is a pistol target (body) on a distance of 25 metres.

e.  The minimum demands are 3 hits. The shooter has two chances each of ten seconds.

In 1993 Prince Pieter Christiaan achieved the TMPT medal. 

In those years the policy of the TMPT-committee was:

"The TMPT is an unique event in which a military sporting performance is combined with an assembly in a atmosphere

of companionship".

Till end of the seventies, beginning of the eighties, the map reading task was completed individually. Due to traffic safety it was changed.

In 1998 the 50th TMPT took place, in which 'the old horses' weren't lacking.

As of 2003, the 55th TMPT, the participation is allowed to all ranks of all armed forces and no longer only officers. Also the contents of the performance has changed substantially to meet the particular physical demands imposed by the Dutch Ministry of Defence, as one of the four different sports medals. Since 2003 the Physical Training/Sports Organisation of the Royal Netherlands Army is represented in the TMPT-committee.