Stay of execution until Monday 3rd November, contact Andrew Papka if you still would like to go

Its official - the cleverest Cubs in Don District are from the 33rd Lane End. Their " Battling Blues" team correctly answered a very impressive 81
questions out of 100 to take the trophy. Only 1 question behind were the "McFly" team made up of Cubs from the 61st Wincobank and 93rd Stocksbridge...

Thanks to team "Dynamite" from the 33rd and the "Winners" from the 82nd, who in the end were not!

Thanks to those who supported the competition - it would have been a much better activity if a few more Leaders and Cubs took part...

Andrew

The Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey Team are having a night for Scouts on the 15th November with reduced rates of £5 for Scouts and £10 for Leaders/Adults. 231st Beaver Leader Pete Frith is a regular player. The Steelers are looking to fill their Stadium with Scouts in Uniform.

The 3rd running of the Soap Box Derby was held in Longley Park and the big question on everyone's lips was who could beat the 33rd's 2 times Champion Panda Blue and what design would Gary from the 33rd come up with this year, there was a rumour that he was entering an armchair with wheels, but fears to this effect where not founded when the arrival of Panda Blue in it's original wining simple format, a covering for past runner up PC Wood, now PC 'Extra' Wood and OODuck new last year, a Soap Box that strikes fear into other entrants as the Souts get the nearest to a bath they've been all year.

New entrants this year were the 14th with Kit's old tricycle modified to the Mean Machine and the 231st utilising Dan's wheelchair for Killer. The 32nd competed for their 2nd year with new Soap Box's Torpedo, Devil and Jubby's (we wonder who made that), whilst the 61st made a reapearance with a good old faithful Winco Flyer who had a few modifications including fixed steering. The 82nd completed the line up with 3rd time tried and trusted entry Red Devil and 2nd time entry Almighty also having been given fixed steering.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Pushers"
After a practice run, the racing started in earnest (not sure which Troop he belonged to) with 3-4 Soap Boxes at a time contesting, each Soap Box competing 9 times against different other Soap Boxes. After an Hours fierce Competition, on to the Slalom course and one barrel was set for the Soap Boxes to steer around with 2-3 Soap Boxes in each of the following 24 races. making a gran total of 33 races in the Competition.

With only 4 points separating the top 5 teams, and 6 wins each for Torpedo & Red Devil, 5 wins apiece for PC 'Extra' Wood and 'OO'Duck and 4 wins for Killer it was down to how many 2nd and 3rd places to decide upon a victor to take the spoils, a new and splendid trophy provided by 33rd Matt, so after a drum roll in 3rd 'OO'Duck, in 2nd Red Devil and the Winner Torpedo. But where was reigning Champion and 2 times winner Panda Blue???

Killer won the virtual Rookie Cup (ie there wasn't one, but was the highest placed entry from a Troop new to the event)

Thanks to all the Competitors, Leaders and Soap Box makers. Kit for the photo's. A special thanks to Jamie who stepped in to cover 1st Aid at the last minute (get well soon Peter).

All involved in the Soap Box Derby wish Ellis from the 61st a speedy recovery after her unfortunate accident.

Soap Box Derby Video, courtesy of 32nd and Shaun

1st Torpedo 24pts
2nd Red Devil 23pts
3rd 'OO'Duck 22pts
4th Killer 20pts
4th 'PC 'Extra' Wood 20pts
6th Mean Machine 18pts
7th Panda Blue 15pts
7th Devil 15pts
9th Winco Flyer 13pts
10th Almighty 11pts
11th Jubby's 8pts

What would scouts do if they were presented with a bag of ingredients and two hours later were asked to produce a meal from the food? This was the premise for this years competition, which took place during the Outdoor Challenge Camp.

At the beginning of the event patrols from Ecclesfield, Lane End, Chapeltown, High Green and Stocksbridge gathered to be given their bag. This year the bag contained not one item of meat or fish but items such as butternut squash, carrotts, potatoes, fruit and tinned tomatoes. Without the aid of the internet and without the benefit of a practice (well we all do doon't we ) they had to produce a two course spread from the assembled items. Young leaders and leaders gave them hints along the way.

However that wasn't the first obstacle to be overcome, first they had to light their fires - some taking a while to acheive this but with advice and help they were all soon burning. With half an hour to go it looked like the patrols would struggle to produce the required courses on time but most patrols managed to dish up a meal when it came to the judging.

It's easy for the leaders (with their vast experience) to produce a meal from unknown ingredients, howver for young scouts it's a real challenge. This was especially true when they had to also light fires and wash up! Some of the meals that were produced were fantastic and really tasty. The winners were Lane End, runners up were the two lad patrol from High Green (well done lads) and third were the Ecclesfield 'A' Team.

Well done to all those taking part and also to the leaders who arranged and tasted the food!

The Final Instructions for the Soap Box Derby including maps, meeting place will be posted here during the week.

To start with please download this permission form and arrange a Home Contact for your own Troop.

Please be at Longley Park between 9.30 and 9.45am.  Any Troop who hasn't had their Soap Box safety checked or needs re doing after a few alterations please be there for 9.30am.

A reminder that helmets and long clothing are compulsory, gloves, coats, knee and elbow pads are preferable.

Check back late Friday to make sure there are no final final instructions.