R-don 2016- FIRST PLACE!!

Run by: 1st Durbanville Scouters

Team:Jonathan Hillier(PL) Andrew Venter(APL)

Luke Warnerr

Ethan Els

Ryan Els

Shane

Report:(Jonathan Hillier):

R-don 2016 started a bit late this year because we were running slightly behind schedule. When we arrived we also slightly delayed as one consent form had not been handed in. None the less, everything else went according to plan.

Unfortunately, as 2nd Kenridge pulled out at last minute there were three teams in the Competition, 1st Durbanville A and B and D/K(That's us;)!).

After parade we started striking camp and luckily, thanks to Andrew, our equipment was placed close to our campsite which meant it hardly took any time to get our stuff to our campsite and to start working.

We had just pulled the cover over tent frame when it started to rain and thus a short stretch of organised chaos ensued whilst we rushed to lay our groundsheets, move our bags into the tent and dig a trench.

Andrew then started tieing the figure of eight lashing for what would become our amazing table and I continued to instruct and aid our junior patrol members in pegging down our guidelines and tieing down the windows of our tent. to prevent water coming in.

However, our efforts were in vain, once the tent was fully organised the rain had stopped and we could continue our campsite development without any hassle.

By then it was time for the first three bases and Luke had just arrived, so Andrew took Ethan,Ryan and Shane to Base 1 and 4 to build a chariot and play duster hockey and Luke and I went to Bases 2 &3 to build"speed skis" which were truly just stave which we had to stand on and lift in unison with ropes in order to "walk" together around a race track.

Once Luke and I returned we found the others had already returned- Shane and Andrew were working on STA 1(The mini crossbow) and Ethan and Ryan were working on the table.

I instructed Luke to aide Ethan and Ryan(He could not tie lashings because he had injured his hand) and I started work on a prep-table which used the support of large,flat stump.

Andrew went to hand in STA 1 and complete to base 5. I was left with Shane, whom I instructed to clear the campsite and who later set up a parade ground around the flagpole, Luke who helped me build a flagpole and Ethan and Ryan who started on our "snow shoes.

I then attended base 6 but as I misread the information sheet I failed to ensure that my patrol attended base 7.

When and Andrew and Luke returned they began to prepare the fondue for our supper and I focused on perfecting the snow shoes with Ethan and Ryan.

We then handed in the snow shoes and supper, both of which were a success.(We handed them in separately so as to ensure that either me or Andrew were at the campsite )

The patrol then took a break, and we put water on the gas for our supper, which was two minute noodles.

When Andrew returned we got the juniors occupied cleaning dishes, Andrew and Luke resumed cooking and I setup two suspension bridges to help organize the campsite-1 for all of our equipment, the other for all of our staves.

We then ate, after which the entire patrol attended base 10,11 and 12, once more neglecting to complete a base(base 9).

After that we returned to our campsite and socialized with 1st Durbanville, enjoying their company and of course their chips and sweets.

Andrew told the juniors to go to sleep and we(Andrew and I) listened to music in the hall with Guppie and the senior scouts from 1st D.

After that Andrew went to sleep and I stayed up to build our gateway(which scored 15 out of 15!!), setup a boundary, and build STA 5- I figured that if I finished the last of the tasks for Sunday Andrew could handle the patrol and I could sleep in(Confident that everything would be done on time).

The next morning the patrol(who was supposed to have awoke up at six) slept in and only awoke at 7, which meant Breakfast,due at 8, was a bit rushed-However we still scored 13/15!

The entire competition then participated in a group obstacle course but due to a miss communication our entire patrol fell behind-we were apparently required to line up at one point as was standard procedure but as we never told many of us who were in front of the group were sent to the back of the line of 1st Durbanville scouts who knew the drill

After the course we each got a chance to go down the slide down, Me and Andrew took the time we had to wait and put it to good use by completing our last STA.- a soap bobsleigh that ran down a track we made with paper, glue and a piece of angled,thin wood.

We then presented our last STA's, raced our pioneered bobsleigh, returned to our campsite and immediately started deconstruction, rather pressed for time.

All in all, I would say the weekend was fun,interesting and maybe even educational-but what really made it memorable was win the R-don trophy yet again, proving we are certainly top of our district!

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