3rd Hampton Hill Scout Group

OK, so let’s start with the apology, we overran a little bit past our 4pm finish time, well quite a bit actually this caused by equipment failure and a rash of late entries which took us well over our ideal of 30 entrants per session. If you gave up and didn’t get to shoot we’re all really sorry and have already changed things for the next time we run to ensure we have no repeat.

So let’s look at the bright side and the results in what was otherwise a really successful day with well over 40 shooters partaking in pistol, rifle, field target and knockout competitions. All medals in the junior competition went to 3HH shooters and well done Ella L for taking overall gold. Andrew O won the knockout and retained his position as top knockout junior having won the event last year; how does he do it? In the senior competition I’m afraid to say the spoils kind of went to the 3HH shooting instructors but I’m pleased to say that a couple of parent’s names snuck in to the top three and next year I’m thinking we’ll have an elite category for the rifle and pistol at least.

So well done all and thanks to the team that supported the event and ensured it ran smoothly, the results are here – results.

[Feel free to browse the photos! Note that these have been loaded in a low resolution format – if you’d like a high quality version of any particular photo, and are connected with 3HH Scouts, please email one of the section leaders to request.]

You might be interested to hear about the latest installment in 3HH’s ongoing growth and development. After so much success in purchasing essential new kit we now find ourselves in the happy position of struggling to accomodate it all.

So with the fantastic assistance of one of the Scout parents, who is also rather conveniently an architect, we’ve started to plan out an extension to our existing building.

And of course, if there are any building firms, material suppliers, electricians, willing hands etc out there who would like to donate anything towards to the project, we’d be thrilled to hear from you!

As staggering as it seems, some of the scouts don’t find tying knots very exciting. How odd

So to liven things up a little, we set them the challenge of building chariots and racing around the hall. Now that was more like it! (although we did have to ban them from attaching the blades to their axles like Queen Boadicea)

Do feel free to check out the photos and video to see more…

Well done folks… perhaps next stop the Roman Colosseum?!

As part of this term’s Fitness Challenge theme, 3rd Hampton Hill’s scouts have been trying a variety of sports and fitness experiences.

This week we were lucky enough to try our hand at the ancient Chinese art of Tai chi. As you will see from the videos below an unusual sense of calm and serenity descended upon the HQ. Everyone did hugely well and a massive thanks to our multi-talented Group Scout Leader, Rich, for leading the session.

Once the Scouts had had a crack at the set piece moves, Richard then took to the floor for a final demo (but strangely we choose not to let the Scouts loose with the sword for a go themselves!)

(I wonder if I should squeeze another session into the Easter camp programme? - Simon )

Next week, we’ll all be “bodypopping” with a special guest visitor…

Although it was organised as a bit of an experimental format camp for us (just like BP’s original), 3HH’s Scouts more than rose to the occasion. This 30km round trip expedition was intended to give the Scouts a little more added adventure, try their hand at Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) style lightweight hiking and to generally mix things up a bit. And what a complete success!

We’ll add more photos when we have 2 minutes to gather ourselves, but as a quick snippet of what we got up to please click on the photo below…

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Please click on the photo below to see more of the “Talons” scouts great parent cookout competition.

Well done to everyone on such fantastic efforts and for bribing the judges sooooo well!

Please click on the photo below to see more of the Beavers’ pirate sleepover.

Please click on the photo below to see more of the 2009 AGM and BBQ

Wow! What a busy weekend! Fantastic! Take a look at the photos to see all the great things that went on.

The ‘Sun’ God shone down on us and provided nearly perfect weather. 3HH were successful in winning the Trophy for the Beaver Scout Challenge – Wall Building and also the English Heritage Twickeree Trophy – awarded this year for the Best Tapestry – well done! A very big thanks to all the adults and young people that made this weekend so much fun and such a success! Brilliant!

Getting out onto the water is fast becoming a real favourite for 3HH’s scouts.

We were delighted to once again join our good friends at the 14th Richmond Boat House for a wonderful evening’s rowing between Richmond and Twickenham. To see more of what we got up to please click here to check out the photos.

Unlike our last adventure out, the sun was shining and the tide reasonably gentle. And the scene was perfectly set for a few impromptu races!

