YOUNG Black Country scouts have been competing for a district-wide camping competition which has celebrated its 80th anniversary.

Almost 100 youngsters from Halesowen and District Scouts took part in the coveted Jaquiss Shield event – which was started by Oldbury-born Joseph Jaquiss in 1938 – at Kinver Scout Campsite.

Teams from Cradley, Romsley, Hasbury, Wollescote, Stambermill, Coombswood and Halesowen all competed for the title, with the Howley Grange troop being named as victors.

As part of the 80th year of the event, the scouts tried to prove they were the best through a variety of challenges including tent pitching, archery, fire lighting, backwoods cooking and navigation.

They also had to construct a water carrier from poles and rope before having to take it round a hillside obstacle course, without spilling any water from the suspended bucket. One of the team was blindfolded as an extreme test of communication skills.

Teams also completed a survival exercise, cooking on log fires and building shelters, where scouts were tested on their use of axes, saws and knives.

At the event, scout leaders Martin Gadd and Richard Morris congratulated their team members – Oliver Montgomery Raja Sidhu, Aaron Nicholls, Charlotte Parkes, William Bolton and Amir Sidhu – and paid tribute to all of the other teams for closely fought competition.

Adrian Jones, assistant district commissioner for Scouts, said: “This year the standard of competition was very high and the final scores were close.

“After 80 years of this competition, it is good to see young people from the Halesowen area continue to show considerable stamina and good teamwork, in this test of outdoor skills.”