BNI Competition (MAY 2012)

By Joshua Joseph
(PL for FALCONS)

In May, 2 teams of Scouts from our group (and one team of Explorers from our group) went  to a competition called the BNI (Bloody Near Impossible) hoping to defend our 1^st place  trophies won by our group 2 years before.

Day one. The Arrival.

On Friday 4th we set off for a camping site called "Hamlet Wood" in Kent. Once we arrived we went to put up our tents. We tried to time ourselves as if it was one of the real competitive activities we had to do in order to win. We put up the tent in 37minutes and 37 seconds. After we put up our tents, we were invited to go for some food. When we got there, there were hot dogs and orange squash! When we tried to put our dining shelter up, one of the poles didn’t fit! Then we had to get creative, we tied two poles together with a sheer lashing. Eventually, it would stand up on it’s own so we could go to bed. We unpacked our bags and went to sleep.

Day two. Let the games begin!

Today we had many challenges in front of us. We had no idea of how hard or how easy things would be at each base. None the less, we were raring to go. First, we had to go to pioneering which we came first in. We made a bridge with a zip wire to get across. We put it up in 1 hour 37 minutes and put it down in 12! Then we rehearsed our performance for the next day.

Day Three. The rest of the Challenges.

This day was important; it was either win or loose, eat or be eaten. Our next activity was tent pitching and we were quite confident. At about 09:30hrs we started putting up the tent (storm haven with fly sheet). We put it up and down to  finished the base in  just 23 minutes! It was the best so far and it was the scout record! After that we felt indestructible. Next, we did the twig race. We tried our hardest and eventually pulled through. We also set the scout record for that at 6 minutes and 5*seconds!

Day Three. Drawing to a close.

After dinner we went to bed. After that, we went to do our performance. This was also one of the BNI challenges. Our performance was called the BNI factor. It was like Britain’s got talent. It was really cheesy (Purposely) and had acts that were meant to make people laugh. It was a success!

Day Four. The Conclusion.

After a long and tiresome weekend and having completed 10 different challenges over the weekend (problem solving, first aid, Leadership & Communication, Cooking among some of the other challenges not mentioned above) , everyone was eager to find out who won. But first the site had to be put away. We had to put down our tents and we did this like we put it up (Like a time trial). It didn’t take to long, about 10 minutes. Eventually, we finished packing up and it was time to find out who won. All the points have been counted and the scores have been set. 5^th Place… was our Starboard Team. 4^th place… wasn’t us. 3^rd place… wasn’t us. 2^nd place… wasn’t us. 1^st place………… The 4^th Stretham Port team!!! (And the crowd goes wild!) WE WON! We went to pick up the trophy and received it graciously. The Explorers also Won and retained the eBNI 1^st place trophy. Over all a great weekend for all the 4^th Streatham Sea Scout teams.  Then we went to get a picture of us and then we paraded around the camp site, ecstatic. It was great! The only down side after that, was that we had to do the toilets… But that didn’t take long, so then after we locked up we got in the van and headed for home.