Western Cape Jamborees: 1983 Report
Gilcape: Join-In-Jamboree & Quinn Trophy
The Join-in-Jamboree and Quinn Trophy events were held at Gilcape over the weekend of 15/16 October 1983 in ideal weather and attracted a good crowd of Scouts and onlookers. The Join-in-Jamboree competitions were held on the Saturday afternoon, with a camp¬fire, slide Show (15th World Jamboree Canada) and displays of Jamboree photos and badges in the evening. The competitions were "fun" events, organised for the entertainment of participants and onlookers. Individual events were: knotting, tying a clove hitch round a tree from outside a circle, and the "Shalom", i.e. balancing on a floating barrel. Team events consisted of - jousting, crossing the Serpentine River by means of a gadget of their own contriving, dead man's crawl and barrel rolling. Although there was not much emphasis on the competitive element, scores were kept, and the leading Troops were -
- 1st 1st Parow
- 2nd 2nd Parow
- 3rd 1st Stellenbosch West
The first event on Sunday was the Cape Times Cross Country race, run in Senior and Junior Sections. Both attracted large entries. The results are given below. Then followed the Quinn Trophy competition, which consisted of six sections. Troops could enter for as many or as few items as they wished.
The events were:
- Stalking - a team of two Scouts had to stalk the judges.
- Sock Ball - This is also known as "Duster Hockey". It was played between teams of six on a knock-out system. The instructions said that the rules were similar to those of hockey, but as a spectator I wondered whether there' were any rules at all. Perhaps I don't know how hockey is played these days!
- Observation - Teams of four involved in such skills as Kim's Game, smell identification, sound identification, etc. This was done in the Training Den, and I must confess I missed out on seeing it.
- Tug of War - No one could miss this: those not pulling were urging on their teams. This was a knock-out competition.
- Obstacle Course - Teams of four were timed over the obstacle course. This is excellent training in team-work, and Patrols would do well to practise it from this point of view.
- Klondike Ferry - A raft-building race on Lake Bennington: teams of four. One of the team members had to be in correct and complete uniform - the others, who were permitted to get themselves wet, had to guide him around the island.
Although this is a competitive happening, it has none of the strain of the really tough events such as the Gordons Shield or the Rayner Trophy. The boys had time to enjoy themselves, and the swimming pool was well patronised throughout the day.
The Cape Times Cross Country was won by 1st Faure and the Quinn by 2nd Parow