Scouts win County Lightweight Camping Competition

September 17, 2000

Over the weekend of 16th & 17th September 2000 4 young men from 7th Woking Scout Troop took on the best of Surrey Scouts in the County Hiking Competition. Carrying all they needed to last 36 hours (including tents and food) James , Barry , Michael and Ian set off from Bentley Copse early on Saturday morning.

The course took them over 18 miles of the rolling Surrey hills, where they were pitched against other Scouts from throughout Surrey, including Guildford, Surrey Heath, Leatherhead and Horley.

Each team was required to plan their own route through a series of checkpoints and were judged on the accuracy of their map reading and timings over the course. A welcome break for some sore feet was found at the overnight campsite, but the team had no rest bite from the ever-watchful judges. They were marked on their teamwork in setting up camp, on the standards of meals they cooked for dinner and breakfast and on other items such as camp hygiene.

Sunday saw them back on their feet early again, all their kit stowed back in their rucksacks for the long walk to the finish line.

After careful calculations 7th Woking Scout Troop were declared the winners with a total of 946 points from a possible 1015, with second place going to last years winners, 9th Horley Scout Troop, scoring 937 points. This is the first time the competition has been won by any team from Woking since it began in 1983.

Now we've got it we want to keep it. If anybody else wants this trophy next year they are going to have to work hard for it!

Group Scout Leader, Kevin Metcalfe, said:

"I am extremely proud of the lads. This is a fabulous result that they had worked hard for. We had won the Woking District Competition for the last two years and were keen to bring the County Trophy home this time. Their efforts are a credit to them and the very high standards of training they receive from our superb leadership team".

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