New DC Designate

Bear Grylls officially became the Chief Scout of the United Kingdom on Saturday 11 July – cheered on by nearly 3,000 Explorer Scouts.

The official handover between Peter Duncan (Chief Scout from 2004-2009) and Bear took place at 9.30am at Gilwell 24, an adventure camp for 14-18 year olds.

Click here to see report


Click here to see the video

Don District Cub’s town trail
Held: June 6th Saturday Afternoon
Venue: Grenoside.
Weather: Showers
The Event:
Altogether we had 7 groups enter with a total of 9 teams competing. Each team had a leader from another group with them. The teams had to answer questions and collect items while following a route around Grenoside. The cubs and leaders enjoyed the event even though a cub did try a short cut down a man hole cover (fortunately he was not seriously hurt just minor grazes).
I would like to thank all the leaders and cubs who took part for making it a good event.
Results:
1.    14th Grenoside C
2.    82nd Chapletown A
3.    25th & 61st combined team

Andrew Papka ADC Cubs

The Cubs Olympics were held on Saturday 10TH July 2009 during the district camp at Walesby campsite.
The Olympics was based on the decathlon as well as covering aspects of the Athlete badge. The cubs were split into six teams and each team was named after a country. The cubs also had to design a banner for the event which contained the flag of the country and its name.
The countries were Portugal, Brazil, China, Japan, USA and Germany.
The events held on the day were
1.    Running
•    This involved running 50m and was timed for the athletes’ badge.
•    Each team raced 50m and had heats. The fastest from each team raced against the fastest from other teams.
•    There was also a relay for the fastest team.
2.    Jumping
•    Each team jumped and the furthest from each team went into a final.
3.    Shot
•    Each team threw the shot  and the furthest from each team went into a final
4.    High Jump
•    Sergeant  jumps for athletes badge
•    The highest 4 jumpers went into the final for a jump off.
5.    Running
•    Shuttle run for athlete’s badge.
•    The fastest team got 10 points.
6.    Hurdles / obstacle race
•    The cubs had various obstacles to cover and the fastest team won the points.
7.    Discus
•    Each team threw the discus  and the furthest from each team went into a final
8.    Mini Marsh mellow Olympics
•    See how far they could throw a marshmallow
•    See how far they could spit it
•    See how far can roll it
9.    Javelin
•    Each team threw the javelin  and the furthest from each team went into a final
10.    Long run. Have a final long run for all as individuals for extra points for first 10.
 
There were 9 individual winners of the events and an overall team event.
1.    Running.  Portugal Mathew Barrow 14th Grenoside
2.    Long Jumping: USA Elliot
3.    Shot put: Japan Jack Barker 14th Grenoside
4.    High Jump: Brazil David Smythe 14th Grenoside
5.    Running.  Portugal Mathew Barrow 14th Grenoside
6.    Discus: Portugall Finlay Mitchell 14th Grenoside
7.    Marshmallow mini Olympics: USA Elliot
8.    Javelin: Brazil Caleb Elliot
9.    Long Run: Portugal Mathew Barrow 14th Grenoside
The overall winners of the event
China
Leader: Pat Flannigan 14th Grenoside
•    Liam Mouldycliff  14th Grenoside
•    Joshua Ruston  14th Grenoside
•    Alex Sisman 14th Grenoside
•    Denim Rodgers 105th High Green
•    Luke Hardy 105th High Green
•    Andrew Crowhurst 93rd Stocksbridge
•    James Hood 93rd Stocksbridge.
I would like to thank all the cubs for their sportsmanship and efforts and the leaders for their assistance. Also Janette Mellor for supplying equipment from Ecclesfield Primary School.

