Trogz Explorer Scouts from Kirkham & Wesham won this year’s evasion exercise in the Ormskirk region called Operation Moonlight 2012. They not only won the trophy for the Explorer Scout category they also won the trophy for the overall competition.
This year’s event, that has been running successfully for 24 years, had the largest ever turnout with over 500 Scouts and Explorer Scouts from all over theWestLancashireCounty, consisting of 90 teams.
On Saturday, 21st January at 12 noon the young people were set loose and spent the next 9 hours evading teams of catchers and navigating their way to the finish around 10 miles (16.5 km) away as the crow flies. The aim is to find their way to the finish with as many ‘lives’ intact as possible.
Scouts and Explorer Scouts probably added to the distance quite significantly as to avoid the dreaded catchers that take away valuable ‘lives’. This year there were over 90 catchers. (Catchers are also Moonlight Marshals, and whilst trying to catch as many teams as possible for the catcher’s prize they are also there to ensure the safety and well being of the teams.)
Trogz Explorer Scouts provided 2 Teams (4 Members each) this year. Jared Vann (17 years) who was the Team Leader of the winning team said right after the trophies were presented: “I’m tired, but I’m really proud of what we have achieved.”
His Team Mates were Conner Fenton (17 years), Jack Clarke (16 years) and Andrew Glenholme (16 years). Andrew said: “I am ecstatic! I can’t believe we have won this.”
The other team consisted of Rebecca Collett (15 years) who was the team leader, Thomas Carr (14 years), Nathan Brookes, (14 years) and Stefan Blackburn (16 years).
A team of Scouts from Eccleston near Ormskirk won the trophy for the Scout Section. These 11 to 14 year olds also won the trophy last year.
By Fylde MDM Marita Kirkham