Bata Toughees Challenges
In 1960 Bata offered in a spirit of service to the youth of South Africa to sponsor some constructive Scouting project, and so the annual Bata Toughees 50-Mile Hike was born, with Bata rendering a significant service to the youth of our country and Vic Clapham the driving force from Scouting.
1960 - 1st Bata Toughees 50 mile Hike
It was of course, no ordinary hike - indeed, at the outset, many adults felt it was too demanding. But the boys of South Africa felt otherwise, and countless thousands of all races completed the project over the first ten years. Broadly, the project involved hiking 50 miles (80Km) in open country, with three overnight camps, to Scouting hike-camp standards. As it evolved there were categories for individual, Patrol and Troop participation, and the major challenge lay in the Logbook competition, in which Scouts log in detail every mile of the way.
Though prizes and certificates were available on Divisional basis, the annual competition reached its peak when the best Divisional logbooks were sent forward to SAHQ for National Judging - the overall winner holding the coveted Bata Toughees National 50-Mile Hike Floating Trophy with his name and unit engraved on it in silver, to hold for one year.
Initially there were two awards - the Senior Award where a Logbook was produced for the full 50 mile hike and the Junior Award where the Scout hikes the full 50 miles but does not complete a Logbook.
1967 - 7th Bata Toughees 50 mile Hike Theme 'For Friendship'
Two new awards were introduced: - The Patrol Award for a standing patrol in which 5 or more members took part and 2 or more members submit a Logbook and the Troop Award where 2 or more standing Patrols within the Troop had qualified for the Patrol Award.
1970 - 10th Bata Toughees 50 mile Hike Theme 'The Great Anniversary'
A celebration of ten years of its existence, and the project - which was open to Scouts in the European, Coloured, Indian and African Associations - had seen a vast number of miles hiked; and the standard of hiking had improved tremendously, under the stimulus of the prizes; awards, certificates and other similar material so generously offered by Bata.
Hikers who had gained an Award more than once were entitled to Ribands for 100 (i.e. 2X50), 150 and 200 miles. Scouts were given two badges, one to put on their rucksack to show that they were on the hike, and one for their campfire blanket after having completed the hike.
To celebrate the 10th Toughees Hike a 36 page bilingual Hiker Handbook was published with illustrations and guidance on how to do a Logbook.
In the introduction the Chief Scout 1968 - 1973 C.H.Geach thanked Bata, for ten years of fruitful co-operation and thanked them for making the production of the hiker's handbook possible. He said:
'In a world often critical of modern youth, perhaps the most important thing that emerges, on the 10th Anniversary of the Toughees 50-Mile Hike is that South African boys indeed bear the stamp of their adventurous forefathers. From the Namib Desert to the rugged Transkei, from the Drakensberg mountains to the Blyde River canyon, few parts of this big, rough country have not seen Scouts participating in the challenging Toughees 50-Mile Hike. Trekker, Second Class and First Class hiking are a lead-up to bigger adventures like the Toughees 50-Miler, and this booklet will serve as an in valuable guide to the candidate in these Tests'.
1974 - 14th Bata Toughees 100 Km Hike Theme 'The Great Nature Trek'
This hike was made more adventurous by extending the hike distance - on the Chief Scout's authority - from 80 Km (50 miles) to 100 Km. This was in direct response to the call of the young leaders of all races who at 'Pitso 73' who called for more challenge and adventure. There was a strong emphasis on Conservation during the hike and this coincided with the introduction of the Scout World Conservation Badge.
1975 - 15th Toughees100 Km Hike Theme 'Hike and Seek'
The focus was on problem plants. In salute to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden - host countries for Nordjamb the booklet honoured Carl Linnaeus, the renowned Swedish botanist.
1975/76 - 16th Bata Toughees 100 Km Hike Theme 'Hike as you like'
This hike gave the Scouts the choice to choose their own theme. The period was changed to run from September to August so as not to coincide with Matric exams. A new Senior National Floating Trophy and a new 'Keepsake' trophy and a new Junior National Floating Trophy was introduced.
1976/77 - 17th Bata Toughees 100Km Hike Theme 'Go Rock-Hounding'
Combining the thrill of treasure hunting with adventure hiking and discover the earths hidden treasures. How to hunt for fabulous gemstones was detailed in the July 1976 edition of 'Veld Lore'.
1977/78 - 18th Bata Toughees 100 Km Hike Theme 'Walk with Nature - Work with Nature'
The primary objective of this hike was 'Blaze a Nature Trail, Other Scouts can follow'. The idea being that the Logbook would go into the troop library so that Scouts in years to come could use the logbook hiking the trail that was pioneered.
1978/79 - 19th Bata Toughees 100 Km Hike Theme 'Cultural Exploration'
Code named 'Operation Culture Vulture' it was based on the assumption that the 15th World Jamboree in Iran would take place and its theme was a Jamboree for Cultural Development. It was also a 'Join-in-Jamboree' activity promoting human understanding and peace among all people. The idea being on the hike to seek, observe and record in the logbook anything of cultural interest.
1979/80 - 20th Bata Toughees 100 Km Hike Theme 'Go Spooring'
Hit the Wildlife Trail and get on the Track of Adventure with one of the rarest of outdoor skills. Study wildlife from the ground up from tracks of animals, birds reptiles and insects. Once again the publication 'Veld Lore' (Spring 1979) was synchronised to publish all the 'know how' and 'how to' around Spooring
Sadly, it appears that based on the records available in the Western Cape Scout Archives that this was the last of the Bata Toughees Hikes.
However, the Bata Challenge seems to have reappeared as the Bata Toughees Patrol Camping Competition.
Bata Toughees Patrol Camping Competition
Started in 1980/81, it was required that the participating Patrol undertook two Patrol Camps during the competition year and each Camp must be of at least 25 hours duration (i.e. overnight, under canvas).
The Camp Logbook being the unaided work of one or more members of Patrol, the Scribe might write the report while others might contribute items such as sketch maps, sketches, and photographs. In short, it can be a joint Patrol effort, by the Patrol members alone.
There was a National Floating Trophy, to be known as 'The Bronze Billy', and was held by South Africa's top camping Patrol for one year; the Patrol's name and Troop, and the year, to be engraved on the trophy.
There were also three National 'Keepsake' Trophies, for the top three National Winners; these become the property of the Patrols concerned, and they will be miniatures of the National Floating Trophy, and be suitably engraved, Camping Pennants, for the top six winning Patrols in each Area, and Merit Certificates for all Patrols entering the competition, who submitted a Camp Logbook.
1984 Bata Toughees Patrol Camping Competition
Much the same as previously but with helpful suggestions from the Training Team that they could maybe plan a Conservation Project and the Camp should have a theme.
The maximum points totalling 100 were awarded as follows: Required information (10); Quality and Variety of Camp Programmes (30); Food and Menus (10); Maps, Sketches and Photos (25); Campsite and Hygiene (10); Conservation activities (10); Overall impression (5).
Sadly, no further information was found in the archives and it is probable that around this time the Bata Toughees Challenge came to an end, fortunately all the trophies, pamphlets and memorabilia are now housed and displayed in the Scout Heritage Centre in Cape Town.
Thank you Bata for all those fruitful years of co-operation.