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Dates: Friday 7th to Sunday 9th March 2008
Location: Balmoral Oval, Balmoral
Members of all four Mosman based Scout Groups participated in the 58th Sirius Cup boating regatta at Balmoral over the weekend.
Sirius Cup is an annual event run by Sydney North Region Scouts for youth and adult members from all over New South Wales and the ACT. There are around 750 participants of all ages participating in sailing, canoeing, rowing, camping and iron man events. The event is in its 58th year and grows stronger each year. Thanks to the kind support of Mosman Council, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers are permitted to camp on the oval for the weekend and launch their craft from the beach.
As usual, the four local Group – 1st Mosman 1908, 3rd Mosman Bay Sea Scouts, 1st Clifton Gardens Sea Scouts and 1st Balmoral Sea Scouts – were in attendance. A massive thunder storm reeked havoc across the campsite late on Friday evening and forced some Groups to abandon their flooded campsites and take shelter at home or in the local Scout Hall. Other Groups survived the night and woke to perfect sailing and boating conditions for the rest of the weekend.
On Saturday was the short course canoeing for Scouts and Venturers, sailing events and the canoe marathons from Balmoral to Spit Bridge and other locations. 1st Mosman 1908 Scout Leader, Wayne Godsell took the open marathon trophy for the second year running and 1st Mosman 1908 Venturer Scout, Liam Painter took 1st Place for the Venturer Section.
Saturday night saw the Oval alive with Scouts, Cubs and Venturers enjoying movies, games and the chance to socialize with Scouts from as far away as Lake Burley Griffin, Yaralla and Belmont North. For the first time, 1st Mosman 1908 invited their youngest members, the 6-8 year old Joey Scouts, to attend the Saturday night program and find out about campi
ng and canoeing in a range of activities geared to a ship-wreck theme. Joey Scout Clare Brownlie said “This is really good fun! I went on a raft and we escaped the desert island.”
On Sunday there were rowing events and a chance to relax for the older Sections while the Cub Scouts tried their chances at the short course canoeing. The Cubs are very competitive, but playing on the beach and in the surf is just as much fun as racing against the other local Packs.
3rd Mosman Bay Group put on a competitive performance in the sailing and rowing, but were beaten to the highly contested Commodore’s Cup by 1st Yaralla Scout Group – the trophy leaving Mosman Bay for the first time in nearly 10 years.
1st Mosman 1908 Group also handed over the Wall Pitz Camping Trophy to 1st Eleanora Heights after 2 years at the top for best campsite – they came a very close second. 1st Mosman 1908 were also second overall in the combine paddling and sailing trophy.
Overall, the event was great fun for all involved. “I had a really good time and can’t wait until next year,” said new Scout Stephanie Roberts.
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