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Over the first weekend of October, Pucklechurch Scouts entered two patrols into the County Patrol Camp Competition.  Each year, Scout Patrols from Scout groups across the former county of Avon compete for a trophy as the best campers, as well as taking part in a number of challenges. This year over 200 young people took part in more than thirty patrols. 

Here's what some of the Pucklechurch Scouts thought of the camp:

OK. I admit it, as far as the competition went, we were rubbish. In fact we finished eighth and tenth in the 'inexperienced campers' section – out of ten teams!  But we are quite 'inexperienced' at camping. For most of us, the summer event at Mafeking was our only experience of a scout camp.

DAY ONE: Friday, 3^rd October 2003

We arrived with three cars’ worth of 'stuff' and not enough dollies for the tents. So our dining shelter was the last tent to be put up. But that was the next day. All we did was pitch our other tents, make a drink and start a fire (and wind up the neighbouring scout group with a Frisbee).

DAY TWO: Saturday, 4^th October 2003

We started with a 'simple' breakfast.  Ed had to start a fire and make hot drinks, didn't he!  The activities started. One patrol did pedal go-karts, with which most of the people nearly crashed into our tents!  The others did the 'Hey Jake!' relay, where we had to give people piggybacks whilst tying knots.  One patrol did the assault course, which consisted of a cargo net, a 'crawl under', a rope balance, rope throwing and running. This was extremely tiring, taking just under 11 minutes for 5 of us to complete the course, while the other patrol relaxed in the shooting area. We then both encountered the creative zone - one patrol made a card and the other made badges. Both made 'home nation' flags. Next one patrol did shooting, arriving half an hour late, and the other took a bow and arrow and did archery. Then we had lunch. The first thing in the afternoon was gadget making: we made a gate and a fence. 
Dinner was sausages and veg. We shared the veg with a patrol from 32^nd Bristol.  In the twilight, we made a camp fire. It was very cold, but the songs cheered things up a bit. Then lights out. Ed had a midnight feast and broke his record for Jaffa Cake eating, getting through TWO packets.

DAY THREE: Sunday, 4th October 2003

We started with a cooked breakfast.  A big (ironic) WELL DONE to Ed for setting the fat in the frying pan alight.  Then we did "The Tournament". A chance for 'BIG' points. There was a chair relay, grass skiing, an 'intelligence' test and a water relay, carrying water in plastic cups. Burgers for lunch. 32^nd Bristol had most of them (and probably got food poisoning!) Flag down, the revealing of the results...

In the competition for the first-time campers, 1^st Pucklechurch's 'A' patrol (Mark, Mike, Andrew, Harry and Alex) finished eighth, our 'B' patrol (Ed, Sean, Oliver, Justin and Jack) finished tenth.

That was it. Next year we'll aim for a higher position (seventh perhaps!) and maybe, just maybe (as if!), we’ll get our hands on the 'Tony' award for the 'Tenderfoot' campers.

Report by
Michael Wallis
with help from Andrew Dennehy, Sean Weaver and Justin Fox Robinson