More than 250 youngsters slipped, slithered and slid their way through the Oxfordshire countryside as they took part in a long-distance hike.

Scouts, Guides, Venture Scouts and Rangers joined the 13th annual Cyril Gardner memorial walk in February 1986.

They defied the snow and cold to trek 33 miles around Shotover, Garsington, Wheatley, Ickford, Brill, Boarstall, Horton-cum-Studley and Beckley.

The walk started and finished at Oxford School in Glanville Road, off Cowley Road, with prizes awarded to the fastest teams.

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There were 11 checkpoints where competitors could stop and withdraw if they felt unwell. About half of them dropped out before the end. But for the first time in years, no-one was taken to hospital suffering from exhaustion or exposure and some determined youngsters battled through the snow for 15 hours to reach the finish.

The top award was won, for the third year running, by the 1st Longworth Scouts, with Peter Gower, 15, Andrew Charlton and Andrew Forrest, both 13, completing the course in seven hours 51 minutes – more than half an hour ahead of their nearest rivals.

The 1st Longworth also provided the first novice team home – Andrew Morgan, 15, Kevin Butler, 13, and Ben Woodley, 11, in nine hours 37 minutes.

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The first Guides to reach the finish were Rebecca Wolf, Catherine Johnson and Katy Pells, from Benson, in 11 hours two minutes. Cyril Gardner was treasurer of the Headington District Scout Council and the hike was in his memory.