Tonkin Trophy
The Tonkin Trophy is awarded to the 'best' Scout Group in the Western Cape Region. Factors such as Star Awards, competition results and Group magazine are taken into account.
The Tonkin Trophy scores for each Group are calculated by allocating points for a number of categories. For the 2026 Tonkin Trophy, the categories are as follows:
- Star Awards for the Meerkat Den, Cub Pack, Scout Troop, Scout Patrols and Rover Crew
- Competitions and events - participation and places
- Meerkats: Mob Day, Meerkat Kon-Tiki
- Cubs: Edward Shield, Cub Kon-Tiki, Cub Fun Day
- Scouts: Upton Shield, Gordon Shield, Rayner Trophy, Seamanship Competition, Kon-Tiki, Quinn Trophy, Regattas and Orienteering
- National Challenge participation by Meerkats, Cubs and Scouts
- Number of Meerkats with the Meerkat Gold Star, Cubs with the Leaping Wolf, Scouts with the First Class badge and Rovers with the BP Award
- City Nature Challenge
- Group publicity
- Community service
- Development - joint activities with Groups generally struggling and less fortunate
- Scouting Service to District or Regional Scout facilities and Hawequas
- Adult Training
- District participation
The History of the Tonkin Trophy
The Tonkin Trophy was given to the Western Cape Rovers in 1955 by Dr. Arnold Hugh Tonkin, the Divisional Commissioner at that time. The Rovers however, already had the Hawkeye Trophy and felt a second trophy would now overdo the competition between the Crews. In 1957 the Scouts were looking for a trophy for the best all round Group as an incentive for Groups to work together and increase their quality of Scouting. The Rovers then gave this trophy over to Scouting, provided that the Crews were included in the competition, to be awarded for the first time in 1958.
The early competitions were decided by the Commissioners Council and this became very subjective, so it was decided to use the Divisional Competitions as the criteria. Later the results of the Hawkeye Trophy were dropped from this marking, as there were too few Groups with Rovers. In 1974 when the Star Troops / Packs and Groups were restarted, it was decided that the Star marking gave the best indication of the Group's performance throughout the year. Thus this was now used as the main criteria, together with the competitions and one off events as additional bonus points. Thus Groups who took part in Divisional events received additional points for doing well in these events. It then became the prerogative of the Area Rover Council, Scout and Cub Program Commissioners to make recommendations on the requirements and then the Commissioners Council would approve them. These decisions would then come into force for the following year.
In 1977 when the Divisions were dissolved and Areas formed, it was decided to include all the Groups in the Area and not just the White Division, as it had been in the past. Until today, this Trophy is the most sought after by our top Groups, and winning it places the Group as the best overall in the Region.
Tonkin Trophy Winners
| Year | Group | Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1st Muizenberg | 
|
| 2024 | 1st Durbanville | 
|
| 2023 | 1st Durbanville | 
|
| 2022 | 1st Durbanville | 
|
| 2021 | 6th Rondebosch | |
| 2020 | 6th Rondebosch | 
|
| 2019 | 2nd Bergvliet | 
|
| 2018 | 1st Bergvliet | 
|
| 2017 | 2nd Bergvliet | |
| 2016 | 2nd Bergvliet | |
| 2015 | 2nd Bergvliet | |
| 2014 | 1st Bergvliet | |
| 2013 | 1st Bergvliet | |
| 2012 | 2nd Bergvliet | |
| 2011 | 1st Bergvliet | |
| 2010 | 1st Bergvliet | |
| 2009 | 1st Bergvliet | |
| 2008 | 1st Bergvliet | |
| 2007 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 2006 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 2005 | 2nd Fish Hoek | |
| 2004 | 1st Durbanville & 2nd Fish Hoek | |
| 2003 | 2nd Kenridge | |
| 2002 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 2001 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 2000 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 1999 | 2nd Bergvliet | |
| 1998 | 2nd Bergvliet | |
| 1997 | 1st Pinelands | |
| 1996 | 1st Pinelands | |
| 1995 | 1st Pinelands | |
| 1994 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 1993 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 1992 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 1991 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 1990 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 1989 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 1988 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 1987 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 1986 | 1st Durbanville | |
| 1985 | 1st Pinelands | |
| 1984 | 1st Monte Vista | |
| 1983 | 1st Somerset West | |
| 1982 | 1st Somerset West | |
| 1981 | 1st Somerset West | |
| 1980 | 1st Green and Sea Point | |
| 1979 | 12th Green and Sea Point | |
| 1978 | 1st Pinelands | |
| 1977 | 1st Pinelands | |
| 1976 | 2nd Rondebosch | |
| 1975 | 1st Somerset West | |
| 1974 | 1st Pinelands | |
| 1973 | 1st Pinelands | |
| 1972 | 1st Pinelands | |
| 1971 | 1st Green and Sea Point | |
| 1970 | 2nd Pinelands | |
| 1969 | 1st Claremont | |
| 1968 | 1st Claremont | |
| 1967 | 1st Claremont | |
| 1966 | 2nd Claremont | |
| 1965 | 1st Claremont | |
| 1964 | 7th Green and Sea Point | |
| 1963 | 2nd Green and Sea Point | |
| 1962 | 2nd Plumstead | |
| 1961 | 2nd Green and Sea Point | |
| 1960 | 3rd Green and Sea Point | |
| 1959 | 10th Green and Sea Point | |
| 1958 | 2nd Green and Sea Point |