Seven brave teams started this event including a surprise visit from Andy Collett and Claire. I was, at last, operating this event with the hope there were no snakes crawling around! The site was very near to my home in Piddington in a small, but overgrown copse, hidden under the large print of Wycombe. I used this site many years ago just after the great gales, so had to wait for it to regain its undergrowth.

The Tx was situated right up near to a very new wire fence which surrounded a large field. With an idea from a certain C Plummer, I decided to connect the aerial to the upper part of the fence and link it across to other links of the fence, then earthed the lower part. Finally threw a 1/4 wave aerial down hill towards the foot path. With slight lowering of the power, the signal appeared quite weak at the start, but did not stop some teams taking a positive bearing at 8pm.

Steve Stone took his bearings from nearby Wheeler End which crossed this wood. At 8.15, he had arrived near West Wycombe to find the signal had dropped considerably. Min Standen arrived (unknown to me) in the area by 8.40 then followed Graham Phillips. All was still quiet until after the 9pm signal when I heard tones of despair coming from way off. With sympathy, I started to give clues and eventually Graham Phillips managed to find me by 9.08. With other teams still not convinced where I was hidden, more help was given, with three other teams getting in by the normal 9.30 close down.

After giving a last shout if any other teams were around heard a faint cry so carried on and with relief Steve Stone and Bill Pechey struggled in (with various comments).

Most teams met back at the local pub, with Mark Coventry showing his fantastic bearings through my site but stayed up at Downley all night.

Thanks to all teams and operators for attending this years Gage Tyler events.

Brian Bristow