Carl CSL 14th

Cub Camp 2009
Less than a couple of weeks ago our Scouts were kind enough to let their
younger brothers and sisters join them at their District Camp, along with
Explorers and Young Leaders in July at Walesby Activity Camp.
All the Cubs (well nearly all) said they had a great time - the weather
was very kind with just one downpour late Saturday night. We had one
lovely Cub who kept people up on Friday night and, I'm told, Saturday
night. By Sunday he was very tired and very homesick, but we got him
through the day.
The Cooking Team of Sylvia, Margaret, Andrew and Peter (with Bobs help)
did a fantastic job feeding around 150 campers for 5 main meals + suppers,
in double quick time, all things considered! A huge thanks to them.
Thanks to Peter for ministering first aid - particularly to the poor Cub
who walked onto a wasp's nest and came out of the bushes with a few
stings!
The Cubs took part in some games, they went to the Camp Fire and had a
quiz on Saturday night.
We didn't manage to drown any of them whilst raft building on Sunday
morning. The Cubs (who took part) and the leaders (who watched) said it
was great fun and really enjoyed it.
Thanks to everyone who took part and made it a brilliant weekend - so good
I could easily run out of superlatives!
The huge marquee we hired from Walesby, with its water and oven, made
things much easier all round - a good investment and one to consider again
in the future. A lot less hassle for groups who would otherwise have had
to provide lots of additional tentage.

The main activity, all day Saturday, was the 2009 Cub Olympics...

I would like to thank Carl Smith for organising and running the Games - a
superb effort, and he would like to thank all the cubs for their
sportsmanship and efforts and the leaders for their assistance.

Andrew Papka ADC Cubs


Well what a great weekend this was with 66 scouts and two Explorer Scouts attending what was our first attempt at this event.

As the title suggests it was based on the Iron Man Challenge with the 66 Scouts being split into 18 teams with representation from across the District. There were 2 teams from the 14th, the 25th, the 32nd and the 93rd and the 33rd, 1 from the 82nd plus a combined 82nd/105th team. With 3 teams from the 76th and the 231st completing the line up.

The first event was a run, or well that’s what it was meant to be as some of the Scouts decided a leisurely walk was more appropriate!!! This run was from Camp centre to the lake and for those of you that know Walesby it’s a good twenty minute walk. I ran the route and set off a good 5 minutes after the scouts and finished ahead of 50% of them. Perhaps they don’t like running or perhaps next time we should actually knock points off if I beat them!! They were given a raffle ticket at then end which represented where they had finished and then each team’s position was noted and the average position for the team worked out. 18 points were awarded to the best team with 1 point to the team finished in last place. The 82nd taking maximum points in this section.

On to the cycling this was done in relay races of 3 teams at once with points awarded for finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Each team had 3 races and sat the end the team with the mot points were awarded the maximum score of 18. Congratulations to the 76th B team for winning this section.

After lunch it was on to the lake for the final test. Canoeing!

This was again a relay race as for the cycling with the aim to canoe round the lake and back before the second team member swapped places. However the island proved to be little too far away and the corse was shortened. Some would still be trying to get back to dry land now!! Again each team got two races and points were awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The 82nd were the eventual winners of this section.

As I write this I can not find the final full score sheets but as soon as I do these will be published. Sorry guys. However the overall winners were the 82nd who with maximum 18 points in two disciplines won by 11 points. (If my memory is correct.) If however we look at the other scores the competition achieved its objectives in that sum that were poor in one discipline were better in others. Well done to ALL those that took part.

The Explorer section was decided by a final race off in a canoe with Luke just edging out Ed in what was almost a photo finish. Luke had won the running but Ed drew level over the cycling event and it was finished by a very close canoeing event. Well done Lads and thanks for being patient for your turn whilst we dealt with the scouts.

Thanks to those of you that helped set up the event and scored etc on the day as without you all it could not have happened. Special thanks to the cooks who somehow managed to feed us in time so we could complete the events planned.

Matt
SL 33rd

& Swimming Gala

This was held in the lovely warm solar heated pool at Walesby on the Sunday of Iron Scout Camp.

