Each year the Brighton Scout Fellowship run an event for the younger district Scouts, for those between eleven and a half to thirteen and a half years old. The Baker's Dozen is a thirteen mile hike with six or seven checkpoints, each with suitable events.
This year the Hike started from our hut - a rare treat to be hiking on your own patch! There were seven checkpoints spread across the Sussex Downs, ending in a green field campsite between a river and a fairly active railway line.
The checkpoints are intended to be fun and naturally have an element of Scoutcraft. This year's checkpoints included a First Aid incident, identification of smells, knotting and testing knowledge of the County Code.
The 42nd entered two teams of four boys, who had practised hard over the previous six weeks. During that time they had four day hikes, a night hike and an afternoon and evening cooking. All their hard work and effort were justly rewarded with a fourth and second place. The standards were high, and only seven points in 370 separated the first three places.
Congratulations go to the Blue Angels team: Paul Bevan, Jon Aikens, James Payne and Stuart Munday, who achieved fourth place and to the second place team, the Red Devils: Andrew Ruck, Chris Almond, Ben Woolford and Matthew Shepherd.
Postscript. The results showed that the boys were strong in their hiking skills, were average in most other areas, but were generally weak in first aid and some areas of camping skills. Of the eight boys who entered, seven have asked to be in the same teams next year. Hopefully we can improve. Who knows?
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