So we've done the maintenance, learnt about the Highway code and safety, had our bikes checked over and completed the 40km cycle ride and now the final piece of the puzzle getting our cycles marked and registered with the police. Oh with a bit of crime prevention advice thrown in for good measure! 35 pedal cycles in one and a half hours must be a record or something, well done to Jason Green our village PCSO from Patchway police centre. Also well done all the scouts for completing the registration forms and helping push the bikes about and turn them upside down again and again.

It was time for the 2016 county shooting and archery comp and Dan White as defending champion and Josh Hyland represented the troop. The day didn't start too well as other scouts that indicated they wanted to attend realised that at 0715 was a bit too early! The day had a few passing showers but we're scouts and can handle it! Both boy's had a great day and both want to take part again, Dan received second place in the field event and third in the overall positioning. A great big well done to both, this comp can be a bit daunting at first as the rules are very strictly enforced by the instructors and the scouts did the OSR troop proud.  

So Saturday 10th September 2016 and the old school rooms scout troop (well 12 of them) attend the duck pond in Winterbourne to finish off the angler activity badge. This session we were hoping to catch a fish so we could show the scouts how to handle them,  de-hook from the line plus health and hygiene. So no longer than 10 minutes and Dylan had our first catch of the day I'm told it was a Roach and about 4" in length. Job done we could all go home....... Robin did the honours and explained all about handling these delicate creatures and we popped the fish back in the pond.
Bang then Oliver had a fish and it was all excitement, scouts were sharing rods as we prepared enough for all and the fish were coming thick and fast. The larges was a Roach caught by Oliver and I believe some scouts caught Perch. The bait of choice were red or yellow maggots but corn and bread balls were used also. We had some entanglements and a few caught branches but this session was great fun, the 4 hours flew by and the scouts didn't want to hand the rods in at the end. A fab session and I would like to thank Robin for all his hard work. Also I need to mention Frome valley angling club that maintain the pond because it was a lovely location.

The first night back for the new term and we had 26 scouts trying out their skills at shooting on the indoor range at 2nd Patchway scout hut. Lots of good shooting and fun to be had by all. This is prior to the county shooting comp later this month.