The Rayner Trophy is probably the hardest competition in the country, it involves similar aspects to that of the camel trophy or Eco-challenge competitions, and they involve team work, map reading, fitness, mental intelligence, leadership, skills, and lifesaving to name but a few, and only the best troops in the Western Cape enter.
We had the most number of people entering: a total of 3 team each having 4 members in them, our winning team consisted of Steven, Jason, Marcus, and Daniel. A total of 28 teams entered, and only 25 took part. The competition started out as all the rest do with an inspection, and we did exceptionally well there. Then we started hiking, and got lost in the beginning, and landed up at the back of the competition, but due to hard hiking and a lot of determination we finished fourth at the end of the first day. After a night of about 3 hours sleep the team was ready to go on the next day. After steady hiking and a great deal of hard work at all the bases and on the S.T.A's the team finished well, and at the end WON the Trophy for the first time since 1975.
It is really something to stand at the Finnish and hear the judges saying well done, and you did extremely well at our base, and thanks for your good work, and then you stand at the closing ceremony and you hear not 4th, not 3rd and the heart rate increases, not 2nd but 1ST!!!!!!!! and you walk up there as if everything was normal.