The aim was to have a fun gala with a series of relay races which were to involve the members of each group. Three relays were held with points being awarded for position finished. These relays were aimed at fun rather than being a serious swimming gala and the lads had to push a bowl with a football in, carry a quoit from one side to the other, provided they had caught it first and throw an odd number on a dice before they could enter the pool to retrieve a tennis ball form the other end and swim back ( quickly due to the water temperature) before subjecting their mate to the lovely water.

The final event saw them having to retrieve different coloured balls from the water and put them in a bowl the side of the pool.

The event was won by the 32nd with the 82nd a point behind. Again I will publish full results when I have found them.

There was a separate competition for Leaders v Young Leaders v Explorers which the Leaders somehow managed to win!!!

Thanks for Mike Liddell for helping organise this event.

Cheers
Matt
SL 33rd

Wasn't camp just brilliant.
Hey - some minor hassles along the way, (including one scout left behind
by his leaders), but nothing to spoil a great weekend.

A few special thanks...
The catering team - Sylvia, Margaret, Andrew and Peter (with Bob) did a
fantastic job to feed us.
To Steve for EVERYTHING, including the initial invitation to the Cubs to
join with the Scouts.
The Cub Leaders and Scout Leaders for putting up with me.
To Carl (and Jeanette) for organising and running the olympics.
If I have not mentioned you, it does not mean you are appreciated any
less. THANKS to all of you.

LOST PROPERTY
There were a number of items that were cleared from the marquee after camp.
Pots plates and cutlery have gone back to chapeltown - contact Steve
Clothes, towels, caps and two top trumps games are with me - let me know
if your Cubs or Parents ask for anything.

Thanks again
Andrew

What a camp that was with 3 competitions including Cubs and Scouts all camping together and enjoying a brilliant weekend. The weekend couldn't have run without the spirit of the kids, the considerable effort of all the Leaders, a special thanks to those running the individual events with a lot of help from their friends and especially the catering team who cooked plentiful good nose bag (often eating what was left over themselves if they were lucky) on time and tasty to boot. Thanks everyone, Don District should be proud, great Scouting at it's best.

Ten teams turned up at Concord Sports centre on Friday 3rd July 2009 for the annual 5 A-Side tournament and they were split into two groups with the results as follows
Group A
76th B    0 v 0    33rd B
105th    1 v 0    61st B
76th B    2 v 0     61st C
33rd B    1 v 0    105th
61st B    1 v 0    61st C
76th B    0 v 0     105th
33rd B    2 v 0     61st B
105th    3 v 0    61st C
76th B    1 v 1    61st B
33rd B    2 v 0    61st C

Group B

14th    1 v 1    76th A
82nd    3 v 0     61st A
14th    3 v 0     33rd A
76th A    1 v 1    82nd
61st A    2 v 1    33rd A
14th    1 v 0    82nd
76th A    1 v 0    61st A
82nd    3 v 0    33rd A
14th    1 v 0     61st A
76th A    2 v 0     33rd A
   
After all the points were calculated the final tables were calculated and the top two teams in each group went through to the semi finals which saw the 33rd B play the 76th A and the 105th play the 14th. The 14th ran away with their game and were 3-0 winners whilst the 33rd B and the 76th A had to rely on penalties to settle their encounter with the 76th A eventually triumphing.

So the final was between the 14th and the 76th A and after 5 minutes play the two teams could not muster a goal between them and could still not be separated after a further 3 minutes extra time. It was on to the dreaded penalties where the 76th A raced into a lead of 3-1. Back came the 14th to level at 3-3 after 5 penalties per team and we were into a sudden death shoot out.

The 14th scored their penalty and unfortunately the 76th A could not manage to do the same and so Grenoside were the winners with St Peter’s the runners up.

Well done to all that took part and thanks to Steve for helping me referee and to John from the 14th who tried to keep score.

Well done to Eliss form the 61st who picked up the award for the scout showing the most scout like attitude and to Rob from Grenoside who saved a penalty in the shoot out and actually managed to break his arm (we found that out on Saturday) but actually scored the winning penalty.

Not too many David Beckham’s about but they all had a good time.

Matt
33rd Scout Leader