Explorer Scout Night Hike 2009

For this year’s event, we had a new venue and hike route and a new name on the Gold Trophy.

After many months of persuasion, we finally achieved a booking at Betchworth Village War Memorial Hall. Our thanks go to their committee for making this possible.

On what was a dreadful night weather-wise, 12 teams braved the elements to take part. Strangely, 5 teams who took part last year did not take part this year.

Teams were booked in at 5 minute intervals, had kit checked and plotted their routes on the maps provided. Check point staff were deployed and the teams were bussed the short distance from the hall to Betchworth Station where the hike started.

Vicky Tullett took calls from the checkpoints recording the team’s arrival and Chris Sowden did his usual job of inputting all the info on his spreadsheet and preparing the certificates, which as always contain the team photo.

The ’rescue bus’ started early this year, with sickness overcoming one participant at check-point 3. In all, it covered over 80 miles during the evening collecting retired teams.

The Bronze (approx. 8¼ miles) was keenly contested with eight of the twelve teams succumbing to the conditions at check-point 6 (High Ashurst Outdoor Centre). The Silver (approx. 11 miles) was reached by 10 Explorers, but as they were a mixture of 5 teams each providing two walkers, the Silver prize was not presented.

Two teams completed the 13.5 mile course, Raynes Park – Innuendo (last year’s Bronze Award winners), one of 4 teams Raynes Park entered, and last year’s joint winners, Belmont.

Everyone bedded down about 4:30 on Sunday morning (although there were a number that insisted on staying awake all night), eagerly awaiting the announcement of the results at 8:15. Due to County commitments, we were unable to secure the services of the County Commissioner to present the awards so hike organiser Derek Chaplin filled the role.

Participation certificates were presented to each team and the winners of the Bronze Award were Phoenix (Royal Kingston District) with Raynes Park – Little Fish (Wimbledon & Wandle District) 2nd and Raynes Park ‘A’3rd.

The Gold Award was won by Raynes Park – Innuendo (Wimbledon & Wandle) in a time of 5 hours 57 minutes with Belmont (Sutton District) runners up 43 minutes behind.

On the night, considering the weather, everyone who took part was a winner. My sincere thanks go to the leaders who organised team participation and then, with other volunteer leaders / parents and Network members manned check-points or provided welcome bacon rolls and hot drinks to all those who returned to the hall.

It is hoped that all who took part enjoyed the event and will tell others so that next year we have more teams entering.

The full results are available for download here.

Derek Chaplin

Results

The teams that completed the Gold Route were:

1. Raynes Park ESU (Innuendo) in 5 hours 57 minutes
2. Belmont ESU in 6 hours 40 minutes

No teams completed the Silver Route this year

The teams that completed the Bronze Route were:

1. Phoenix ESU in 5 hours 15 minutes
2. Raynes Park ESU (Little Fish) in 5 hours 23 minutes
3. Raynes Park ESU 'A' in 5 hours 37 minutes
4. Raynes Park ESU (Cardboard Box) in 5 hours 45 minutes
5. Merton Park ESU (Team MP) in 5 hours 51 minutes
6. Mitcham ESU in 6 hours 01 minutes
7. Surbiton South ESU in 7 hours 40 minutes
8. Colliers ESU in 7 hours 50 minutes

Also taking part were:

1. Pinewood Seahorse ESU (Frappachino)
2. Pinewood Seahorse ESU (Leaping Leprechauns)