Hawkeye Trophy

The Hawkeye Trophy is the main annual Rover Competition in the Western Cape.

Each year the format of the competition changes and it can be anything from hikes between activity bases, car rallies, service projects, basic Scouting skills tests, quiz nights, scavenger hunts, cook-offs, or more. Traditionally, the winners of the Hawkeye Trophy are responsible for organising the next year's competition.

The History of Hawkeye Trophy

Rovers were established in 1918 in England and in 1919 one of the first Rover Crews in England, held a work party on the newly acquired Gilwell Park development, staying overnight in pouring rain in the 'Pigsty' shed as they called it, and which still bears that name today.

In the same year 1919, the idea of Rover Scouting was discussed in South African, but being under the control of Imperial Headquarter in London, Crews only really started up when the final rules to Rovering reached this country, and then only on the decision of the individual Scoutmasters.

Rovers in South Africa got off to a rather slow start and it was only in 1927 that the official constitution for Rover Scouts was published, and a Rover register and Rover Membership Cards were initiated.

The 1930 records reveal that these were the golden years of Rovering with a membership of two hundred in the Western Cape and that the Rovers competed for an annual Rover Efficiency Shield. During the war years it was reported that 81 Rovers were on Active Service and that no further Rover Shield Competitions took place. The original Trophy somehow disappeared without trace during this time and Rover Competitions never quite took off again.

However, 91 years later in 2021 Sarah, who is a Stellenbosch Scout, discovered the old Rover Trophy and with the help of the Heritage Team the mystery was solved.

It was only years later in 1948 that the Rover Crews once again gathered in Green Point to compete for a new trophy introduced, being won by 3rd Green and Sea Point or 3rd GASP in the end.

This new competition and Trophy derived its name from the then Divisional Commissioner Dr Frederick H Dommisse or 'Hawkeye' as he was called in Scouting.

Thus the Rover Hawkeye Competition has since become the main Rover Competition for Western Cape Rover Crews each year. The format of the competition has come a long way since it's inception in 1948 and changes from year to year, according to the ideas of the organisers (these are normally the current winners of the previous year).

These formats can be anything from base hikes, car rallies, service projects, basic Scouting, a quiz, a cook-out at a set venue or a whole combination of events.

On a rather sad note is that prior to the 1963 Hawkeye competition, burglars totally destroyed the original trophy, but a replica was ready for the 1963 competition and is still being used today.

Hawkeye Trophy Winners

Year	Winners	Photo
2023	6th Rondebosch Rovers
2022	6th Rondebosch Rovers
2021	Iron Wood Rovers
2020	(Not held)
2019	Table Bay Rovers
2018	Ironwood (Two Oceans District)
2016	Table Bay Rovers
2015	1st Bothasig & Kanonkop District
2014	Impeesa District
2013	Sandvlei Sea Eagles
2012	Sandvlei Sea Eagles
2011	1st Table View
2010	1st Claremont
2009	1st Bothasig
2008	1st Bothasig
2007	(Not held)
2006	Sandvlei Sea Eagles
2005	1st Claremont
2004	Scottsville
2003	Two Oceans
2002	Scottsville
2001	Sandrift
2000	Two Oceans
1999	St Mary Magdalene
1998	1st Sandrift
1997	1st Steenberg
1996	(Not held)
1995	1st Mary Magdalene
1994	1st Sandrift
1993	1st Factreton & 1st Sandrift
1992	1st Factreton
1991	Monte Vista
1990	Trafalgar
1989	Monte Vista
1988	Monte Vista
1987	Monte Vista
1986	Monte Vista
1985	Monte Vista
1984	Monte Vista
1983	Monte Vista
1982	Table Bay CW 12
1981	(Not held)
1980	Rondebosch District
1979	12th Green and Sea Point
1978	Table Bay CW 12
1977	Table Bay CW 12
1976	Table Bay CW 12
1975	1st Claremont
1974	CW 20
1973	CW 20
1972	Cape Town
1971	Rondebosch District
1970	Rondebosch District
1969	Rondebosch District
1968	Rondebosch District
1967	2nd Green and Sea Point
1966	2nd Green and Sea Point
1965	2nd Green and Sea Point
1964	7th Green and Sea Point
1963	1st Claremont
1962	UCT Residence
1961	2nd-6th Green and Sea Point
1960	3rd Green and Sea Point
1959	10th Green and Sea Point
1958	1st Claremont
1957	7th Green and Sea Point
1956	7th Green and Sea Point
1955	3rd Wynberg
1954	2nd Green and Sea Point
1953	1st Claremont
1952	2nd Green and Sea Point
1951	7th Green and Sea Point
1950	7th Green and Sea Point
1949	2nd & 3rd Green and Sea Point
1948	3rd Green and Sea Point