by Andrew King

Trogz Explorer Scouts from Kirkham & Wesham won this year’s evasion exercise in the Ormskirk region called Operation Moonlight 2012.

They not only won the trophy for the Explorer Scout category they also won the trophy for the overall competition.

This year’s event, that has been running successfully for 24 years, had the largest ever turnout with over 500 Scouts and Explorer Scouts from all over the West Lancashire County, making up 90 teams.

At 12 noon last Saturday, the young people were set loose and spent the next 9 hours evading teams of catchers and navigating their way to the finish around 10 miles (16.5 km) away as the crow flies. The aim? To find their way to the finish with as many ‘lives’ intact as possible.

Scouts and Explorer Scouts probably added to the distance quite significantly as to avoid the dreaded catchers that take away valuable ‘lives’. This year there were over 90 catchers. (Catchers are also Moonlight Marshals, and while trying to catch as many teams as possible for the catcher’s prize they are also there to ensure the safety and well being of the teams.)

Trogz Explorer Scouts provided two teams (four strong) this year. Seventeen year old Jared Vann, team leader of the winning team said: “I’m tired, but I’m really proud of what we have achieved.”

A team of Scouts from Eccleston near Chorley won the trophy for the Scout Section; the 11 to 14 year olds also won the same trophy last year.