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WESTERN CAPE SCOUTING

Quinn Trophy Winners

The Quinn Trophy was donated in 1980 by the Area Chairman at that time Mr. Clifford Harris. It was named in honour of our very first Area Commissioner at that time (previously we were a Division with a Divisional Commissioner), Mr Frank ‘Kudu’ Quinn. The ‘Quinn Trophy’ was and still is intended to be a ‘fun event’ for whole Troops teams. Scouts and supporters should attend and enjoy themselves with a certain amount of ‘informal’ competition.

It is hoped that every Troop in the Area (today Province), no mater how small, new or inexperienced, will enter in all or even some of the days team activities offered – just for the fun of it. Groups should encourage parents and friends to attend in a picnic like atmosphere, which would also help foster Group togetherness.

The Quinn Trophy is normally run on a Sunday in October each year, together with or as part of the JOTA (Jamboree on the Air) weekend. Many venues were used over the years like ‘Brownsea Island’ near Sandvlei, Rondebosch Common, but mostly our own Area Campsites from Gilcape, Sandvlei, Gilray and in recent years combined with the Hawequas annual ‘Open Day’ or ‘Free Camping Weekend’ at Hawequas.

Also running concurrently with the Quinn Trophy, but as a separate Trophy not counting towards the Quinn, is the Cape Times Cross-Country Trophy going since 1924. The course is about 4 km’s long and is split into a Junior (11 to under 14 years) and Senior (14 to under 18 years) section.

‘Competition’ fun events for the Quinn Trophy have also varied over the years, with about 6 to 8 fun items per competition. Items like; cooking a simple dish, a quiz, waterpolo, crossword puzzle, volleyball, obstacle course, stave pioneering, Frisbee knockouts, basic compass, tug-o-war, camouflage, kite making and flying, music making, tent pitching, raft building, first aid, chariot races, plaster casts, stilt making, missile launching, to mention but a few.

Troops would arrive and leave in full uniform, changing to ‘camp easy clothes’ during the day event. The competition normally ends with a short (mass or in Troops) Scouts Own before the final parade, and the overall winner of the Quinn Trophy is the Troop that fares the best in all the fun activities offered on the day.

Source: Western Cape Scout Headquarters Archives

Author: André Foot