Massive thanks again to Vic, Anna, Roy and Trevor for hosting our visit. We’re already looking forward to our next trip out…

Hi all, as last year’s shooting event was sooooo successful we just couldn’t resist running it again. This year’s date is Saturday 13th June, yes very soon indeed!

* UPDATE * 1 JUNE 2009 – For a variety of reasons we have had to take the decision to CANCEL the Shooting Event this year. We hope that we can put this event back into the Calendar for 2010

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In what is most Scout’s favourite church service of the year, we celebrated the Christingle and lit candles together while lined up around the church.

Young members from both the Scouts and the Sunday School delivered a first class reminder of what Christingle represents as well as a powerful reminder of the generousity demonstrated by others despite their modest backgrounds.

Continuing our annual tradition, a colour party of 3HH Scouts led the parade at the St. James’s Remembrance Sunday parade ceremony.

Alongside other members of the local community, prayers were said and a two minutes silence held to honour those who have fallen or injured in conflicts all over the world.

The annual Ian Goddard Challenge for cubs was this year held at the Stockyard, Bushy Park. Despite the fog looking a bit weird at times, everyone had a fabulous time!

Overall it wasn’t our finest result in the final rankings, but well done to all the participants for giving it their very best effort. 3HH ran the fire lighting base for everyone to try their hand at. The Cubs also had the chance to try some kayaking and canoeing on The River Thames in Hampton.

Alex L, Duncan L and Wend W were all honoured, along with others from the Greater London South West Scout County, for their contribution to Youth Leadership and their achievements in Scouting by the Jack Petchey Foundation.

Each have been awarded with grants that will be directed to Scouting benefits in the local area. See also the post from earlier in the year which gives some more details and background. Well done to you all!

Last Friday night, 3HH scouts moved from the HQ to go rowing at Richmond. OK, so it wasn’t the most elegant of rowing – and it certainly wasn’t the Oxford v Cambridge boat race – but everyone had a great time.

The river was running very fast that night, and the darkness was falling fast. But unperturbed we managed to drag ourselves up river towards Twickenham for 90 minutes and then shot back again with the current in about 10 minutes flat!

You can click here for photos of the event.

Many thanks to Vic and the team at the Scouts Boating Centre in Richmond for hosting the night.

Just a quick note to let all the Beavers know that there is a very special Chrimbo sleepover planned for 20-21 December 2008.

If you’d like to join in, then please make sure you add your name to the sign up sheet in the HQ.

Hurry up though since there are only 24 places available…

Admittedly a touch belated … but we’re delighted to share the photos from this ever favourite of Scout activities.

Do you think that you might be able to do any better next year?!

Together with a bunch of other certifiable scout leaders, 3HH represented the Richmond Upon Thames RUT Scout District in this year’s Great River Race held on Saturday 13 September.

We covered a monstrous 22 miles from Ham to Greenwich in a traditional Viking longboat, carrying the Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham as our passenger. The whole thing took a very respectable 4 hours and 7 minutes (we’d expected nearer 5 hours if we were to be honest with ourselves); all the more impressive since we had the largest and heaviest boat in the event!

The Race was simply a stunning spectacle: hundreds of boats of all shapes and sizes, powered only by oars, raced from Ham to Greenwich, through the City, dodging commercial river traffic and tidal turbulence all the way. You can click on the photo above to see more of the day’s action.

As well as the most incredible personal achievement (I am after all far from being a super-fit athlete ) and huge amounts of fun, I was delighted to raise nearly £500 for the local Scout district. And across the team as a whole, the figure will be a couple of thousand.

But it’s not too late to show some last minute support, you can still donate online through justgiving.com using the donate button.

Many thanks once again for your hugely generous sponsorship and shouts of encouragement, Simon

** update 16 Sept 2008 ** The fund raising total is now well over £500 and that’s just awesome. Thanks masses to all those who showed support to get the total this far.

3HH cubs go camping “Hawaiian Style” maxing and relaxing at Chalfont Heights.

36 Cubs, 5 Scouts, 2 Explorers and 14 assorted Leaders and Adults had a wicked 4 nights getting up to all sorts and having loads of fun. That must be a record….???

It’s best said with pictures so check out what the cubs, and assisting scouts, got up to on camp, just click on the picture above. More pics to follow soon!

Remember to wear your camp scarves at the hut next term…