Scouts and Volunteers from Havering have been praised by Chief Scout Dwayne Fields for completing the Southern 50 challenge hike event. The event has three levels with 30 km’s, 50 km’s, and 50-mile options. This year’s event celebrates 45 years since the first Southern 50, with Scouts taking on routes passing through the counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Oxfordshire. There were seven teams from Havering taking part alongside 500 young people from across the UK.
The annual Southern 50 Event is a prestigious challenge hike, one of the longest running events of its type in the UK. The event is a test of good orienteering skills as well as teamwork. The route is not disclosed until the day of the event so all teams entering have the same chance of winning a trophy.
Chief Scout Dwayne Fields praised the team’s unwavering determination and teamwork, as they tackled the impressive distance. “The teams from Romford and Hornchurch showed real determination to finish their chosen distance, I was delighted to meet them at the finish to hear about the skills they had learnt and challenges they had overcome. All the young people and volunteers involved in the event are a great example of what’s brilliant about Scouts. They worked as a team, had fun and learnt new skills along the way”
Taking part in the event Edith 16, said “It’s great fun being outside with my friends. Their company is what keeps me going when it gets tiring’’.
Taylor, aged 17, said “The Southern 50 is a challenge at the best of times, but the wet weather really tested us as a team. We pushed on, used our skills and I’m really proud of ourselves.”
Christian, aged 15, said ‘’The Southern 50 hike was a real challenge, The Journey was long, but the challenge was overcome, and we got their as a team using the skills we have learnt over the years in the Scouts’’
Lucian, aged 15, said ‘’The Southern 50 hike was a muddy, wet, and cold challenge. We used lots of the skills we learnt as scouts to get us over the line and push through to get the job done.’’
Adult volunteer Alan said ’’Scouts helps members to take a deep breath, think on their feet, ignore the butterflies, and go for it. With Scouts, young people don’t give up – they get back up and try again, often with the support of the friends they’ve made there.
