Teamwork wins out at Republic Bank’s BAR Corporate Challenge

It was all action at the 2020 Republic Bank Barbados Adventure Race (BAR) Corporate Challenge recently.

Twenty-six teams, representing several local companies, each comprising four members, ran, jumped, lifted, crawled and climbed their way through the obstacle course constructed at Peg Farm and Nature Reserve at Easy Hall Plantation, St. Joseph.

In the end, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank’s Dream Chasers were victorious, while the Caribbean Development Bank’s Quaranteam placed second and Republic Bank’s Corporate Controllers placed third.

Through blistering heat, the competitors tackled 24 different obstacles, including a four-foot wall, a six-foot wall, an eight-foot wall, a slick wall, an inverted wall, a human spaghetti maker, a rope climb, a tube crawl, monkey bars, a log carry, a bucket carry and a dive platform. For every obstacle missed, team members had to complete 20 burpees.

All competitors agreed that as tortuous as it was, the Corporate Challenge definitely builds teamwork.

At the start of the day, ICBL’s Oliver Jordan said he and his team simply wanted to finish.

“I am not concerned with where we come in but it is more about team spirit and supporting the event,” he said. After completing the course, Sencemelia Holder, a member of one of the Republic Bank teams, explained that while her team did not train together, teamwork won out in the end.

“It was rough but teamwork really helped. We had to pull each other along. We had a motto - no more burpees. We had one set of burpees and we vowed no more after that. I think we were awesome!” she said.

Organizer George Griffith said there was a good turnout for this year’s challenge.

“We feel that the Barbados Adventure Race, especially the corporate challenge, is the perfect event for corporate Barbados. The majority of our events are team-based and we have seen the difference between those companies that have put their teams into BAR and those that haven’t. There is increased camaraderie, self-esteem and engagement among staff. People feel more comfortable working with each other, they feel they are invested in the same thing and they’ve gone through some adversity together. We think that BAR is the perfect event for any organization that wants to build closeness and cohesion within their team,” he said.

As for the BAR’s continued partnership with Republic Bank, he explained, “We feel it’s an extremely good fit as Republic Bank would interact with many other corporate entities and bring on their clients and customers to be part of this wonderful event.”

Republic Bank’s Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Sophia Allsopp Cambridge, said “After the year that we have all had, the BAR Corporate Challenge is the perfect way for employees in the participating companies to work together, build stronger teams and blow off some steam. We see the great work that George and his teams have been doing to motivate people to get moving and take charge of their health and we are pleased to continue to invest in this initiative.”